DEV Community: RedVase

Termux-Sync: Don't Rebuild Termux. Restore It

RedVase — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:10:20 +0000

If you use Termux on Android as a real development environment, you eventually run into the same problem:

What happens when you get a new phone?

Your Termux environment may contain:

hundreds of installed packages
Python and Node.js environments
Git repositories
shell scripts
dotfiles
configuration files
SSH configuration
development tools
personal projects
custom environment variables
years of terminal customization

Rebuilding all of that manually can take hours.

That's why I built Termux-Sync.

«Termux-Sync is a backup, restore, and migration tool for your entire Termux environment.»

Instead of rebuilding Termux from scratch, you can back up your environment and restore it on another device.

GitHub: https://github.com/djunekz/termux-sync

PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/termux-sync/

The Problem

Termux is much more than a terminal emulator.

For many users, it becomes a complete development environment running on Android.

A typical Termux installation can look something like this:

Termux
├── Python
├── Node.js
├── Rust
├── Git
├── npm packages
├── Python packages
├── shell scripts
├── Git repositories
├── ~/.config
├── ~/projects
├── environment variables
└── custom configuration

Then one day:

New phone
↓
Install Termux
↓
Install packages again
↓
Restore configuration
↓
Clone repositories again
↓
Reconfigure everything

Nobody wants to do that every time they change devices.

A simple file backup is also not enough.

You don't just want your files.

You want your Termux environment.

What Is Termux-Sync?

Termux-Sync is an open-source CLI/TUI tool designed to back up, restore, and migrate a complete Termux environment.

The goal is simple:

Old Device
│
│ backup
▼
Termux-Sync
│
│ restore
▼
New Device

The project is designed for Termux users who want to preserve their development environment instead of starting from zero.

What Does It Back Up?

Termux-Sync is designed around the idea of an environment backup rather than just a file archive.

Depending on the backup configuration, it can preserve things such as:

Installed packages
Home directory
User projects
Configuration
/usr/etc
Environment data
Package information

This makes the backup useful for both disaster recovery and device migration.

The goal is:

«Back up the environment, not just the files.»

Why Not Just Use tar?

You can absolutely create a backup manually:

tar -czf backup.tar.gz $HOME

But that only solves part of the problem.

A complete Termux migration can involve:

package lists
Termux-specific directories
configuration
package restoration
architecture differences
permissions
verification
storage backends
restore ordering

Eventually, a simple archive becomes a collection of shell scripts and manual steps.

Termux-Sync tries to turn that process into a repeatable workflow.

Instead of remembering a long list of commands:

backup
→ package list
→ configuration
→ home
→ verify
→ transfer
→ restore
→ reinstall packages
→ restore configuration

you can use a single tool.

Basic Workflow

Install Termux-Sync from PyPI:

pkg install python
pip install termux-sync

Then run:

termux-sync

The tool provides an interactive interface for common operations.

You can also use its CLI commands directly.

For example:

termux-sync backup

Create a backup of your Termux environment.

Then on another device:

termux-sync restore

Restore the environment.

The exact workflow can be customized depending on where the backup is stored.

Backup Before Getting a New Phone

One of the main use cases is device migration.

Imagine you are using Termux heavily on your current phone.

Before switching devices:

termux-sync backup --label "phone-migration"

Then move the backup to your preferred storage.

Install Termux and Termux-Sync on the new device.

Then restore:

termux-sync restore

Instead of:

New phone
↓
"What packages did I have?"
↓
"What was my configuration?"
↓
"Where was that project?"
↓
"How did I configure this?"

you get:

New phone
↓
Restore
↓
Continue working

Local Backups

You don't have to use a cloud service.

Termux-Sync supports local backups.

That means you can keep your backup on local storage or another storage location accessible from Termux.

This is useful when you want:

offline backups
fast restores
complete control over your files
no cloud dependency

The philosophy is simple:

«Your backup should remain under your control.»

Google Drive

For users who want cloud storage, Termux-Sync can work with Google Drive through "rclone".

The workflow becomes:

Termux
│
▼
Termux-Sync
│
▼
rclone
│
▼
Google Drive

This makes it possible to keep a remote copy of your Termux environment.

A cloud backup is especially useful when the original phone is lost or damaged.

Private GitHub Repository

Another option is using a private GitHub repository as a backup destination.

This can be useful for developers who already use GitHub as part of their workflow.

The concept is:

Termux
│
▼
Termux-Sync
│
▼
Private GitHub Repository

A private repository can provide versioned backup storage while remaining accessible from another device.

However, sensitive information should still be handled carefully.

A private repository should not automatically be treated as equivalent to encryption.

SHA-256 Verification

A backup is only useful if you can trust that the data has not been corrupted.

Termux-Sync uses SHA-256 verification as part of its backup/restore workflow.

