Google’s ChromeOS system is about to usher in a major change and will be separated from the operating system and browser, so that the two can be updated independently, closer to the Linux system. This project called “Lacros” has been in progress for two years, and according to About Chromebooks, this feature has already been enabled by default in the beta version of ChromeOS version 116 and is expected to be released this month.
Image courtesy of Google
ChromeOS is a Linux kernel-based operating system developed by Google for low-end laptops and tablets. Currently, the ChromeOS system interface and web browser are the same programme, which means that updating the browser requires updating the entire system. The Lacros project will separate the system interface from the web browser, calling them ash-chrome (system interface) and lacros-chrome (web browser). In this way, users can choose to update the browser or the operating system according to their needs, without having to wait for Google to push the overall update.
The Lacros project also involves improvements to the ChromeOS operating system, with Google’s documentation stating that “Lacros can be thought of as ‘Linux chrome with more Wayland support'”. “Wayland is a new Linux graphics protocol that improves graphics performance and stability. Previously, ChromeOS used a homegrown graphics protocol called “Freon,” but will now move to Wayland, in line with other desktop Linux systems.
In terms of browsers, ChromeOS will no longer use Chrome, which was customized specifically for ChromeOS, but will instead use Chrome for Linux. In other words, the browser that users will see on Ubuntu will be the browser on ChromeOS.
The Lacros project has been in development for about two years and can currently be enabled by setting an option. However, in version 116, this option has disappeared as it has become a default feature. Google has yet to officially confirm the news, but the current code suggests that the change is coming. Users may not notice any difference, but this feature will make ChromeOS updates easier and may even extend the life of older devices.
