Fuchsia blossom. What do we know about Google's Fuchsia OS? Fuchsia OS is the new operating system from Google
The range of popular operating systems today is quite narrow. At the same time, each new update introduces largely repeating functions and capabilities. Fuchsia OS set out to rebel the calm “swamp kingdom”.
This is absolutely new platform from Google Corporation. Its development stage is still at a very early stage, but it is already operating system looks very promising and promising. And most of all, it resembles a kind of hybrid of Chrome and Android. But can the new product completely replace the current leaders?
Universal OS with open source code
Google began actively working on its progressive axis back in 2016. It was supposed to be a quality alternative popular Android. Particularly inquisitive journalists were able to immediately find out that Fuchsia OS should become a universal platform that will be installed not only on mobile devices and computers, but can even be present on electric scooters, as well as numerous other electrical appliances.
It is worth noting that developers have been striving for total universalism for quite a long time. This includes the attempts of Windows 10 and OS X to become truly popular. But in the end, Microsoft and Apple did not succeed in this direction. Linux came closest to the idea of a “single OS”, because the kernels of this operating system serve as the basis for Chrome OS, SteamOS, Android, and various shells game consoles, modems and televisions, as well as other devices. It is this that is represented at almost all levels of consumer equipment.
And now Fuchsia OS plans to break all imaginable records. Google really really wants to create a single platform for the widest possible range of people. electronic devices with the ability to run the same programs on different gadgets. Of course, such an approach would allow us to enlist the support of numerous software developers who prefer to create software according to the same rules for huge amount users. Google will also have to implement a convenient and functional ecosystem that would appeal not only to consumers, but also to application developers, as well as companies involved in the production of various devices.
What is Fuchsia OS
The public first learned about Fuchsia OS from information contained on the GitHub website. Then early drafts appeared in the spring of 2017 home screen of this system. And thanks to the image of this OS on the Pixelbook laptop, many have concluded that Fuchsia will become a logical continuation or alternative to Chrome OS and Android. And relatively recently, users learned that Google was preparing a demo version of the operating system. At the same time, especially impatient people can already try an unofficial demo version, which runs directly in the browser.
As already noted, Fuchsia OS is seen by many users as a logical continuation of Android and Chrome OS. But it doesn't really match. It turns out that Fuchsia is being built from scratch using a completely new Zircon microkernel. But “green robot” and “chrome” are based on Linux, albeit its most modified kernel. IN mandatory Fuchsia OS will be open source, but with almost full control from Google.
Interface
Today's fashionable one is used here Material Design. The built-in Escher renderer is responsible for graphic design. Carefully placed buttons and windows create the impression of added depth. Therefore, themes and wallpapers now provide an immersive experience rather than something flat.
Moreover appearance Fuchsia OS may differ depending on whether it is targeted at desktop or mobile devices. For example, the Armadillo shell has been prepared for smartphones and tablets. It invites the user to immediately dive into quick settings, as well as view recently used applications.
Serious attention is also paid to Google Feed. And here standard menu and the former arrangement of elements will gradually fade into oblivion. There is much less information about the desktop version of Fuchsia, which is called Capybara. So far, only the presence of a multifunctional taskbar with settings, time, power button and other elements is known for certain. In both cases, applications will open in their own “cards”, which should not distract the user from pressing tasks.
Voice assistants
Artificial intelligence is beginning to play an increasingly important role, even in mobile gadgets. Therefore, the developers decided to develop this idea by introducing virtual or voice assistants into the new OS.
Now Google Assistant will take into account almost all your actions. All this information is analyzed by the system to offer the user the most effective answer or hint. AI will have access to literally everything: contacts, events, calendar, messages, location, programs, and so on.
Cross-platform
Particular attention is paid to cross-platform in Fuchsia OS. Google really wants the new platform to work equally seamlessly and stably on absolutely any device that uses electricity.
Typically, the problem is not only maintaining a consistent context, but also progress. But advanced cloud service Ledger must decide similar difficulties. It is enough to log into your own Google account once so that the programs on all devices have the same status. How it works? For example, you open a certain browser on your laptop, and then continue to use it with the same tabs on your smartphone.
Fuchsia OS release date
Right now, Google certainly has a roadmap related to Fuchsia OS. But some specifics about possible date no release yet. You can only track the status of the source code through GitHub and some other sites. And since work on “Fuchsia” is still at the initial stage, there is no hope for its speedy release.
Moreover, the developer may cancel the project altogether, taking into account current realities and trends. But still, I would like Fuchsia OS to realize its full potential, becoming a truly universal operating system of the new generation.
Exactly a week ago, information appeared online about a new operating system being developed by Google. This OS, unlike the company's past projects, is not based on Linux. Fuchsia is developed from scratch, using only (L)ittle (K)ernel and Magenta as a basis.
