Provided the Linux container system works well on it - it should be easily possible. Whether the UX is good for a developer workflow I can't be sure. Users at reddit.com/r/chromeos seem to be able to do some good dev work on crostini-enabled devices.

You can’t run docker normally on ChromeOS you can run it on some chromebooks that support dual booting with something like GalliumOS, or rooting the machine and running your Linux distro in a container/chroot.

Unless you are severely strapped for cash and can’t find the same low end chromebook hardware in a low end windows form factor that can be simply reinstalled over there is absolutely no reason to even consider using a chromebook for anything other than it was intended unless you are rooting it for a hobby.

People abuse the fact that you can sometimes find them for sub $200 for $300-400 worth of hardware but it’s a hack on top of a hack to make it run anything.

Please check out r/crostini. Linux VMs now runs seamlessly on Chrome OS and can (or definitely will support) Docker.

Why do you need docker to develop "something easy" like the OP asks?

To have a Postgres instance and a web server without having to install them locally and screw with configuration. docker-compose and done.

Oh, Docker is so easy, and especially in an environment like ChromeOS, I imagine it's by far the most canonical way to develop.

Are you talking about the "old" ChromeOS or the new one with Linux app support? I think with Linux app support it shouldn't be hard to do this at all.

I can run docker on my pixelbook just fine via crostini. Vscode as well.

The whole point of a Chromebook is simplicity. Except for maybe saving a couple hundred bucks (as you say)--which I'm guessing isn't really much of a good reason for most of the people doing this--it doesn't make a lot of sense. There's plenty of cheap generation or two back laptop hardware that you can reliably install Linux on and call it a day.

If I want to do software development etc. I'll use my Linux laptop. If I just need something simple for travel, I'll take a Chromebook.

This isn't true anymore. I'm using Docker on my Pixelbook right now. No hacks required.

Any Crostini supported device works fine. Obviously more RAM and better CPU means a better experience.

I have a basic Acer with a Celeron and 4GB of RAM. Been running VS Code and node to develop React Native apps. Can even load the Expo Android app from the Play Store, no separate Android device required!

Some Crostini info: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/c...

Not sure about the slate, but I have a Pixelbook, which is my personal laptop, and the crostini Linux integration is great for development. Specifically, I use it for Rust programming, and have compiled a couple of C++ projects too.

The Terminal app that comes with the Linux install is good, supports tmux etc.

There is clipboard integration between the pixelbook host and the container. File sharing is also easy with the file manager being able to drag andd drop files in and out of the container.

I can use Firefox inside the container, which is what I usually use to browse.

Theoretically you have access to the lxc tool inside the top level container, so you could create multiple containers and possibly set up complicated networking setups between them, but I've not tried this.

I've done Python webapp development on an unmodified Chromebook that supported Android apps via Termux. The only catch was that the network layer doesn't make 127.0.0.1 the same for Chrome and Android so I ended up testing in Android Firefox, which is hilarious but worked fine.

Locally? You can’t really unless you are just looking for a text editor with markup.

Not true, ChromeOS now has a Linux container stack with apt.

ChromeOS, yes, but pixelbook or the new slate run sub 5W fanless CPUs. It's a pretty steep price for the hardware that they ship.

Not true. You have Android apps and GNU/Linux on device.

just get a surface pro