What is Termux ? And How to Install

What is Termux?

Termux is a free and open source terminal emulator for Android which allows for running a Linux environment on an Android device. In addition, various software can be installed through the application’s package manager.

User interface of Termux

Termux’s user interface is fairly simple and only displays extra keys row and the terminal output, managing sessions by swiping left and manipulating Terminal session by tap and holding and clicking more to bring 10 options. It is also possible to change the color scheme and font through Termux:Styling.

Extra keys row can also be customized. Users can add more function keys and controls within termux.properties file

Termux also has mouse/touch support which can be used to interact some programs that can be used with mouse such as htop and other ncurses-based applications, scrolling is also be done by swiping over terminal buffer.

Installing Termux on Android

You can download and install Termux through Google Play or from F-Droid. During the installation, it extracts the bootstrap archive from the APK file and set correct permissions for executable and sets up directories like the home directory.

Package availability

Termux has more than 1000+ packages available as of 2021. However, compared to traditional Linux environments, packages in Termux are still relatively small and certain packages cannot be ported due to a variety of reasons which primarily involve compilation.

Package repositories

Termux has 3 repositories available. Repositories included in the default:

• main is the main repository containing all CLI utilities and other popular Linux tools and language compilers/interpreters.
• X11-repo contains X11-based packages and graphical applications.
• root-repo contains packages that is useful for rooted devices only. However, some packages can be used without root but functionality may be somewhat limited

Termux Cheat Sheet

COMMANDS	USAGE
cp -v	used to prints informative massage
cp -r	used to copy any directory
mv -u	update-move when source is newer than destination
mv -v	to move any directory
ls -n	to display UID and GID directory
ls –version	to check the version of ls command
cd —	show last working directory from where we moved
ls -l	show file action like – modified, date and time, owner of file, permissions Etc.
ls help	show display how to use “ls” command
cp -n	no file overwrite
cd ~	move to users home directory from anywhere
mv [file1 name] [new file2 name]	move or rename two file at a time
cd –	move one directory back from current location
mv [file name]	move any file and folder
ls	list directory
ls -a	list all files including hidden files
pwd	it show your current working directory
mv -i	interactive prompt before overwrit
wget [url]	install tool , apt install wget
git clone [url]	install any tools with git clone, apt install git
ls -al	formatted listing with hidden files
mv -f	force move by overwriting destination files without prompt
ls -i	Display number of file or directory
cp	copy any file
cd /	change to root directory
cd	change directory
cd ..	change current directory to parent directory
curl -O [url]	apt install curl
rm	remove or delete files
rm [filename]	remove any text files
rmdir [dir name]	remove any directory
rm -rf	force remove a directory or a folder
rm -r [name]	delete a directory called name
apt remove [package name]	uninstall / remove a package
touch [file name]	create new file
mkdir [name]	create a directory or folder
more [file name]	output the contents of file
head [file name]	output the first 10 line of file
tail -f [file name]	output the contents of file as it grows
apt install zip	install zip file tool
zip name.zip [file]	compress file using this commands
unzip [zip file]	to unzip file
ftp	launch ftp client from terminal
-p	use passive mode
bye	terminate current ftp session, exit
ascii	set file transfer to ascii protocols
bell	bell sound after each command
status	shows current status about ftp server
open host	open a connection to remote host
remotehelp [cmdname]	request help from ftp server
account [password]	supply a password required by remote
uname -m	used to find the architecture of your device
du	display directory space usage
df	display disk usages
cal	show display calendar
w	show display who is currently online
cat /proc/meminfo	show memory related information
cat /proc/cpuinfo	show cpu information
whoami	show your login name
fingure username	shows information about user
date	show the current date and time
uptime	show the system current uptime
man command	show manual a command
free	display memory and swap usage
kill	send signal to process
kill- l	list all of the signal that are possible to send with kill
lspci	show PCI devices
lsusb	show usb devices
apt search [qurey] pkg search [qurey]	find a package
locate [file]	find all files with filename
locate [query]	find all path names contains a pharse
whereis [command]	find location binary /source/man file for a command
which [command]	find of an executable
grep pattern [files]	searching for pattern in files
grep -r pattern files	searching for certain pattern in files
command | grep pattern	search for pattern in the output of command
find / -atime40	to find all the files, which are accessed 40 days back
find / -cmin -60	find change files in last 1 hour
find / -type d -name mll	find all directories whose name is mll in directory
find . -type f -perm 0777 -print	find all tghe files, whose permission are 777
ifconfig	shows all configuration a network interface like ip, mac
ifconfig eth0	used view the network setting on the interface eth0
ifconfig wlan0	view the network setting on wlan0
ping [host]	to ping host ip and show results
arp	check network card & show ip adress
host	display specific server
netstat	review network connection
nslookup	find out DNS related query
tracerout ipadress	display number of hops & respone time to get to a remote system and website
whois domain	get whois information of domain
telnet [ip address [post]	telnet connection
dig domain	get DNS information of domain
scp	copies file, over a source
uname -a	used to display kernal information
whereis app	shows possible location for an app
nano [file name]	display and edit text files
apt show	view package information
append [local-file] remote file	append a local file to one on the remote
$	execute a macro