The basic idea is:

Create backup
↓
Calculate checksum
↓
Store checksum
↓
Transfer backup
↓
Verify checksum
↓
Restore

This helps detect corrupted or modified backup data before restoration.

For a migration tool, integrity verification is important.

You don't want to discover that your backup is broken only after deleting the original environment.

Automatic Backups

Manual backups are useful.

Automatic backups are better.

Termux-Sync includes automatic backup functionality so users can maintain regular copies of their environment.

A practical strategy might look like:

Daily
↓
Automatic backup

Before major changes
↓
Manual snapshot

Before phone migration
↓
Migration backup

This gives you multiple recovery points instead of relying on one backup file.

Backup Labels

Backups can also be labeled.

For example:

termux-sync backup --label "before-rust-update"

or:

termux-sync backup --label "before-phone-migration"

This makes it easier to understand what a particular snapshot represents.

Instead of:

backup_001
backup_002
backup_003

you can have:

before-rust-update
before-node-update
stable
phone-migration

As the project evolves, this concept can become even more powerful through snapshot management and comparison.

The TUI

Termux-Sync is not only a collection of commands.

It also provides a terminal user interface.

This is useful for users who prefer browsing operations rather than memorizing every command.

The TUI can expose functionality such as:

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ TERMUX-SYNC │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Backup │
│ Restore │
│ Snapshots │
│ Storage │
│ Configuration │
│ Logs │
│ Disk Usage │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────┘

The goal is to keep the experience native to Termux while still making advanced operations approachable.

Termux-Sync Is Not Just File Synchronization

The name "Sync" can make the project sound like another file synchronization utility.

That's not really the main idea.

The important concept is:

«Termux environment backup and migration.»

There is a difference between:

File sync

and:

Environment migration

File sync asks:

«"Which files changed?"»

Termux-Sync asks:

«"How can I reproduce my Termux environment somewhere else?"»

That is a much bigger problem.

Architecture-Aware Restoration

Android devices can use different CPU architectures.

For example:

aarch64
arm
x86_64
i686

A backup created on one architecture may not be directly transferable to another architecture if it contains architecture-specific binaries.

This is one of the challenges of creating a proper Termux migration tool.

A future goal for Termux-Sync is to make restoration more architecture-aware.

Instead of blindly restoring everything:

Backup
↓
Detect architecture
↓
Compare target
↓
Identify incompatible binaries
↓
Reinstall compatible packages
↓
Restore user data/configuration

This is especially important for users moving between different devices.

Security

A backup can contain extremely sensitive information.

For example:

SSH keys
API tokens
Git credentials
environment variables
shell history
private source code
configuration files

That means backup software needs to take security seriously.

Checksum verification helps with integrity, but integrity is not the same thing as encryption.

One of the areas I want to continue improving is encrypted backups.

The long-term goal is to support workflows such as:

termux-sync backup --encrypt

and:

termux-sync restore

with secure key/password handling.

The objective is to make remote backups safer even if the storage provider itself should not be fully trusted.

Dry-Run Restore

Another feature I want to build further is restore simulation.

Something like:

termux-sync restore --dry-run

could show:

Termux-Sync Restore Preview

Source:
Backup: phone-migration
Architecture: aarch64

Packages:
✓ python
✓ git
✓ nodejs
✓ rust

Files:
12,421

Potential conflicts:
⚠ ~/.config/example/config.toml

Estimated size:
4.8 GB

No changes were made.

This would allow users to understand what is going to happen before modifying their environment.

For a backup tool, trust is more important than speed.

Who Is Termux-Sync For?

Termux-Sync is mainly designed for people who use Termux seriously.

Developers

If Termux is your development environment, losing it can mean losing hours or days of setup work.

Power users

Users with customized shells, scripts, packages, and configurations can preserve their environment.

Server and automation users

If your Android device runs scripts or automated workflows, backups can make recovery much easier.

People changing phones

This is probably the simplest and strongest use case.

«New phone? Restore your Termux environment instead of rebuilding it.»

Termux-Sync vs a Normal Backup

A normal backup might look like:

Photos
Documents
Videos
Downloads

A Termux backup looks more like:

Termux Environment
├── Packages
├── Home
│ ├── Projects
│ ├── Scripts
│ └── Config
├── /usr/etc
├── Environment
└── Metadata

The goal is not simply to preserve data.

It is to preserve the working environment.

Termux-Sync + Termux App Store

I also maintain another project called Termux App Store.

The two projects solve different problems.

          Termux Ecosystem
                 │
      ┌──────────┴──────────┐
      │                     │

Termux App Store Termux-Sync
│ │
Packages Backup
Install Restore
Update Migration
│ │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
Termux Environment

Termux App Store answers:

«"What software can I install?"»

Termux-Sync answers:

«"How do I preserve my environment?"»

