11 votes

I setup a device with decent PostmarketOS port. What can I do with it?

I have a Xiaomi Redmi 4X device with 2GB RAM and 16GB on-device storage.

Yesterday, I setup PostmarketOS on it, and it works well enough. WiFi and display work well, although no 3D acceleration and no telephony at all. As such, now it is just another device on my home network, except that I can ssh into it to do some basic stuff. Right now it is setup as a Syncthing node to backup my Keepass db and personal knowledge base written in org-mode, but I would like to use it further, and looking for ideas.

Two things to consider, though. First, I don't want it to overcharge and bust the battery. Before when it was on LineageOS, I had a magisk module acc so it would charge only 40-80%, and is largely the reason why the battery holds up pretty well after 5+ years without swelling. I will take further look into it over coming weekend and try to make something like it for the alpine kernel included in PmOS. Second, while on charging the phone keeps vibrating repeatedly. I have no idea how to fix that one, but would like to strat given pointers. (I have never done kernel dev in my life)

So, any ideas on what I can use this extra computer in my metaphorical basement welcome. Thanks in advance.

3 comments

  1. [3]
    admicos
    Link
    You could try installing something like Node-RED on it and do some automation. You probably won't be able to access any sensors to do cool stuff (and I have no idea if you have any IoT stuff), but...

    You could try installing something like Node-RED on it and do some automation. You probably won't be able to access any sensors to do cool stuff (and I have no idea if you have any IoT stuff), but regular internet stuff (RSS feeds, chat channels, whatever) probably will work well enough.

    3 votes
    1. helloworld
      Link Parent
      Looks interesting, I can setup some automation based in which devices are present on the network indicating my presence/absence at home, although I'm not very thrilled at prospect of using is again.

      Looks interesting, I can setup some automation based in which devices are present on the network indicating my presence/absence at home, although I'm not very thrilled at prospect of using is again.

      2 votes
    2. mxuribe
      Link Parent
      Wow, TIL; I didn't know that node-red could be installed on a mobile phone! I guess I know what I'll be playing with this weekend! (https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/android) Thanks for...

      Wow, TIL; I didn't know that node-red could be installed on a mobile phone! I guess I know what I'll be playing with this weekend! (https://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/android) Thanks for sharing this!