Droids @ XCP-ng

Philippe.Coval @vates.tech #FOSDEM2026

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Motivations

  • Are all mobile apps desirables ? for your:
    • Freedom/privacy/a10y/mind/battery…
  • Courage pays off, resist to the pressure
    • Support FLOSS alt, align values
    • ❤️ The Open Web (PWA)
  • Meanwhile be creative
    • mitigate annoyance

Value proposal

  • Selfhosted "Apps on demand" service:
    • Relocate apps:
      • from "personnal" devices
      • to homelab (PC) (or edge)
        • app runs sandboxed (in VM(s))
    • Remote access possible (from phone too)
  • 100% FLOSS, Cheap, Easy to setup (~2h)

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Prepare

  • HW Requirements: X86_64 box (SBC, laptop)
    • RAM: 8+ GB, Disk: 40+ GB, USB: 1G+
  • Build a PostmarketOS x86_64 image
    • using pm-boostrap.py (generic, ui-cage)
  • Download XCP-ng (Xen Hypervisor distribution)
    • Dump image to USB, boot (UEFI), install

Setup pmOS VM

  • Boot XCP-ng, connect to IP web portal
  • Connect to XO's IP with http
    • Import / disk:
      • Upload prebuild pmOS image
    • Add VM: "Generic UEFI", create
      • Settings: Disks: pmOS, attach

Add waydroid and apps

  • Start VM and log in pmOS:
  • sudo reboot

What's next?