Initially, experts suggested that the new product was intended exclusively for the Internet of Things. But it turned out that Fuchsia is also suitable for installation on full-fledged workstations. So what kind of project is this and why is it needed? The situation was clarified a little by Gary Sims, who compiled and studied the features of this operating system.
Collecting Fuchsia
Sims compiled the OS (assembly instructions -) on a computer with 64-bit Ubuntu version. In addition, the same can be done in OS X or PC with almost any Linux distribution.As mentioned above, Fuchsia consists of two parts. This is (L)ittle (K)ernel, a small and fast OS created for IoT devices. The kernel size of this OS is only 15-20 KB, the source code is available (distributed under the MIT license). The second part is Magenta, which is used in modern devices with a powerful (compared to IoT systems) configuration. Thus Fuchsia is hybrid system, which can work on both IoT devices and modern PCs or phones. The OS supports Dart, JSON, SSL, Google GO, LLVM and Rust.
To assemble Fuchsia you need a series software tools and libraries, including a simple command shell “mxsh”. After all this is received, you can collect LK/Magenta. If everything is ready, you can download Magenta.
Launch Fuchsia OS
The easiest way to run Fuchsia OS is to use qemu, which is a free open-source program source code for emulation hardware various platforms. It includes emulation Intel processors x86 and I/O devices. The Fuchsia sources contain their own copy of qemu, which is built during the general OS build process.
When loading Fuchsia we get a large number of debug messages that appear as the OS boots. The first message welcomes the user with the message “welcome to lk/MP”, after which a number of subsystems necessary to start the OS are initialized. After this comes the determination of the processor, network devices and other elements of the system. If everything went smoothly, the user gets access to command shell mxsh.
The shell contains a number of built-in commands, including cd, cp, echo, ls, and rm. If you decide to type a word that is not a command, the shell will try to find and run program of the same name from the /boot/bin/ directory. This directory contains many different executable files, most of which are designed to test the functionality of Fuchsia. There are also program files like fortune and cowsay.
Fuchsia supports the Dart programming language created by Google. It was initially positioned as a replacement for Javascript. Google now uses this language for its own projects, including Adwords. You can work with Dart either by compiling the sources into Javascript, or by working with your own Dart VM system. The second method is used in Fuchsia.
To try out the compiled OS, you can run the Dart script from /boot/apps. It's called hello_fuchsia.dart. If everything works correctly, the console will display “Hello, Fuchsia!”
What is all this for?
Just the fact that Fuchsia can output a text phrase means that it is a sophisticated OS capable of running an interpreter and executing a script. As you can see, compilers C, Java, etc. not here, but Dart is there and working. Since the corporation has invested a lot of money and effort in developing this programming language, one can expect that Fuchsia and Dart will be widely used in various systems in future. It could be an IoT device, a household gadget, a helmet virtual reality and so on.In Fuchsia to create user interface Flutter is used. Escher was also discovered supporting the series visual effects. This could mean that Google engineers are planning to use Material Design in their new system.
There are still many unknowns about Fuchsia. Main question still remains the same - what systems are you planning to use this OS on? You shouldn’t expect that it was created as an alternative to Android OS, because in order to software, in particular, the operating system has become successful, you need an active developer community, an application directory, etc. Google has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Android and is unlikely to change anything.
There is another interesting theory regarding this OS. Perhaps Google is developing Fuchsia in order to have an operating system that will not have problems in terms of intellectual property. The corporation is developing this platform independently, from scratch, so there are no elements in it that are someone else's intellectual property. In Android, for example, there are such elements, and there are quite a few of them, which creates certain problems.
One thing is certain - Fuchsia is here and working. There is no graphical interface yet, perhaps there won’t be one. The number of commands and supported libraries is still very limited. Fuchsia Developers
Until last year, there was almost no information about Fuchsia, then a picture of the system's home screen appeared. The new operating system is currently running on Pixelbook devices. There is an opinion that Fuchsia may eventually become Google's only system.
The attention to Fuchsia OS in the press is enormous - it’s time to systematize information about this platform.
What does Fuchsia look like?
When you log into the system, you will notice that its interface looks unusual. Fuchsia uses own program Escher renderer, which specializes in shadows. Windows, notifications, buttons, pop-up menus have clear layers, all images have different depth. The wallpaper looks like a view from a window, rather than a flat image behind the icons.
There are currently 2 variants of the Fuchsia interface: a modern mobile codenamed Armadillo and a more traditional desktop Capybara. Armadillo does not have a list of applications and shortcuts, but a combined view is available recent applications, quick settings And Google Feeds. Capybara is still in its early stages of development and only contains a taskbar, a place for quick settings and something similar to a Start button.
You can see what Armadillo looked like last year in the video:
Each application opens in its own card; they can also be combined into a common card. The user will be able to run two programs in one card and access more actions. Armadillo's interface doesn't look like a traditional home screen because the focus is on tasks rather than individual apps.
