I've noticed that people can run Linux on their Android phones using apps like Termux or by installing something like Ubuntu. I'm genuinely curious about this because typing on a phone can be tricky and there are a lot of other factors to consider. For those who have set it up, what do you actually use Linux for on your phone? I get that Android is based on Linux, but I'm specifically talking about installing Termux or any other Linux distributions. What are your use cases?
5 Answers
For variety, iPhone users have iSH which runs Alpine Linux and can still perform a lot of useful tasks like network debugging, SSHing into devices during emergencies, and even setting up SSH forwarding. It might not be essential, but it’s definitely handy when needed, especially with a Bluetooth keyboard.
Linux is the kernel powering Android, so technically we are using Linux. I find Termux useful for running crontabs, syncing files, and even SSHing into my devices. When I need to type something complicated, I just connect a Bluetooth keyboard.
I often use Termux for my university programming homework when I'm away from my laptop. It lets me run little Python scripts to do quick calculations that the calculator app just can't handle.
You should try installing xonsh! It combines shell features with Python, so you can do those calculations inline without creating new files every time.
I use Termux mostly for connecting to my home server. It's a straightforward way to manage things remotely without needing to boot up my PC.
What's Termux exactly?
I mainly use Termux for personal scripts and tools like aria2c for downloading. It feels way better than hunting for an app or dragging and dropping files manually. It’s a bit cramped but it gets the job done when you’re stuck away from your main machine.
While it's true that Android uses the Linux kernel, it’s not a complete GNU/Linux system like many people imply. Having SSH is cool, but it doesn't mean Android is Linux in the full sense.