Installing QGIS 3.44 LTS on PostmarketOS (generic x86_64) devices.

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I predict that we will see the merger of laptops into smaller mobile devices capable of being connected to a large screen for mapping and geospatial work where the applications are increasingly cloud based. I believe that PostmarketOS is already a good contender as a decent (if currently still experimental) operating system, private and secure.

Let's focus for a moment on the advantages over other linux distributions. 

PostmarketOS’s (Currently at version 26.06) main advantage is that it is designed specifically to make phones, tablets and other embedded/mobile devices behave like maintainable Linux computers, rather than adapting a conventional desktop distribution after the fact.

Principal advantages

1. Strong mobile-device focus

postmarketOS provides infrastructure specifically for:

  • touch-oriented interfaces such as Phosh and Plasma Mobile;
  • mobile modems, calls and SMS where supported;
  • suspend, battery management, screen rotation and sensors;
  • device-specific kernels, firmware and boot procedures;
  • installation and recovery on hardware that normally runs Android.

A distribution such as Debian, Ubuntu or Fedora may technically run on ARM hardware, but it generally does not provide the same integrated device-porting framework.

2. Better prospects for long-term device support

The project’s central objective is to extend the useful life of mobile hardware. It favours upstream or near-mainline Linux kernels rather than indefinitely maintaining old Android vendor kernels. That can eventually provide:

  • newer kernel security fixes;
  • newer filesystems, networking stacks and drivers;
  • less dependence on an abandoned phone manufacturer;
  • easier maintenance shared between several devices.

This is especially valuable for devices whose official Android updates have ended. However, mainline support varies considerably by device.

3. It is a genuine general-purpose Linux system

Unlike Android, postmarketOS provides a conventional Linux userland with:

  • normal shell access;
  • standard Linux permissions and processes;
  • SSH;
  • package management;
  • scripting and development tools;
  • common server applications;
  • desktop Linux software, subject to architecture and interface compatibility.

You have much greater control over the machine and are not restricted to Android application packaging or Android’s system architecture.

4. Lightweight Alpine Linux base

postmarketOS is based on Alpine Linux, which has a very small base system and low storage and memory overhead. The postmarketOS project cites Alpine’s small size as a major reason for selecting it.

That makes it particularly suitable for:

  • older phones and tablets;
  • devices with limited eMMC storage;
  • low-memory systems;
  • minimal server or appliance installations.

It can therefore feel substantially lighter than a full Ubuntu installation.

5. Excellent reproducible build and installation tooling

Its pmbootstrap tool provides a structured way to:

  • select a target device;
  • choose a user interface;
  • build device packages;
  • construct an installation image;
  • install to internal storage, an SD card or another target;
  • maintain isolated build environments.

This is a significant advantage for porting and experimentation. It is generally more coherent than manually assembling a kernel, root filesystem, boot image and device tree for an ordinary Linux distribution.

6. Choice of user interface

postmarketOS is not tied to one graphical environment. Depending on the device and repository state, it can use environments such as:

  • Phosh;
  • Plasma Mobile;
  • Sxmo;
  • GNOME;
  • KDE Plasma;
  • XFCE;
  • console-only installations.

This allows the same operating system to serve as a phone interface, tablet desktop, conventional laptop environment or headless server.

7. Useful for repurposing old hardware

Even when telephony, cameras or suspend do not work perfectly, postmarketOS can make an old device useful as a:

  • small server;
  • SSH terminal;
  • network-monitoring device;
  • home-automation controller;
  • music player;
  • dashboard;
  • field data terminal;
  • lightweight desktop connected to a monitor.

The project currently lists hundreds of devices at varying support levels, although “listed” does not mean every hardware function works.

8. More user control and less vendor dependence

It is largely community-developed and uses free and open-source software wherever practical. You can inspect, modify and rebuild much more of the system than with a typical manufacturer Android image.

Compared with other distributions

DistributionMain strengthWhere postmarketOS has an advantage
Ubuntu/Debian ARMLarge software repositories and familiar desktop administrationBetter device-porting tools and mobile integration
FedoraModern desktop stack and strong upstream practicesWider focus on repurposing Android-era mobile devices
Arch Linux ARMHighly configurable and current packagesMore structured mobile-device packaging and installation
MobianDebian-based mobile Linux with a familiar ecosystemBroader device-porting framework and lightweight base
DroidianReuses Android hardware support through HaliumpostmarketOS places greater emphasis on standard Linux and mainline kernels
Android custom ROMsUsually retain better camera, modem and power-management supportpostmarketOS provides a conventional GNU/Linux environment and greater system control
Alpine LinuxExtremely small and secure general-purpose basepostmarketOS adds mobile interfaces, device packages and flashing tools

Important disadvantages

The advantages come with significant qualifications:

  • hardware support can be incomplete;
  • cameras are frequently problematic;
  • modem calling, GPS, Bluetooth or suspend may not work;
  • battery life may be worse than Android;
  • Android applications do not run natively;
  • some desktop packages are unavailable or awkward on ARM;
  • applications designed for a mouse and large display may be difficult on a tablet;
  • devices in the testing category may only boot and offer basic functionality.

The project itself warns that it is still primarily aimed at Linux enthusiasts and should not be expected to match Android or iOS polish on all devices. 

Let's Get to the QGIS installation...

Today I'll be installing on an old Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Tablet. 

1. Open the Console

2. ~$ sudo apk add nano

3. ~$ doas nano /etc/apk/repositories

4. Add the following entry to the end of the paragraph:-

@testing https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing 

 

5. ~$ sudo apk update

6. ~$ doas apk add qgis@testing py3-qgis@testing

YOUR DONE! 

If you get this error:-

'ERROR: py3-qgis-3.44.10-r1: I/O error'

7. ~$ doas apk cache clean

8. ~$ doas rm -f /var/cache/apk/py3-qgis-3.44.10-r1.apk

9. ~$ doas rm -f /var/cache/apk/*.tmp

10. ~$ doas apk update

11. ~$ doas apk add py3-qgis@testing

12. YOUR DONE!

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