Google has a much-needed fix to improve the performance of graphical Linux apps on Android. Here’s what’s changing and why it matters.
Google is working to improve the performance of graphical Linux apps on Android, which currently run slowly using inefficient CPU-based rendering.
This will be achieved by implementing gfxstream, a technology that forwards graphics API calls to the host’s GPU for near-native performance.
Evidence for this was found in a hidden “Graphics Acceleration” setting in the Terminal app that enables a new “GPU-accelerated renderer.”
Earlier this year, Google introduced the Linux Terminal app, giving developers and power users the ability to run full-fledged Linux applications on their Android devices. While it was initially limited to command-line apps, Google recently added support for running Linux apps with graphical user interfaces (GUIs), a significant step forward for the feature.
However, there’s a major catch with the current implementation. All graphics rendering is handled by the CPU instead of the GPU, which is not only incredibly slow but also very taxing on a device’s battery and thermals. This is only a temporary problem, though, as Google is already working on a new feature that will make these apps run significantly better.
