Termux: Lightweight Linux Environment for Android

Productivity Sauce
While you can deploy a full-blown Linux distribution on your Android device, opting for a nimble solution like Termux makes more sense in most situations. Installed as a regular app, Termux gives you a terminal emulator and a lightweight Linux environment that offers all basic Linux tools, including the Bash shell and apt utilities. This means that you can use Termux to write Bash scripts and install additional packages right out of the box. Install, for example, the openssh package, and you can manage remote Linux hosts from your Android device as well as run an SSH server on it. Want to use Termux to write and run code? Install Python, Perl, ruby and Node.js from Termux' repositories. Termux supports keyboard shortcuts, which makes it easier to work inside the environment. While the app itself is free and open source, there are also several add-ons you can purchase to extend the default functionality. Termux:API is probably the most useful one, as it gives you access to Android system functionality. This allows you to write scripts that make use of Android hardware like camera and the GPS module.
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.