Fuchsia: More than Just a Mystery Experiment
Can it replace Android and make a stand?
Fuchsia is a capability-based, real-time operating system (RTOS) being developed by Google. It was initially identified as a mysterious code post on GitHub in August 2016, click here to check it out, without any official announcement. In contrast to prior Google-developed operating systems such as Chrome OS and Android, which are based on Linux kernels, Fuchsia is based on a new microkernel named “Magenta”, derived from “Little Kernel”, a small operating system intended for embedded systems.
Upon investigation, media outlets noted that the code post on GitHub suggested Fuchsia’s capability to run on universal devices, from embedded systems to smartphones, tablets and personal computers. In May 2017,
Overview
Fuchsia was updated with a user interface, along with a developer writing that the project was not a “dumping ground of a dead thing“, indicating media speculation about Google’s intentions with the operating system, including the possibility of it replacing Android. The logo of the operating system at GitHub is a fuchsia-colored infinity symbol. It is distributed as free and open-source software under a mix of software licenses, including BSD 3 clause, MIT, and Apache 2.0.
And here is a screenshot of the Magenta kernel, part of Fuchsia.
Let’s try it out
To try this out, make sure “Unkown Sources” is enabled, then tap the following link to download the “Armadillo” APK, which is Fuchsia’s main UI bundled into a package that works on Android. From there, tap the Download complete notification, then simply press “Install” when prompted. Click this -> Download the Fuchsia/Armadillo APK.
Currently, Armadillo features a card-based design. The base section is a personal section with your profile picture and some handy to use settings. The sliders for volume and brightness feels well made and its UX game is strong. Swiping it up we see something like Google Now or something that comes when we swipe right on our current Android devices. The keyboard that it has at the moment looks pretty minimal and doesn’t at all compare with Gboard.
Swiping down reveals a list of cards with space holders that will be probably lined up based on your usage. You can stack a lot of them on one another, this takes multitasking to a whole another level. So for now, all we know is that Magenta targets modern devices that come with the best in class specs. So we can’t say anything sturdy about the future of the OS as of now.