A typical workflow could therefore be:

Install packages
↓
Configure Termux
↓
Develop projects
↓
Termux-Sync backup
↓
New device
↓
Termux-Sync restore
↓
Continue working

Why I Think This Problem Matters

Termux is increasingly capable of being a serious development environment.

You can use it for:

Python
Node.js
Rust
Git
automation
servers
scripting
networking
development tools
personal projects

The more powerful the environment becomes, the more painful it becomes to lose.

That's the core reason behind Termux-Sync.

«The more you customize Termux, the more valuable your environment becomes.»

And valuable environments deserve reliable backups.

The Bigger Vision

I don't want Termux-Sync to become another generic file synchronization tool.

The bigger goal is:

Termux Environment Management

That means eventually being able to:

Backup
Restore
Snapshot
Diff
Verify
Migrate
Encrypt
Automate

all while understanding the specific requirements of a Termux environment.

Imagine being able to run:

termux-sync snapshot create stable

then:

termux-sync snapshot diff stable latest

and finally:

termux-sync restore stable

The environment becomes something you can manage rather than something you have to rebuild manually.

Search for "Termux Backup"

There is also a larger discovery problem.

People regularly search for things like:

how to backup Termux
Termux backup
Termux backup and restore
how to restore Termux
Termux migration
move Termux to a new phone
backup Termux before factory reset
backup Termux packages
backup Termux environment

These are not hypothetical questions.

They represent real problems users encounter.

That's why Termux-Sync is positioned around backup, restore, and migration, rather than simply "sync".

The goal is to make the project easy to discover when someone is already looking for a solution.

The Philosophy

The philosophy behind Termux-Sync is simple:

«Don't rebuild Termux. Restore it.»

Your terminal environment should be portable.

Your configuration should not be tied permanently to one phone.

Your projects should not require days of manual setup after a device migration.

And your backup should be something you can verify and control.

What's Next?

Some of the areas I want to explore next include:

encrypted backups
architecture-aware migration
restore dry-runs
snapshot management
backup comparison
incremental backups
better deduplication
improved recovery workflows
better documentation
more storage backends

The priority is not simply adding more features.

The priority is making backup and restoration safe, predictable, and easy to understand.

Try Termux-Sync

Install it with:

pkg install python
pip install termux-sync

Then run:

termux-sync

Create a backup:

termux-sync backup

Restore a backup:

termux-sync restore

For the latest documentation and source code:

GitHub:
https://github.com/djunekz/termux-sync

PyPI:
https://pypi.org/project/termux-sync/

Final Thoughts

Termux gives Android users an incredibly powerful Linux-like environment.

But once you spend weeks or months building that environment, reinstalling everything from scratch becomes painful.

That's the problem Termux-Sync is trying to solve.

Not just:

«"Backup some files."»

But:

«"Preserve the environment I've built."»

From package lists and configuration to projects and user data, the goal is to make Termux portable.

So the next time you get a new phone, instead of thinking:

«"Great. Now I have to set up Termux again."»

Think:

termux-sync restore

Don't rebuild Termux. Restore it.

Project

GitHub: https://github.com/djunekz/termux-sync

PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/termux-sync/

Keywords

Termux Sync, Termux backup, Termux restore, Termux migration, Termux backup tool, Termux environment backup, Termux Android backup, backup Termux packages, restore Termux environment, migrate Termux to new phone, Termux backup and restore, Android terminal backup, Termux developer tools, Termux environment migration.

Termux App Store: A Community Package Manager for Termux on Android

RedVase — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:03:52 +0000

If you use Termux on Android, you probably know the feeling:

You find a useful command-line tool on GitHub, but then you have to figure out how to install it on Termux.

Maybe it is not available in the official Termux repositories.

Maybe it is a small developer tool that does not make sense for the official repository.

Maybe the project provides source code, but no Termux package.

Or maybe you simply want an easier way to discover and manage community packages.

That is the problem I wanted to solve with Termux App Store.

«Termux App Store is a community-driven TUI and CLI package manager for Termux on Android.»

It is designed to make it easier to discover, install, build, update, and manage community packages directly from Termux.

GitHub: https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store

PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/termux-app-store/

Website: https://termux-app-store.pages.dev/

What Is Termux App Store?

Termux App Store ("termux-app-store") is an offline-first, binary-safe, source-based TUI and CLI package manager built specifically for Termux on Android.

It is written in Python using Textual and provides both an interactive terminal interface and traditional command-line commands.

The goal is simple:

Find a package
↓
Inspect it
↓
Install it
↓
Manage it
↓
Update it

Instead of manually finding repositories, downloading files, building packages, and remembering different installation procedures, Termux App Store provides a unified interface.

For example:

pkg install python
pip install termux-app-store

Then:

termux-app-store

Or use the shorter command:

tas

You can also use it directly from the CLI:

termux-app-store search
termux-app-store list
termux-app-store show
termux-app-store install
termux-app-store update
termux-app-store upgrade
termux-app-store uninstall

Why Build Another Package Manager for Termux?

