Termux

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall sentiment

  • Thread is overwhelmingly positive; many call Termux indispensable or the first app they install on any Android device.
  • Viewed as a key reason to stay on Android, especially for users who value a real CLI environment.

Common use cases

  • Remote access: SSH/mosh into workstations and servers, often wrapped in tmux/zellij, frequently via WireGuard or Tailscale.
  • Local development: running Neovim/Vim/Emacs, Rust, Go, Julia (via proot), Python, Janet, Advent of Code, Fresh editor, custom tools.
  • File sync & backup: rsync to desktops/NAS, phone backups, photo dedup via checksums, quick on-demand SSH + rsync instead of always-on sync apps.
  • Media: yt-dlp for YouTube and anime (ani-cli), ffmpeg with hardware encode/decode via mediacodec, some MPV integration with SELinux tweaks.
  • Services on phone: web servers, file servers (Copyparty, ffl), Syncthing CLI, OTP with oathtool, network tools, wake-on-LAN, scanners, even VAX/VMS via SimH.
  • Desktop-style setups: Termux + X11 in Android desktop mode or VR/XR headsets (e.g., Quest 3) to run full desktop apps on ARM.

Termux vs Android Linux Terminal / full Linux VMs

  • New Android “Linux Terminal” (full Debian VM) needs specific hardware (AVF, non-protected VMs) and OEM support; often missing or disabled.
  • Reported as buggy, slow, frequently corrupting itself, sensitive to VPNs, and offering poor GUI; some devices can’t enable it at all.
  • Strong preference for Termux: runs natively as an app, integrates with Android APIs (clipboard, GPS, SMS, contacts), and accesses shared storage directly.
  • VM approach is seen as safer and more “traditional Linux” but heavier on storage and currently far less reliable.

iOS and other platforms

  • No true Termux equivalent on iOS: iSH (Alpine/x86 emulation), a-Shell, and UTM are mentioned but slower and more constrained.
  • Several users explicitly say Termux is something they miss on iPhone.

Input methods and ergonomics

  • Heavy users rely on Bluetooth keyboards, tablet keyboard covers, or devices with built-in keyboards.
  • Others use specialized software keyboards (Unexpected Keyboard, PentiKeyboard, Hacker’s Keyboard) and S-Pen to make TUI use viable.
  • Some still find extended use on a touch-only phone uncomfortable.

Technical limitations & future concerns

  • Termux must target an old Android API to keep running arbitrary binaries; upcoming platform restrictions might eventually break it.
  • Package management can be fragile on some older/32‑bit systems.
  • App data lives in its sandbox; users report losing entire setups on upgrade/reinstall.
  • A few worry that as Android becomes more locked down and people rely on phones instead of desktops, free/owner-controlled computing could suffer.