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iSH+ 0.2.0

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@johnnydevelops johnnydevelops released this 10 Nov 23:15
· 53 commits to main since this release
v0.2.0
db929cc

The second preview of iSH+: Linux servers in your browser, instant resume, VM settings, security keys over NFC, and the iSH features that 0.1.0 had lost.

New

  • Servers open in your browser. Start a server in Linux and it's at localhost:<port> on the device: sessions menu > Open in Browser. Servers that only listen on Linux's own localhost (many dev servers) work too. Settings > Linux VM can share the ports with other devices on your network.
  • Instant resume. When iSH+ goes to the background, Linux is saved, with a checkpoint of its disk so the two match. If iOS closes iSH+, you can resume where you were: iSH+ asks after enabling JIT. With Keep Running in Background on, Linux keeps running and is saved every 10 minutes, since iOS may close iSH+ anyway.
  • Settings > Linux VM:
    • Memory: set automatically for your device (1 GB on 3 GB iPads), or with a slider or a typed value, up to what iOS lets iSH+ use with a margin.
    • CPU cores.
    • Open ports, and whether they're shared on your network.
  • Bigger disks. Swipe a distribution in Settings > Distributions > Disk Size. Linux grows its file system the next time it starts.
  • Files app. Files > iSH+ > Shared is /mnt/ios in Linux, and ~/iOS in your home folder.
  • Clipboard. pbcopy and pbpaste use the iOS clipboard. tmux and vim can copy to it as well.
  • Shortcuts. The Run Command action runs a command in Linux and returns its output: in the background if Linux is running, otherwise iSH+ opens to start it.
  • Security keys over NFC (#1, on iPhone). Linux sees a FIDO security key, so ssh with sk- keys asks you to hold your YubiKey (or another FIDO key) near the iPhone. Not yet tested with a real key: reports are welcome.
  • x86_64 programs built for glibc. Most prebuilt downloads now work alongside musl ones: FEX uses Ubuntu 24.04's libraries. apt-x86 install <package> installs x86_64 Ubuntu packages, replacing apk-x86.
  • A new app icon. iSH's original icon is still available in Settings > App Icon.

Improved

  • Tailscale and VPN names. MagicDNS names like my-mac resolve in Linux: DNS now goes through iOS's resolver, which follows VPNs' DNS settings.
  • Memory goes back to iOS. Memory Linux frees is returned to iOS, so iOS is less likely to close iSH+.
  • Ping works for every user, not only root.
  • New distributions:
    • Faster first boot: the disk is no longer filled with zeros in the background, which also saves storage.
    • No extra ubuntu account in Ubuntu.
  • Terminal:
    • The history scrolls a row at a time.
    • The margin around the text is back, as in iSH.
    • Caps Lock as Control or Escape works again.
    • The bell flashes the screen.
  • JIT:
    • StikDebug is the fallback when the built-in enabler isn't set up or fails.
    • The JIT helper exits once JIT is enabled.
  • Smaller app. The old iSH engine is gone and the QEMU libraries are stripped.

Fixed

  • Close Session removes the session and frees its console (#2). The next session on that console starts with a new shell.
  • Disk errors: no more I/O errors when a new distribution's disk is formatted.

Installing

Sideload iSH-plus-0.2.0.ipa (AltStore, SideStore, Feather...), keeping its entitlements; JIT needs get-task-allow. See the README for the setup with LocalDevVPN and pairing. Updating from 0.1.0 keeps your distributions.

Requires iOS 26 or later (iOS 27 to pair on the device). Security keys need an iPhone with NFC.

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