How the system works
From the very beginning, Fuchsia was designed to interact with Google Assistant. The entire contents of the screen, everything you do and can do, is displayed in the assistant. At least that's what the system documentation says.
IN Android assistant examines the contents of the screen if you hold Home button, but Fuchsia gives him more deep access. You could be in your browser reading a restaurant review, then open your calendar to check the date, say “OK Google, invite Marina to dinner,” and the assistant will know what to do.
The assistant is given access to objects such as contacts, places, objects, events, concepts displayed within the Fuchsia platform.
What devices will it work on?
IN modern world Most users have not one device, but several - such as computers, smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart watches. Given the current state of Fuchsia, it seems that Google wants to make the system work on every one of these devices.
The main problem with this approach is maintaining progress in work. Comes to the user's aid software solution Ledger. With Ledger, applications automatically save their state to different devices as soon as the user logs in account. Google describes Ledger as distributed storage for Fuchsia. Naturally, all data is stored in the cloud.
The idea is simple: close Chrome on your smartphone and open it on your laptop - the tabs will be the same. If you forgot to save a document before shutting down on your computer, open Docs on your smartphone and save. Did your battery run out while you were working on a project? Log in from your computer and continue.
Since Fuchsia is the same on both a computer and a smartphone, it is not at all necessary to have both devices. You can install your smartphone in a docking station, for example, in Samsung DeX, and work on big screen with a desktop analogue.
Are there architectural differences from Android and Chrome OS
Android and Chrome OS are based on Linux, which is nearly three decades old. Android problem is that before the Treble project, updating the Linux kernel depended on device manufacturers, and few people wanted to do this. Even several months after the release of Treble, some manufacturers are unwilling to add its code to their devices. Because of this, Android remains potentially vulnerable to new exploits, patches for which have already been released, but have not yet reached many devices.
Fuchsia is free of this drawback thanks to the custom Zircon kernel, which was created with upgradability in mind. Applications running on Fuchsia are isolated and do not have direct access to the Zircon core. This is how it happens additional layer security, which prevents applications from becoming incompatible with the device after an operating system update, which plagues Android.
What are the benefits of Fuchsia for developers?
At all stages of development of the operating room Google systems was mindful of the needs of third-party developers. Most of the user interface elements are written using the Flutter framework in the Dart language, which will likely seem familiar to programmers working with JavaScript and Java. The Google Go programming language is also supported. System developers will be able to use the Rust language, for system developers Apple iOS Swift language support is provided.
Many of these languages are interchangeable. Using the FIDL protocol, a Dart interface can interact with code written in Go. Other combinations are available. Thanks to this, developers have the opportunity to expand their toolkit and choose the language that they know best and that is suitable for solving a specific problem.
When the system reaches users
It's a difficult question. Fuchsia looks good in its current state, but its functionality will take a long time to develop. The OS doesn't even have a full-fledged browser, although work is underway to port Chrome.
You shouldn't wait for Fuchsia to appear before 2019. Google is in no hurry to share information about the new OS, so there is little confirmed data - experts can only speculate. Fuchsia will probably change significantly by the time smartphones with this OS go on sale.
In 2016, it became known that Google was starting work on a new operating system - alternative to Android. It hasn't been heard from since, but an early design for the Fuchsia OS home screen was revealed last May. Then screenshots of the system running on a Pixelbook emerged, suggesting that Fuchsia could eventually become an alternative to both Android and Chrome OS. In addition, an unofficial demo version of the system has appeared that works directly in the browser.
With renewed attention on Google's new operating system, it would be a good idea to put together all the information we know about it and understand what it is and what's so interesting about it.
Interface
The first thing that catches your eye is the large-scale Material Design. Graphical interface Fuchsia is rendered using Escher's own physically based renderer. Windows, notifications, buttons, etc. are neatly placed on the screen, adding depth to the look. The wallpaper no longer looks like a flat picture that hides behind applications, but more like the view from the nearest window.
On this moment Fuchsia offers two types: a new mobile-centric design called Armadillo and a more desktop-friendly Capybara. Armadillo moves away from the usual model of icons and application menus towards a combination of recent applications, quick settings and your Google Feed. Capybara is still in an unfinished state: there is only a taskbar where you can see the time, a place for quick settings and something resembling a power button.
This is what Armadillo looked like last year:
In each case, applications open in their own cards, or multiple applications share one card. Some Google Feed suggestions will directly open two apps in one card for a combined experience. Overall, this looks like an interesting evolution of the traditional app-to-home screen model, one that focuses more on the tasks themselves rather than individual apps.
Virtual assistants
From the outset, it feels like Fuchsia is designed to integrate with Google Assistant. Every element on the screen, everything you do, and everything you can do is seen by Google Assistant. At least based on current information about Fuchsia.
