01 / Where it started
Linux since 2009.
Still curious.
I’m Vali Neagu. I first used Linux in 2009, and I’ve spent a lot of time trying distributions, changing desktops and making systems feel like my own. Debian, Ubuntu and Arch Linux have all been part of that journey. I still use Arch on my workstation.
Over the last few years I’ve also become a Mac user. I like Apple’s products and hardware. I want the freedom to explore what that hardware can do: choose my tools, run my own programs and adapt my setup to the work in front of me.
02 / Why LinPad exists
A familiar computer.
Room to experiment.
The idea started with a music-model project I wanted to bring to my iPad. Looking at my iPad Air and MacBook, I saw how much their hardware had in common. With a Logitech keyboard and trackpad attached, the iPad already felt like a laptop.
But I kept running into restrictions when I wanted to do development work or try the software I used elsewhere. It was frustrating to have a capable device in front of me and so little room to experiment with it.
After a lot of research, I decided to build LinPad: a Linux environment with a desktop, terminal and real development tools, running inside an iPad app. The music experiment grew into something broader that other people could use and help improve.
LinPad builds on the work of iSH and iSH-ARM64. It is a pre-release, and there is plenty left to test and improve. The Linux-on-iPad guide explains the approach, and the FAQ covers its current limits.
05 / An open invitation
Bring your curiosity.
I want LinPad to be useful for nerds, developers, Linux enthusiasts, geeks, musicians and people who simply enjoy making a device their own. Everyone is welcome to help.
You can contribute code, test a build on your iPad, improve a guide, make a theme or explain a problem clearly. You do not need to be an emulator expert. A useful bug report or a better set of instructions can make a real difference.
— Vali
