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Lxroot
lxroot is a lightweight alternative to chroot, Docker, and other software virtualization tools.
lxroot allows a non-root user to easily and safely create a "chroot-style" virtual software environment (via Linux namespaces), and then run one or more programs (a "guest userland") inside that environment.
Introduction
If you are running Linux on x86_64, then the quickest way to start using lxroot is to use vland. vland is a convenience wrapper around lxroot.
lxroot can run any architecture. At present, vland supports only x86_64. vland could certainly be extended to support other architectures.
The below commands will:
- download
vland, - install Arch Linux on a guest named
arch-guest, - install the
chromiumpackage on the guest, - run the
chromiumweb browser on the guest.
Commands
$ wget https://github.com/parke/vland/raw/main/vland
$ /bin/sh vland --create arch arch-guest
$ /bin/sh vland --pkg arch-guest install chromium
$ /bin/sh vland arch-guest -nx -- chromium
vland can also build, install, and run packages inside a guest. For example:
$ /bin/sh vland --pkg arch-guest build-install lua
$ /bin/sh vland arch-guest -- lua -v
These are just a few of lxroot's many use cases.
The below table summarizes the Linux distributions that I have used as guests with vland and lxroot.
| Guest distro | Can install as guest? | Can install packages? | Can build packages? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | yes | yes | yes |
| Arch | yes | yes | yes |
| Ubuntu | work in progress | work in progress | probably |
| Void | yes | yes | probably |
Other Linux distributions may also work inside lxroot. (Some level of custom shimming may be required.)
Due to lxroot's safety, simplicity, efficiency, and ability to run without root access, lxroot has a few limitations. These limitations may or may not affect your particular use case.