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

#termux #android #opensource #termuxappstore

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
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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
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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..."
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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
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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
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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

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

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