175
Android's Linux Terminal app adds tabs so you can multitask more easily
(www.androidauthority.com)
ITT: nobody understands the difference between this and Termux
this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
175 points (99.4% liked)
Android
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I also don't really see a point to it
That's fine, but there is a big difference between the two. Termux is a terminal emulator for the host operating system, while this is a VM running a completely separate guest operating system - Debian 12, in this case. ARM version, but still Debian.
Oh dang, I gotta get on the new android!
RDPing from Android into the VM after installing a desktop environment:
How's it run? Have you done any performance tests?
No benchmarks. It works, not very fast in the guy but usable.
Docker works as expected:
So I tried this just now, and it works. It looks pretty good at first glance. Proper Debian VM, can listen on ports, can access files under Downloads. It just takes 10-20 seconds to start and a few to stop.
would you switch over from termux for this? for performance or something else?
It's a debian VM, much better than messing with the android system. All I want now is bridged mode for the network adapters
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(5 replies)
For things that don't work on Termux. The only advantage of Termux is that it starts way faster and it consumes significantly less resources. Other than that, the VM would be superior. So if I had to connect via SSH to a machine, I'd probably use Termux.
can access files under Downloads
Wait, you can access local files on your phone's storage in the VM now? Is that a new addition? On the Android 15 version of this, you don't have any local access at all.
I'm on the standard Android 15 on 8 Pro. The shared storage is mounted at /mnt/shared
I really hope linux apps don't start getting dependent on google libraries
This is like giving a bandaid to someone who just broke their fucking femur. I want actual linux and open source on my phone not a container that runs debian.
It's a real VM, not a container. Chances are you can run containers on top of the VM. Haven't tried.
Just tried, and yes you can.
RIP maemo. Nokia really messed that up.
I had the n810 and always coveted the n900
Physical keyboard. Debian Linux for mobile. It's still my favorite smartphone ever.
u had one!??
the best smart phone I ever had was the BlackBerry q10
I did indeed. Kept using it for as long as I could until I was compelled to switch to Android/iOS. I dislike them both but Android is the lesser of two evils.
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(8 replies)
What do we think is Google's motivation for adding this?
Supposedly Google would have better time taking care of just one consumer OS instead of two, so Android is getting some PC features so that it will be able to replace ChromeOS in the future.
Shoulda done that a long time ago. Do we think it will be released with accompanying hardware? Something similar to a NexDock or Razer's Linda hardware?
It's part of AOSP so whoever ships Android probably could expose it to the user.
ight now i need a pixel with video out and I'm satisfied.
The past two generations have supported that
Yep and there is a new desktop mode that will be available soon as well.
holy shit huge news, for some reason i didn't catch that. Thanks!
I haven't seen anyone talking about it except Graphene OS
Ahem termux had this feature for ages
The use termux?
Which feature?
Tabs
Sure but this can do things that Termux can't. E.g. running a desktop, Docker or whatever else a full Debian OS can run. Plus you can do tabs in Byobu or whatever.
It is also possible to run GUI desktops in Termux since ages, for example take a look at:
AnLinux (Run Linux On Android Without Root Access) https://f-droid.org/packages/exa.lnx.a/
It was also possible to run a "full Debian" using PRoot etc
Sure but according to the AnLinux project docs you can't really run everything Debian can. For example it says it can't run some DEs. For me this isn't about whether Termux can do things a Debian VM can. I know it can. It's about can Termux do everything a Debian VM can and as far as I know, it cannot.
And then there's the work the Termux team has to do to get programs to work on Android. With a Debian VM, there's no additional work needed. Whatever the Debian team packages would just work.