Ika vs R8
Ika
github.comR8
r8.googlesource.comSide by side
| Figure | Ika | R8 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Code Obfuscation Software | 7.0 (#31) | 8.0 (#11) |
| Build requirements | Building from source requires at least 16 GB RAM and 300 GB storage, and the initial build can take 3–6 hours or more. | Building from source requires depot_tools and a Java 8 compiler and runtime; the documented IntelliJ setup points to a Linux JDK path. |
| Intended users | The project describes itself as an Android desktop for Linux hosts, including Apple Silicon systems running Asahi Linux and x86-64 systems. | The documentation describes R8 as an app optimizer and recommends enabling it for a tested release build, while warning that optimization can increase build time and make debugging harder. |
| Product | Ika is a desktop focused Android 16 build based on LineageOS 23.2 and runs in a Cuttlefish virtual machine. | The repository contains D8, which converts Java bytecode to DEX, and R8, which shrinks and minifies Java programs while producing optimized DEX code. |
Plans
In their own words
Ika
Ika is a free, open-source Android desktop for Linux hosts. It runs an Android 16 build based on LineageOS 23.2 inside a Cuttlefish virtual machine. Android apps open in separate resizable desktop windows, can appear in the host app menu, and preserve DPI settings when the display changes size. GPU acceleration uses OpenGL ES and Vulkan. Game mode can launch games fullscreen with gamepad passthrough, alongside documented keyboard, mouse and touch input. Builds may include MindTheGapps, microG, or a de-Googled ROM without an app store. The project provides separate host-application and Android-image packages, with Fedora RPM, Debian or Ubuntu DEB, and Arch packages; ARM64 availability varies by distribution. Native builds target Apple Silicon and x86-64 systems. Source compilation needs at least 16 GB RAM and 300 GB storage, may take 3–6 hours or more, and Debian or Ubuntu require Mesa 26.1 or newer.