Termux already has a powerful package ecosystem.

The official Termux repositories are the foundation of the platform, and projects such as TUR (Termux User Repository) extend the available software.

So why create another package manager?

Because there is another layer of software that developers and users want to distribute.

Think about a small CLI project.

It may be:

useful to a specific group of Termux users
experimental
maintained by one developer
too niche for an official repository
frequently changing
designed specifically for Android/Termux
useful as a personal or community tool

These projects still need a way to reach users.

That is where a community package layer becomes useful.

The Problem With Finding Termux Packages

The problem is not always:

«"How do I install a package?"»

Sometimes the real problem is:

«"Where do I find the package in the first place?"»

A developer might search:

Termux package
Termux community package
Termux custom package
Termux CLI tools
Termux package repository
Termux Android packages

But useful projects can be scattered across GitHub repositories, personal projects, community repositories, and documentation.

Termux App Store tries to make package discovery part of the package management experience.

Instead of starting with:

GitHub → README → dependencies → build instructions → troubleshooting

the workflow can become:

Termux App Store
↓
Search
↓
Package information
↓
Install

A Package Manager Designed for Termux

Termux App Store is not intended to replace the official Termux package ecosystem.

Instead, it provides an additional community-oriented layer.

A simplified way to think about the ecosystem is:

             Termux
               │
      Official packages
               │
      ┌────────┴────────┐
      │                 │
 Official repo         TUR
      │                 │
      └────────┬────────┘
               │
      Community layer
               │
       Termux App Store
               │
    ┌──────────┴──────────┐
    │                     │

Pre-built .deb Source builds

The philosophy is similar to the idea behind the AUR (Arch User Repository): provide a community-driven layer where users can access software outside the scope of the core repository.

However, Termux App Store is designed specifically for Termux on Android.

Termux App Store vs Official Termux Packages vs TUR

These projects serve different purposes.

Official Termux packages

The official Termux package repository is maintained as part of the core Termux ecosystem.

It focuses on software that belongs in the official distribution.

TUR

TUR, or Termux User Repository, provides additional packages for Termux while maintaining a curated contributor workflow.

Termux App Store

Termux App Store focuses on a more open, community-driven package layer.

A package can be represented by a "build.sh" file containing its metadata and build instructions.

This makes it possible for individual developers to distribute their own Termux-compatible tools without needing to turn every small project into an official distribution package.

The important distinction is:

«Termux App Store is an independent community project and is not affiliated with the official Termux project.»

Binary Installation and Source Builds

One of the major changes in Termux App Store v0.4.x is the introduction of a fast installation engine.

Previously, the focus was primarily on source-based installation.

Now the system can use pre-built ".deb" packages.

The general workflow looks like this:

termux-app-store install
│
▼
Check local cache
│
┌───────┴───────┐
│ │
HIT MISS
│ │
▼ ▼
Verify SHA256 Find mirror
│
┌───────┼───────┐
│ │ │
GitHub CDN Fallback
│ │ │
└───────┼───────┘
│
▼
Download .deb
│
▼
SHA256 check
│
▼
dpkg

The binary installation engine uses a mirror pool and local caching.

The current implementation supports mirrors including GitHub Pages, Cloudflare CDN, jsDelivr, and a raw GitHub fallback.

Packages are verified using architecture-specific SHA256 information before installation.

This makes common installations significantly faster than compiling everything locally.

Why Keep Source Builds?

Because convenience should not remove control.

Pre-built packages are useful when you want speed.

Source builds are useful when you want transparency and control.

Termux App Store therefore keeps both approaches available.

For example:

termux-app-store install my-package

can use the fast binary installation path.

If you want to force a source build:

termux-app-store fix-install my-package

This gives users a choice:

         Installation
              │
    ┌─────────┴─────────┐
    │                   │
 Binary               Source
    │                   │
 Fast install       Full control
    │                   │
 Cached .deb        build.sh

Offline-First by Design

One of the principles behind Termux App Store is local-first computing.

The application should not require a cloud service to manage your packages.

There is no account system.

There is no mandatory login.

There is no telemetry requirement.

There is no background service.

The package manager operates directly inside your Termux environment.

The local binary cache also means that packages can be reused without downloading the same ".deb" repeatedly during its cache lifetime.

The philosophy is:

«Local first. Control over convenience. Transparency over magic.»

Security and Package Verification

Package managers are powerful because they can execute software on your machine.

That also means package distribution needs to be treated seriously.

Termux App Store includes several mechanisms intended to make package installation more transparent.

For binary packages, SHA256 verification is performed before installation.

For source-based packages, the build instructions are represented through a visible "build.sh" file.

