zlacker

> But it's really exciting to be able to `ls` and `cd` and `ssh` on a phone

Can't you do that on any other Android phone with terminal software installed?

>>ebg13+(OP)
Barely, although termux makes it a lot more reasonable. It's more a package management issue.

>>ebg13+(OP)
Not without the risk that the phone vendor, Google (or some Android hacker) is looking over your shoulder.

>>traver+R2
You can run a full GNU/Linux distro, and apt-get install most stuff: https://f-droid.org/packages/tech.ula/

>>ebg13+(OP)
not properly. android is about as full-blown a linux environment as that plastic router on which your ISP left the telnet open.

>>icebra+H4
If one roots the device.

Modern Android has been locking down access to everything that isn't an NDK public API.

>>pjmlp+O5
Nope, no root required.

>>ameliu+33
I mean, I like Purism, but that risks still exists with this phone. With any phone. The promise not to snoop is central to their business model and I have no reason to believe they would snoop, but certainly the capability is there.

>>traver+R2
I installed Debian in a chroot on my HTC Desire Z in 2011, and proceeded to apt-get install exim on it to tinker.

>>traver+R2
Theres also https://github.com/t184256/nix-on-droid-bootstrap on fdroid for a good package manager

>>icebra+i7
So how does it work around the missing APIs not described here?

https://developer.android.com/ndk/guides/stable_apis

Given the changes started with Android 7 to block access to everything else?

In fact, https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Differences_from_Linux

>>aeturn+xa
As always, it boils down to trust. Which phone would you trust more for ssh-ing into your office computer? An Android phone filled with adware, which you don't even completely own? Or a phone that was designed for privacy and for which all important components are open source / open hardware?

>>traver+R2
I can share to Termux from the YouTube app on my Pixel and download an entire playlist to my music folder - Ffmpeg handles any audio.

It's quicker than any of the YouTube downloader apps I've tried!

How it works: in ~/bin there's a termux-url-opener script that handles what you share:

"#!/bin/bash

case "$1" in

  *youtu*)

    echo "$1 is a YouTube URL,
      downloading"

    sh ~/shortcuts/dl_yt.sh $1

    ..."

(dl_yt just calls youtube-dl -x)

I love it and am still finding new uses for Termux. I've got neovim and all my dotfiles loaded, so in a pinch I can ssh into my phone to do some work.

>>ebg13+(OP)
Android has a tiny BusyBox clone (ToyBox IIRC) in the default installation that can be accessed over USB with the right commands. It isn't particularly useful for anything besides poking around, and definitely doesn't support SSH, but it does do ls and cd.

>>pjmlp+8h
It runs stuff in a container (PRoot) with standard Linux libraries and FHS layout, then you ssh or VNC in locally. The emulation isn't perfect due to Android's security policies, but close enough.

>>Mathne+0s
Standard Android does not support chroot, nor standard Linux libraries, hence why termux needs to patch them.

>>aeturn+xa
Since everything is open, you could probably run your own builds and use your own update server. Or you can use their code as a starting point and port whatever Linux distribution you want to it, which is a lot easier than a locked down Android or iOS device. And since it's so easy to replace everything, they need to maintain the community's trust since everything is in the open.

The best part is that I don't really need to trust Purism, I can choose to trust the community instead to whistleblow if Purism breaks the community's trust. Their target demographic is exactly the type that will be watching over their shoulder to make sure nothing fishy is going on.

>>0x38B+1n
Would it not be nicer to save a whole lot on bandwidth by using "youtube-dl -f bestaudio[ext=m4a]" instead of "youtube-dl -x"?

>>ameliu+3k
Office computer? Definitely Android.

Google is like a feudal lord. In exchange for owning you, they'll protect you from everyone weaker than they are. Google doesn't want to break into your office computer as long as they can shovel ads down your throat. And their reputation for security is much higher than a small startup regardless of the startup's competence and intentions. See e.g. Project Zero or Chrome vulnerabilities vs Firefox.

>>0x38B+1n
Ah, nice to see I'm not the only one running youtube-dl on a phone via Termux.

>>ta0987+ty
> And their reputation for security is much higher than a small startup regardless of the startup's competence and intentions.

Not all security mind you, Android runs on ancient kernel and it won't be changing for a long time even though Google announced plans for moving to mainline linux.

>>chrono+Ux
Good point! My command line looks like this:

youtube-dl -f bestaudio -x --no-progress -o "~/storage/music/YouTube/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "$1"

This generally gives me .opus files, which play OK but my player can't change the tags.

>>icebra+i7
Try installing OpenJDK without root.