ChromeOS to be based on Debian

By , Published October 13, 2009

It’s already well known that Google HQ use a custom version of Ubuntu as one of their OSes, and it seems that Google’s forthcoming Chrome Operating System will be no different – running atop a solid Debian base.

How do we know this? Take a look at the Chrome builds for Chrome OS – more specifically their file extension.

Yes, they end in the file format we all know (and love) .deb! ChromeOS -will- be debian based.

Big shout out to reader Martini1179 for pointing me in the direction on this!

Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

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  • Martini1179

    – AHEM — credit? ;)

    Even DownloadSquad, who wrote the article that led us here, missed this not-so-subtle little fact.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      The credit is there, i just published ASAP to get it out first! (with a ton of typos, to boot)

      • Martini1179

        10-4.

        Dugg!

    • Anonymous

      Download Squad later updated their post after I commented on it. Kinda funny that they missed it despite the fact that I mentioned it in the post they linked to. XD

  • che

    this is the chrome browser build and not the chrome os if i am write

    • Martini1179

      This is the Chrome browser build for Chrome OS, and it’s a deb, which suggests that Chrome OS could be based on Debian/Ubuntu.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Did you read the post? I never said ChromeOS was available for download!

      What is available is Google Chrome FOR ChromeOS packaged up as .debs thus showing that ChromeOS uses Debian (or at least apt-get) as it’s base. That’s why the title of this post is “ChromeOS to be based on Debian” and not “ChromeOS available for download”.

  • Mohan

    Not surprised, Debian is very good sold base (hense one of the reason as to why Ubuntu is so popular).

  • Jan Hendl
  • Anonymous

    i dont know much about this kinda thing, but could you grab that chrome .deb and install it on ubuntu?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Yes i already have! The post reviewing it followed a few minutes after this one and is linked to at the bottom of the article! :D

  • http://gnuski.blogspot.com/ lefty.crupps

    Unless it is Ubuntu based, which is an option with .deb files you know. Ubuntu and Debian are -not- the same thing. I really hope it is Debian.

    This is a great example of why Ubuntu needs their own package format. Call the packages .ubu (or .u904 to specify the release if needed). The dpkg backend is Free and Open, it can be changed to accept .ubu files just fine, still use apt/aptitude, and the Debian users out there wouldn’t be stuck trying to install some Ubuntu package on their Debian OS.

  • ZP

    Well, may that is test package for their Ubuntu based OS… Ubuntu is also based in debian… I don’t they just use an existing distribution and distribute their software stack on top (chrome, google earth, …)?
    I hope that in Europe they are required to have anternatives to browsers (Firefox, Opera) and alternatives to Google Earth (WorldWind). Moreover, I guess users will have to select which will be the search engine to use, right Google?