A simplified package structure looks like:

packages/
└── my-tool/
└── build.sh

A package definition can contain metadata such as:

TERMUX_PKG_HOMEPAGE=""
TERMUX_PKG_DESCRIPTION=""
TERMUX_PKG_LICENSE=""
TERMUX_PKG_MAINTAINER=""
TERMUX_PKG_VERSION=""
TERMUX_PKG_SRCURL=""
TERMUX_PKG_SHA256=""

This makes the source of a package easier to inspect and audit.

The goal is not to make users blindly trust an installer.

The goal is to make the installation process visible and auditable.

The Package Definition Is Simple

Every package starts with a "build.sh".

For example:

packages/my-tool/build.sh

This approach is intentionally familiar to developers who have worked with Linux package build systems.

You can create a package template with:

./termux-build create my-tool

Or initialize one from a GitHub repository:

./termux-build init https://github.com/user/repository

Then validate it:

./termux-build lint my-tool

This creates a workflow where a developer can go from an existing GitHub project to a Termux package without manually constructing everything from scratch.

Introducing termux-build

Termux App Store also includes "termux-build".

It is a package validation and development helper.

It is not an automatic publishing system.

Its job is to help developers and reviewers create and validate Termux package definitions.

For example:

./termux-build create my-tool

Create a package.

./termux-build lint my-tool

Check the package.

./termux-build check-pr my-tool

Check whether the package is ready for a pull request.

./termux-build doctor

Diagnose the environment.

Other commands include:

./termux-build suggest
./termux-build explain
./termux-build template
./termux-build guide

The idea is to make package creation and review easier for the community.

tasctl: Managing the Manager

Termux App Store also includes "tasctl".

It acts as a controller for the Termux App Store installation itself.

For example:

./tasctl install
./tasctl update
./tasctl uninstall
./tasctl doctor
./tasctl self-update

This separates package management from management of the package manager itself.

What Can Users Do?

The CLI provides commands for the common package management workflow.

Search packages

termux-app-store search

List packages

termux-app-store list

Inspect a package

termux-app-store show

Install

termux-app-store install

Install multiple packages

termux-app-store install pkg1 pkg2 pkg3

Update package information

termux-app-store update

Upgrade packages

termux-app-store upgrade

Uninstall

termux-app-store uninstall

Check mirrors

termux-app-store mirrors

Manage cache

termux-app-store cache info
termux-app-store cache clear

This means Termux App Store can be used as both an interactive TUI and a traditional CLI tool.

The TUI Experience

For users who prefer an interactive terminal interface:

termux-app-store

or:

tas

opens the TUI.

The interface is designed for both keyboard and touchscreen navigation.

Instead of remembering commands, users can browse available packages, search for tools, inspect package information, and perform package operations through the terminal UI.

This is especially useful for users who are comfortable with Termux but do not want to memorize every package-management command.

Who Is Termux App Store For?

There are several groups that can benefit from it.

Termux users

Users can discover community packages and install them without manually figuring out every project's build process.

Developers

Developers can distribute their CLI tools as Termux packages.

Instead of telling users:

git clone
cd project
install dependencies
compile
configure
fix errors

they can provide a package definition.

Package maintainers

Maintainers can manage multiple Termux packages and use validation tools to keep package definitions consistent.

Reviewers

Reviewers can inspect "build.sh" files and package metadata before accepting a contribution.

How Developers Can Distribute a Termux Package

Suppose you have a GitHub project called:

my-awesome-cli

You want Termux users to be able to install it.

The basic workflow is:

git clone https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store
cd termux-app-store

Create the package:

./termux-build create my-awesome-cli

Or initialize from GitHub:

./termux-build init https://github.com/yourname/my-awesome-cli

Then validate:

./termux-build lint my-awesome-cli

After testing, submit the package through a pull request.

This creates a path from:

Developer project
↓
build.sh
↓
Validation
↓
Pull Request
↓
Termux App Store
↓
Termux users

That distribution pipeline is one of the most important ideas behind the project.

88+ Packages and Growing

The project is not only a package manager.

It is also becoming a package ecosystem.

At the time of writing, the project provides dozens of community packages, with the package catalog continuing to grow.

The long-term goal is not simply to have a large number of packages.

The goal is to make those packages discoverable, installable, reproducible, and maintainable.

A package catalog becomes more useful when users can search it before they even open Termux.

That is why package discovery is an important part of the future of Termux App Store.

From Package Manager to Package Registry

There is a bigger idea behind this project.

A package manager alone answers:

«"How do I install this?"»

A package registry can answer:

«"What exists?"»

That distinction matters.

Imagine searching Google for:

Termux ffmpeg

or:

Termux CLI tools

or:

Termux community packages

and finding a package page that explains:

Package name
Description
Version
Architecture
Dependencies
Source repository
SHA256
Installation command

The ideal workflow becomes:

Search
↓
Discover
↓
Understand
↓
Install
↓
Manage

This is one of the directions I want Termux App Store to move toward.

