Google wants developers to build AI-powered applications on its new laptops, and it’s giving them something more useful than another chatbot: a Linux environment where AI agents can write code, install software, and execute commands.

On Oct. 12, Google detailed its Linux Terminal Preview for Googlebook, a Debian-based development environment running inside an isolated virtual machine. The feature supports programming tools, web development, and AI agents while introducing safeguards designed to protect the host operating system and files that haven’t been explicitly shared with Linux.

For developers, Googlebook could become a more practical option for coding, testing applications, and experimenting with AI agents.…