By holding down the Home button, Android Assistant can check the screen for information it can use, but it looks like Fuchsia will take it even further. For example, you can search your browser for restaurant reviews, then open your calendar to check the date, and then say, “Hey Google, invite Katya to lunch,” and the assistant will take into account your previous actions.
The assistant will have access to all “entities”, be it a person, place, object, event or concept, presented within the Fuchsia platform. What’s noteworthy is that the developers have added access to entities from the past. The assistant will be able to interact with entities in the current context or with those that he has seen previously.
Cross-platform
In today's technological world, most people have several devices: smartphone, tablet, laptop and others. Judging by the current state of Fuchsia, Google wants it to work seamlessly on all of these devices.
Typically the challenge is maintaining progress and context. And this is where Ledger comes to the rescue: after you have logged into Google account, all applications automatically save their state across all devices. Google describes Ledger as a "distributed storage system for Fuchsia" - everything is stored in the cloud.
The idea sounds futuristic but cool: close Chrome on your phone, then open it on your laptop, and all your tabs will be in place. Forgot to save a document at work? Just open the app on your phone and save. The battery died right in the middle research project? Just log in from any other device and continue where you left off.
In addition, due to the lack of difference between Fuchsia for desktop and for mobile devices some will not need to use both. Theoretically, you could simply use your phone in conjunction with a docking station like Samsung's DeX or Razer's Project Linda and use the system as if it were on a desktop.
Architectural advantages over Android/Chrome OS
Unlike Android and Chrome OS, Fuchsia is built on Zircon's own microkernel rather than Linux. Zicron is based on a capability-based model; Unlike the rights model, where resources exist in a global space and the ability to access resources is determined by the presence of certain rights for a process, in Zicron access to resources is carried out through special links(handles), which makes the system more stable and secure.
Fuchsia for developers
This Google project aimed at a wide range of developers. Much of the UI is written in Dart (a language that will look familiar to JavaScript and Java developers) using the Flutter framework. There's also support for Go, another language from Google. System programmers will love the opportunity to work in Rust. Google also wants to attract the attention of developers under Apple products due to Swift support.
The icing on the cake is the native compatibility support for most of these languages. For example, through the FIDL protocol, Dart UI code can communicate directly with the Go backend. This gives developers the opportunity to be more expressive and use a better language for their work.
So, when can I try everything?
But this is not so simple. While Fuchsia in its current state looks nice, functionality still has a long way to go. It doesn't even have a fully functioning browser, although a Chrome port is in development. And if you've seen the Pixelbook demo, then you know there's room for improvement.
So, we have seen some progress in the work on Fuchsia, but everything is still in limbo. Judging by what we have, we shouldn’t expect devices based on Fuchsia before 2019 (or even later). And who knows what might change before the OS hits the market?
Google has a completely new operating system. Unlike all other operating systems of the American corporation, it is designed for all types of devices, and not for any specific type, and its kernel is based not on Linux, but own development Google.
What do we know about this operating system?
Name
The new OS will be called Fuchsia - fuchsia (there is such a color). At least, this is the name under which it now appears in the project on the GitHub website. This Google name explains by mixing two colors, pink and purple - “Pink + Purple == Fuchsia (a new Operating System)". Why these particular colors were chosen is not entirely clear, but since Google traditionally uses color names in the names of its OS kernels, it can be assumed that Fuchsia will combine two kernels (for mobile and desktop OS).
Official confirmation
Google has not yet officially unveiled this operating system, but details about it are disclosed on the project page on GitHub. For example, it says that Fuchsia is not built on the Linux kernel. The Fuchsia kernel is an evolution of the LittleKernel kernel and was developed by Google engineers. It is called Magenta and is created as an analogue of the FreeRTOS and ThreadX operating systems, which are used in the Internet of Things. It is also known that Fuchsia will support 32- and 64-bit ARM processors and 64-bit PC architecture.
So what is Fuchsia?
Fuchsia is a new operating system that will run on different types devices, including smartphones and computers. It will be the most universal and scalable of all existing ones. Most likely, it will in the future replace all other operating systems developed by Google, including Android and Chrome OS. There is another possible use for Fuchsia - in embedded systems, such as the OnHub router or " smart speaker» Google Home. One of the system developers, Travis Geiselbrecht, promised that a version of Fuchsia for Raspberry Pi 3 microcomputers will soon be released.
Where will Android and Chrome OS go?
Google has reached a dead end with Android and Chrome OS. For several years now, the company has had plans to combine these operating systems and recently added Chrome OS Google support Play Store and launching Android applications and games. Android 7.0 should have supported multi-window mode, but in final version Nougat it will not be implemented due to technical difficulties. In addition, Google is diligently trying to get rid of the use of Java in Android, and the transition to Fuchsia will allow the company to finally move away from this technology.
