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Android translation layer (ATL)

Run Android apps on Linux

The Android Translation Layer is an alternative implementation of Android application APIs on top of standard Desktop Linux, with the ability to run apps as-is using some AOSP components such as ART+libcore, modified to use system-provided libraries where possible to further the goal of being as lightweight as possible. That is in contrast with existing container-based solutions which require running a whole AOSP system in parallel to the host Linux system, resulting in considerably higher resource usage (both disk space and RAM) and longer startup times. The higher efficiency of ATL can make it viable to sideload apps also on more constrained devices. Another benefit of our approach is better integration with the desktop, such as native notifications.

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This project was funded through the NGI Mobifree Fund, a fund established by NLnet with financial support from the European Commission's Next Generation Internet programme under the aegis of DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology. The NGI Mobifree R&D programme is part of Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101135795.