SEO and Package Discovery

Software ecosystems have a discovery problem.

Developers may create useful tools, but if users cannot find them, the software effectively does not exist.

That is why terms such as:

Termux package manager
Termux packages
Termux community packages
Termux package repository
Termux custom packages
Termux Android packages
Termux ".deb" packages
Termux source build
Termux CLI tools
Termux package installation

are important search concepts for the ecosystem.

The goal is not keyword stuffing.

The goal is to connect real user problems with real packages.

For example:

User searches:
"how to install a custom package in Termux"

↓

Termux App Store documentation

↓

Package format + build.sh

↓

Install command

Or:

User searches:
"Termux package repository"

↓

Termux App Store package registry

↓

Browse packages

↓

Install

The website therefore has the potential to become more than a project homepage.

It can become a searchable package index for the Termux community.

Why "AUR for Termux" Is a Useful Analogy

Developers familiar with Arch Linux may immediately understand the concept.

The AUR provides a community-driven ecosystem around Arch packages.

Termux App Store follows a similar philosophy:

Official Termux packages
+
Community packages
+
Developer-maintained tools
+
Source build definitions

But the implementation and package format are designed around Termux and Android.

So a simple way to describe it is:

«An AUR-like community package layer for Termux.»

Not an official Termux replacement.

Not a replacement for "pkg".

Not a hidden installer.

Instead, an independent community ecosystem for software that can run on Termux.

Privacy by Default

Modern software often assumes that users are comfortable with accounts, analytics, telemetry, and cloud services.

Termux App Store takes a different approach.

The project is designed around:

No account
No mandatory login
No telemetry
No tracking
No background service
No root requirement
Local execution
Transparent package definitions

The philosophy is simple:

«Your terminal should remain yours.»

Built for Multiple Architectures

Android devices are not all built the same way.

Termux users can run on different CPU architectures, including:

aarch64
arm
x86_64
i686

Package distribution therefore needs to account for architecture differences.

The binary installation engine can select the appropriate package and verify its SHA256 value for the target architecture.

This makes pre-built package distribution much more practical for Android devices.

Open Source and Community Driven

Termux App Store is released under the MIT License.

The project is intentionally community-oriented.

Contributions can include:

new packages
bug fixes
documentation
translations
package reviews
security reviews
build improvements
UI improvements
testing

A package contributor does not necessarily need to modify the entire package manager.

They can focus on creating a good package definition.

That lowers the barrier for developers who simply want to make their own CLI tool available to Termux users.

The Philosophy

The project can be summarized in one sentence:

«Local first. Control over convenience. Transparency over magic.»

I believe package managers should make software easier to install without hiding what happens underneath.

Convenience is important.

But users should still be able to inspect:

Where did this package come from?
What is being installed?
What source does it use?
What build script is responsible?
Was the binary verified?
Can I build it myself?

Those questions are especially important on a platform like Android where Termux gives users a surprisingly powerful Linux-like environment.

What Comes Next?

There are several directions that can make the ecosystem more useful.

Better package discovery

A searchable package index can help users discover tools before installing them.

Individual package pages

Every package could have its own documentation page containing:

Description
Version
Architecture
Dependencies
Source
License
Install command
Build information

Package requests

Users should be able to request packages they want to see added.

Better developer tooling

"termux-build" can continue evolving into a stronger package creation and validation toolkit.

Better package review

As the ecosystem grows, validation and security review become increasingly important.

More community packages

The ecosystem becomes more useful as developers contribute useful Termux-compatible software.

Conclusion

Termux has evolved from a simple terminal emulator into a powerful Android development environment.

But a powerful environment also needs a healthy software ecosystem.

The official Termux repositories provide the foundation.

Community repositories extend that foundation.

Projects like Termux App Store explore another layer:

«A community-driven package manager and package ecosystem specifically for Termux users and developers.»

The goal is not to replace the official Termux project.

The goal is to make community software easier to:

discover → inspect → build → install → update → share.

If you build command-line tools for Android or Termux, consider packaging them.

If you use Termux and cannot find the tool you need, consider requesting or contributing a package.

And if you are interested in building a community package ecosystem for Android, the project is open for contributions.

Try Termux App Store

Install from PyPI:

pkg install python
pip install termux-app-store

Run:

termux-app-store

or:

tas

Search for packages:

termux-app-store search

Install a package:

termux-app-store install

Links

GitHub:
https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store

PyPI:
https://pypi.org/project/termux-app-store/

Website:
https://termux-app-store.pages.dev/

Documentation:
https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store

Keywords

Termux App Store, Termux package manager, Termux packages, Termux community packages, Termux package repository, Termux custom packages, Termux Android packages, Termux CLI tools, Termux ".deb" packages, Termux source build, Android terminal, Termux package management, Termux developer tools, community package manager, AUR for Termux.

