It appears that Linux app support is indeed coming to Chrome OS. The obvious question, of course, is why?

After all, Linux isn’t exactly well known for its vibrant apps ecosystem. And Chrome OS already has access to the world’s biggest apps ecosystem, Android. So what’s up?

Simple. This is a developer play.

The one thing that’s still missing from Chrome OS even with Android app supported added is developer tools. And that is the one thing that Linux can offer from an apps perspective.

This is born out by the description of this feature which, as many Android/Chrome-related blogs are starting to discover, is now available in Beta form in the Chrome OS Dev channel. “Run Linux tools, editors, and IDEs on your Chromebook,” the description notes.

For Google and its employee and third-party developers, this is the final piece of the puzzle. It is what will make the Pixelbook and other high-end Chromebooks viable as developer boxes.

Interesting stuff.