A high school student has successfully run a stripped-down version of the Linux kernel within an interactive PDF, utilizing a limited JavaScript library to execute a RISC-V emulator.
The project, inspired by a port of Tetris that ran on a PDF, allows users to access a terminal prompt and type commands using the on-screen keyboard. The output is rendered as ASCII characters and works only in the Chrome browser.
While slow, the Linux environment contains essential tools such as vi and can run basic commands like echo and top. However, security concerns arise due to the use of PDFs, which are not designed for running operating systems.
The implications of this project are far-reaching, enabling the creation of interactive PDFs with computational power. This could lead to new interactions and possibilities, but also raises concerns about potential security threats.
View the source of the linuxpdf project to explore its capabilities and download or compile it yourself.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-running-in-a-pdf-this-hack-is-as-bizarre-as-it-is-brilliant