So I'll be going through the step-by-step instructions by Jolla and Sony – if I succeed, I'll know how it's done an can help others in the future! 💪

So here goes:

I already downloaded the free Sailfish Os version.

I'll be working from my Linux Thinkpad running #elementaryOS, so I'm installing fastboot tools for #Ubuntu.

Confusing Sony Open Devices instructions a little disheartening, but then I had to fill out a Google Captcha 👺 – ahh thanks, that little shot of anger is motivating af – and got my unlock code! 😤

#FuckOffGoogle

Downloaded and unpacked vendor binary image – I went for version 16, Sailfish still seems to have problems with the newer version 17b (weaker WiFi in some instances).

Hmm... Sony LED should be blue to continue, but it's orange... still, the screen says USB debugging is activated. What to do? 😕
Guess I'll go unpack something first...

And it's blue! 💙
(really had to push the volume up button _while_ plugging in the micro USB)

minor setback: I ran the flashing script in terminal, but it tells me that my bootloader is not unlocked.
Do I have to unlock it again? Did that earlier today... gonna investigate... 🤔

Okay it appears I never actually unlocked, just prepared for it. Still have to enter my unlock key...
bit excited and too fast, gotta hold my horses...

"...
OKAY [ 1.160s]
finished. total time: 1.160s"

Uh... yay? Could this mean I _did_ it?

Linux could be a little less elliptical here – how about integrating some fireworks or that Tetris rocket when someone unlocks a bootloader?!

No, damn, I'm stupid, I literally typed

sudo fastboot oem unlock 0x<my unlock code>

but I need to specify "oem"!
But what's the vendor ID? The Jolla instructions propose

-i 0x0fce

in their example.

Gonna have to investigate that...🕵️ 🔎

Tried it again with

sudo fastboot -i 0x0fce oem unlock etc.

and:

"...
FAILED (remote: Device already unlocked)
finished. total time: 0.017s"

– Good news, I guess!

Uh-oh!

Tried the flashing script again, now it says my device has NOT been unlocked yet.

Dear future phone: Could you please make up your mind whether you're unlocked or not?!

This is going to be a long night...😫

Holy cow!

For some reason I turned on the Sony device - first it told me to lock the bootloader (good!), but then it remained in bootloop limbo for a veerry long time, until, after almost all curses I know, it finally reached some landing screen (whew!).

Now what?

Oh-kayyy🎵
Something's _happening_🎶

I basically just repeated everything:

- entered my unlock code with fastboot -> error, already unlocked;

- ran the flashing script once more -> only this time: success! flashing is officially *in progress*🚀

...

Yasssss! 🎉