Recommend including Chrome OS in Setup

[sborrego]

I would like to recommend adding a section in the SETUP section for Chrome OS users. It is possible and simple to set up Linux in a container on Chrome OS following the instructions found HERE.

The other sections like R and Python can be performed using web-based platforms on a Chromebook and I feel that using the command line should be made accessible as well. Since Chromebooks tend to be a more affordable option, especially for students, I feel this would make the lessons more inclusive and less frustrating for those trying to learn with limited or alternative resources.

[gdevenyi]

We would welcome a contribution to allow ChromeOS users to follow software carpentry lessons, but I think it would need to be against all existing supporting lessons (shell, python, R, git), since the typical way these lessons are followed is in a workshop covering multiple topics, and a ChromeOS user must be able to follow all the various sections.

[gcapes]

See also #1117.
On the one hand, what little I know of Chrome OS is that it's based on Gentoo Linux, so I'd speculate that the Unix Shell lesson would work ok on it, and maybe even better than using Git Bash on Windows. So for that reason, why not have Chrome OS as a listed option for following the course.

On the other hand, it's not listed as an option in the workshop template, so we shouldn't confuse the picture.

But this issue has already been raised in the workshop template and it appears to have been tested that it all works ok: carpentries/workshop-template#746

[deppen8]

That issue is a good find @gcapes. Like @gdevenyi, I worry about the subsequent git/Python/R lessons, but I'd be interested in trying to solve that.

It looks to me like this will require some collaboration across lessons, but also that it is probably worth it to make the lessons more accessible. As @sborrego and the author of carpentries/workshop-template#746 both note, the price of some Chromebook models makes them drastically more affordable and accessible than most other options.

Shall I send a message to the maintainers TopicBox? I'm willing to bet that others have considered this issue too and might have some good insight.