3mo ago

Android's Linux Terminal app adds tabs so you can multitask more easily

www.androidauthority.com

TL;DR

Google has added a tabbed interface to the Terminal app in Android 16 Beta 3.
The Terminal app lets you run Linux apps in a virtual machine on your Android device.
Adding tabs makes it easier to multitask, as you can issue commands without having to wait for a process to complete.

62 comments

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
  
  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

ITT: nobody understands the difference between this and Termux
- 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.

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.
- Just discovered this and want to try a full linux desktop. But what RDP you installed app for this?
  
  aRDP - it's open source and despite the ugly UI it works very well.

Docker works as expected:

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
- So why not use Ubuntu Touch?
  
  Because it sucks?
  
  Because it works on like 1% of phones? Im good with tech but not at the point where i could port something like that.
- Isn't Android open source? I like Linux, but I alternate being amazed by Linux and frustrated by how buggy the experience is. Everything on my Android phone / tablet just works effortlessly. But with Linux, it is a crap shoot. My Linux audio drivers kept popping my speakers and it took me hours to figure out the bug. Then when I run wine for a game it randomly thinks it doesn't have enough storage space. Or how Chrome was having memory leaks. Or all the times I have had to use special bash commands or directly edit configuration files
  
  AOSP is
  Lineage OS is
  Google Android is mostly proprietary. The reason is they need to gather all the data they can for marketing.
  
  Android does the bare minimum to be called source available which isnt the same as open source and also its only the core of android that is. Its literally like taking linux, slapping on a bunch of propeitery stuff onto it and then telling people that you cant contribute to it and youre only gonna use an old, highly modified version of linux actually. Also the whole application ecosystem that you have on it needs your stupid spyware to run properly. As for linux i dont think desktop linux is buggy. Its way more usable than windows for example which literally falls to pieces if you look wrong at it. I have 3 old classmates who switched because windows just kept breaking. Your problems with audio means you probably used a non standard setup which i admit can cause breakages theres no doubt in that. And finally chrome having a memory leak; how is that related to linux?

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?

I really hope linux apps don't start getting dependent on google libraries

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.