«Termux App Store — Built for everyone, by the community.»

AUR-Style Package Manager for Termux (termux app store)

RedVase — Wed, 20 May 2026 14:27:26 +0000

If you've ever used Arch Linux, you know the AUR (Arch User Repository) is one of its killer features. You want a tool? yay -S tool-name. Done. Community-built, source-verified, no gatekeeping.

Then you move to Termux on Android, and suddenly you're back to:

git clone https://github.com/<example>/<example-tool>
cd <example-tool>
chmod +x install.sh
bash install.sh

Every. Single. Tool.

That friction bothered me. So I built something about it.

What is termux-app-store?

termux-app-store is a TUI (Terminal User Interface) and CLI package manager for Termux — built specifically to work the way AUR works for Arch Linux, but adapted natively for Termux on Android.

It lets you:

Browse community tools visually with a touchscreen-friendly TUI
Build and install tools from source using verified build.sh scripts
Manage installed tools — update, upgrade, uninstall — all from one place
Work offline — no cloud dependency, no account, no telemetry

# Install it
pkg install python
pip install termux-app-store

# Open the TUI
termux-app-store

# Or use CLI directly
termux-app-store install <tool-name>
termux-app-store list
termux-app-store upgrade

How is it different from `termux-packages` or TUR?

This comes up a lot, so here's the honest breakdown:

	`termux-packages`	TUR	termux-app-store
Maintained by	Core Termux team	Curated contributors	Open community
Needs approval?	Yes, strict	Yes	No — PR merged, immediately usable
Binary distribution?	Yes	Yes	No — builds from source locally
Good for personal tools?	No	Limited	Yes
SHA256 verified?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Works offline?	No	No	Yes, fully

The key difference: termux-app-store is for tools that are too niche or personal for the official repos. You build locally, you control everything, nothing runs without your explicit command.

Think of it as the community layer on top of Termux — not a replacement for pkg.

The AUR similarity, and where it diverges

AUR packages use PKGBUILD files. termux-app-store uses build.sh files with a similar structure:

TERMUX_PKG_HOMEPAGE="https://github.com/your/tool"
TERMUX_PKG_DESCRIPTION="Your tool description"
TERMUX_PKG_LICENSE="MIT"
TERMUX_PKG_MAINTAINER="@your-github-username"
TERMUX_PKG_VERSION="1.0.0"
TERMUX_PKG_SRCURL="https://github.com/your/tool/archive/refs/tags/v1.0.0.tar.gz"
TERMUX_PKG_SHA256="abc123..."

Submit a PR with your build.sh, and once merged — anyone running termux-app-store can install your tool with one command. No server required. No binary hosting. No approval gate beyond the PR itself.

The TUI — why it matters for Termux specifically

On desktop, you have package manager GUIs. On Termux, you have... a terminal. The TUI fills that gap without needing X11 or a GUI environment.

It's built with Textual, so it works fully on touchscreens — you can tap to install, no keyboard required.

Features:

Real-time search and filter across all packages
Smart badge system: NEW, UPDATE, INSTALLED, UNSUPPORTED
One-tap install via build-package.sh
Auto-detects unsupported Termux dependencies before you waste time building

Installing and trying it

# Option 1: via PyPI (recommended)
pkg install python
pip install termux-app-store
termux-app-store

# Option 2: via curl (minimal download)
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/djunekz/termux-app-store/master/tasctl | bash -s install

# Option 3: full clone
git clone https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store
cd termux-app-store
bash install.sh

Contributing a package

If you have a Termux tool sitting in a GitHub repo and want others to be able to install it easily:

# 1. Fork the repo
# 2. Create your package folder
mkdir packages/your-tool-name

# 3. Use the scaffold tool
./termux-build create your-tool-name

# 4. Validate before submitting
./termux-build lint packages/your-tool-name

# 5. Submit a Pull Request

The termux-build tool helps you validate, lint, and check PR readiness — it only reads, never modifies or uploads anything.

Why build this instead of just using Tool-X or similar?

Tools like Tool-X are great for installing pre-known hacking tools. termux-app-store is designed for a broader use case:

Any tool, not just security tools
Full source transparency — you see every line before it runs
SHA256 verification on every package
Offline-first — works without stable internet
Community-extensible — anyone can submit a build.sh

Links

GitHub: https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store
PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/termux-app-store/
Website: https://termux-app-store.pages.dev

If you've been looking for an AUR-equivalent for Termux — this is it. Try it out, submit a package, or just leave a star if it's useful to you. Feedback and PRs are always welcome.

Built by @djunekz — independent open source developer.

Search terms for discoverability:
termux package manager · AUR for Termux · termux install tools from source · termux TUI · termux community packages · termux alternative package manager · termux offline installer · android terminal package manager

Termux App Store — A TUI Package Manager for Termux

RedVase — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:10:05 +0000

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working on a project called Termux App Store — a terminal-based app store / package manager experience designed specifically for Termux on Android.

