C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR Google is developing “microfuchsia,” a minimal version of its Fuchsia operating system designed to run on the Google Nest Hub. It operates in a virtual machine and may be tested on Android devices. The purpose behind this project is unclear, but it could provide better performance and security compared to microdroid.
Google is well known for its Android and Chrome OS, but it has also been quietly working on a third operating system called Fuchsia OS. While there are speculations about Fuchsia replacing Android in the future, Google is currently exploring different applications for Fuchsia, such as running it on virtual machines on Android devices.
Fuchsia OS is open-source and based on Zircon instead of the Linux kernel. This architecture aims to reduce the amount of code running in the system for improved security and stability. Google has successfully rolled out Fuchsia OS on smart home devices like the Nest Hub, expanding its use beyond its initial scope.
To further enhance Fuchsia’s capabilities, Google has initiated projects like Starnix to run Linux binaries on Fuchsia devices. Recently, Google has been working on “microfuchsia” to make Fuchsia bootable on existing devices through virtualization. This project could potentially offer increased speed and security compared to microdroid, a stripped-down version of Android designed for isolated workloads.
Although details are limited, hints in the Android Open Source Project suggest that microfuchsia may be packaged in an APEX file for use on Android devices. This project is still in its early stages, but it will be interesting to see how Google leverages microfuchsia in the future. Any tips or insights can be shared with our team at news@androidauthority.com. Your information can be kept confidential or credited accordingly.