Chromebook Users Will Soon Be Able to Install Debian Packages via the Files App

Linux app support in Chrome OS is here, but it’s currently in beta testing as Google wants to make it ready for the masses in an upcoming stable Chrome OS release. Meanwhile, Google’s Chrome OS team details in a recent Chromium Gerrit commit initial support for installing Linux packages in the .deb file format used by Debian-based operating systems directly from the Files app. This would allow Chromebook users to install Debian (.deb) packages in Chrome OS from the file manager by simply downloading the .deb package(s), which would be saved in the Downloads folder of the Files app, right click on the package to be installed and choose “Install with Linux” entry. Users will even be notified about the installation progress through a notification.