The main goal is to make discovering, installing, and even sharing tools easier directly from the terminal without needing a full graphical UI.

Why I made it

Using Termux on mobile is powerful, but sometimes:

remembering package names is annoying
typing long install commands on a phone is tedious
discovering new tools isn’t very user-friendly
sharing personal scripts/tools can feel fragmented

So I wanted to experiment with something that feels more like an “app store” experience while still staying fully inside the terminal.

Features

Modern TUI interface
Browse tools interactively
Search packages quickly
Install tools directly from the UI
Lightweight and mobile-friendly
Works entirely in terminal
Community-driven tool uploads/distribution
Easy navigation without memorizing commands
Designed specifically for the Termux ecosystem

Idea Behind It

Instead of:

pkg install something
git clone something
cd something
bash install.sh

You can browse and manage tools in one place with a cleaner workflow.

The idea is not to replace Termux packages, but to create a more user-friendly layer for discovering and distributing tools/scripts/projects inside the community.

Current Status

Still actively being developed and improved.

I’m experimenting with:

better package management
repository integration
smoother UI/UX
upload/distribution system
plugin-style architecture
performance improvements for low-end devices

Feedback Welcome

I’d love feedback from the Termux community:

What features would you want?
What would make it genuinely useful?
What problems do you face using Termux on mobile?

GitHub:
https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store

Demo / Screenshots:
https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store

Thanks for reading 🙌

Leveling Up Your Termux Experience: A Lightweight GUI/TUI Alternative Package Manager

RedVase — Wed, 06 May 2026 01:03:13 +0000

Stop Memorizing Package Names: A TUI App Store for Termux

As a Termux user, we all know the routine: you open the terminal, you type pkg install, and then you realize you forgot the exact package name. Or you're just tired of the standard command-line interface and want something more intuitive to browse packages.

That's exactly why I built termux-app-store.

The Problem

Managing packages in Termux can be tedious. Finding new tools or remembering specific commands can slow down your workflow, especially when you just want to get things running quickly on your Android device.

The Solution: A TUI Approach

I wanted to bridge the gap between "I need a tool" and "It's installed." termux-app-store is a Terminal User Interface (TUI) based package manager designed to make your Termux experience smoother, faster, and more visual.

Key Features

Intuitive TUI: Navigate through packages using your keyboard or screen without digging through documentation.
No Root Required: It works seamlessly within the standard Termux environment.
Efficiency: Designed to be lightweight and fast.
Open Source: Built for the community, by the community djunekz.github.io/termux-app-store .

How to Get Started

Getting it running is straightforward. You can clone the repository and run it directly:

git clone [https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store](https://github.com/djunekz/termux-app-store)
cd termux-app-store

I tried to simplify installing GitHub tools on Termux (it’s harder than I thought)

RedVase — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:12:35 +0000

The problem

Installing random tools from GitHub on Termux is... messy.

Every repo is different:

some use pip
some are just standalone scripts
others mix bash + Python
some don’t even have a clear entrypoint

Even worse, something that works locally can break after installation.

What I noticed

After trying multiple tools, I kept running into:

missing dependencies
unclear install steps
no releases or versioning
inconsistent project structures

It feels like there’s no standard.

The idea

So I started experimenting with a small tool that tries to:

detect how a repo should be installed
generate a build script automatically
turn it into an installable package on Termux

Basically, something like a lightweight “app store” for GitHub tools.

The challenge

The deeper I go, the more edge cases I find:

repos without releases
projects that rely on relative paths
Python dependencies that don’t map cleanly to system packages
tools that assume a specific folder structure

Open question

Is there a better way to standardize this?

How do you usually handle installing random GitHub tools on Termux?

If you're curious, I've been experimenting with this here:
Repository

DEV Community: RedVase

Termux-Sync: Don't Rebuild Termux. Restore It

Termux App Store: A Community Package Manager for Termux on Android

AUR-Style Package Manager for Termux (termux app store)

What is termux-app-store?

How is it different from termux-packages or TUR?

The AUR similarity, and where it diverges

The TUI — why it matters for Termux specifically

Installing and trying it

Contributing a package

Why build this instead of just using Tool-X or similar?

Links

Termux App Store — A TUI Package Manager for Termux

Why I made it

Features

Idea Behind It

Current Status

Feedback Welcome

Leveling Up Your Termux Experience: A Lightweight GUI/TUI Alternative Package Manager

Stop Memorizing Package Names: A TUI App Store for Termux

The Problem

The Solution: A TUI Approach

Key Features

How to Get Started

I tried to simplify installing GitHub tools on Termux (it’s harder than I thought)

The problem

What I noticed

The idea

The challenge

Open question

How is it different from `termux-packages` or TUR?