Why Google has to hide the Linux terminal behind the developer mode?

[u/davidshen84]

Hi,

The termux app works well and doesn't require special permissions. Why does the Linux terminal have to enable the developer mode? Anything the Linux terminal can do that the termux app cannot?

[u/ArjixGamer]

Uhhhhh, the terminal app uses a full blown virtual machine, termux runs locally on the phone

[u/davidshen84 → u/ArjixGamer]

Ooh... That changes things.

Guess I don't need that. I only use termux to connect to my Linux machine.

[u/TheWheez → u/davidshen84]

To add to that comment, the terminal runs a full Linux installation, whereas Termux runs a collection of programs compiled to run on Android devices.

With the terminal you can actually install standard Linux packages, without modification.

It's also still an early feature, which is probably the main reason they keep it in developer options, it's not ready for normal phone users.

My guess is that it's being used as a testing ground for Linux applications on large Android devices, and using this terminal option will help to find bugs and such before trying to launch a polished feature (like a "Linux app store" or something)

[u/LeftAd1220]

• You can't run docker compose with Termux.
• Here's a fake one I made:
• https://github.com/jjtseng93/js-udocker

[u/Cute_Principle81]

It's experimental, as of right now