Using Yibu

Everything on the start screen and in the Yibu desktop, one control at a time. All screenshots are from a Redmi K40 running ARLinux 0.2.2.

The phone's interface language is English, so the screenshots are in English.

1 · START SCREEN

Before the desktop starts

ARLinux start screen with the current yibu environment, Start desktop, the Display card and Manage environments.

Current environment: the workspace that will start. Yibu is created from the APK, offline.
Start desktop: opens the workspace. The first start unpacks it on the phone; later starts are quick.
Display: where the desktop is shown. Built-in display is the phone; a connected monitor or AR glasses appear here too (Android 12+).
Manage environments: scroll down for your workspaces and Run settings.

Manage environments with the yibu workspace, Delete, New Yibu workspace, Import distribution and Run settings.

Your workspaces: select one, then Start desktop. Each keeps its own apps and files.
Delete removes that workspace and everything in it. Back up files first.
Reinstall or Add Classic: Reinstall refreshes a workspace’s Linux system from this APK and keeps your home folder; Classic adds a traditional free-window desktop. (Older versions show New Yibu workspace here.)
Import distribution adds LXQt, KDE Plasma, Arch or Omarchy from a downloaded ZIP (don’t unzip it).
Run settings opens the options below.

Run settings: Desktop mode, Touch interaction set to Touchscreen, and Android keyboard Gboard.

A · Desktop mode: which window manager runs the workspace. Keep Distribution default; Yibu’s layout needs it.
B · Touch interaction: Touchscreen lets you tap things directly; Touchpad turns the screen into a touchpad with two pointers. Phones start in Touchpad, tablets in Touchscreen. Takes effect the next time you start the desktop.
C · Android keyboard: Gboard or WeChat Input. They give you the floating keyboard and hold-to-talk voice; otherwise your system keyboard is used.

2 · THE YIBU DESKTOP

One main app, three live side slots

Yibu with Mousepad in the main area and OpenCode and Calendar pinned in the side slots.

Sidebar: moves the side slots to the left or right.
Task chips: every running app. The highlighted one is in the main area; tap another to bring it there.
+ Apps: the app list (Linux, Windows and Android). Double-tapping the edge bar opens it too. See below.
Tasks: the number of running apps; tap for a full list when the chips don’t fit.
Full screen: gives the main app the whole screen.
×: asks the main app to close, like a window’s close button. Apps can ask you to save first; nothing is force-killed.
Main area: the app you are working in.
Pinned slot: a live, scaled-down app. It keeps running and updating.
Unpin: takes the app out of the slot. It keeps running in the task chips.
Empty slot: “Pin the current task”. Tap it to pin the main app here.

In Touchscreen mode, tap these controls with your finger. In Touchpad mode, move a pointer onto them and tap the screen.

3 · OPEN APPS

+ Apps: Linux, Windows and Android in one list

The Apps list filtered by the search text ca, showing Calendar, Camera, CapCut and more.

Search: start typing a name. The keyboard opens from the thin bar on the right edge.
All · Linux · Windows · Android: filter the list. Settings next to Apps switches touchscreen/touchpad and the Android keyboard.
Tap an app to open it in the main area. Android apps are the ones installed on your phone; Linux apps come with the workspace or are installed with apt (or by asking OpenCode).

4 · PIN AND SWAP

Keep apps in view, swap them in one tap

OpenCode pinned in the first slot; the main area is empty. — **Pin**: tap an empty slot. The main app moves into it, and the main area shows the next app (or is empty, as here).

After tapping the pinned Calendar, it is in the main area and Mousepad took its slot. — **Swap**: tap a pinned app. It comes to the main area and the previous main app takes its slot.

A typical layout: your document in the main area, OpenCode and a reference pinned at the side. Tap the reference when you need it, tap the document to go back.

5 · MORE

Tasks, full screen and the sidebar

The Tasks menu listing OpenCode, Calendar and Mousepad. — **Tasks**: every running app in a list. Tap one to bring it to the main area; tap Tasks again to close the list.

OpenCode full screen, with the round restore button at the top right. — **Full screen**: the main app fills the screen. Touch the screen and a round button appears at the top right for 3 seconds; tap it to return to the Yibu layout.

The side slots moved to the left of the main area. — **Sidebar**: puts the slots on the left, for left-handed use or when the right side is in your way. Tap it again to move them back.

Leaving the desktop

Press Android’s Back twice within two seconds (“Press Back again to exit ARLinux”). Your apps and files stay in the workspace for next time.

Keyboard and voice

The thin bar on the right edge is outside the desktop. Tap it to show or hide the keyboard. Hold it, speak and release to send your words to OpenCode.

Get ARLinux