Top Android Terminal Libraries.

Android terminal libraries are powerful tools that enable developers to interact with the command line interface (CLI) within an Android application. These libraries provide a range of features, such as executing shell commands, capturing command output, and even creating custom terminal interfaces. In this tutorial, we will explore some of the top Android terminal libraries, their installation process, and demonstrate their usage through code examples.

1. Termux-API:

Termux-API is a versatile library that allows Android applications to access the functionality provided by the Termux app. It provides a broad range of features, including accessing device sensors, sending SMS messages, accessing the camera, and much more. To install Termux-API, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the following dependency to your app-level build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.termux:termux-api:0.7.0'

Step 2: Sync your project to fetch the library.

Usage Example:

import com.termux.api.*

// Execute a shell command
TermuxApiUtils.executeCommand(context, "ls")

// Access device sensors
TermuxApiUtils.getSensor(context, "accelerometer") { sensorValues ->
    // Handle sensor data
}

// Send an SMS
val smsIntent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)
smsIntent.data = Uri.parse("smsto:1234567890")
smsIntent.putExtra("sms_body", "Hello, World!")
context.startActivity(smsIntent)

For detailed documentation, visit the Termux-API GitHub repository.

2. Android Shell:

Android Shell is a lightweight library that simplifies executing shell commands within an Android application. It provides easy-to-use methods for running commands, capturing output, and handling errors. To install Android Shell, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the following dependency to your app-level build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.github.jrummyapps:android-shell:1.1.2'

Step 2: Sync your project to fetch the library.

Usage Example:

import eu.chainfire.libsuperuser.Shell

// Execute a shell command
Shell.SU.run("ls")

// Execute a shell command with callback
Shell.Pool.SU.run("ls") { result ->
    if (result.isSuccessful) {
        // Handle command execution success
    } else {
        // Handle command execution failure
    }
}

// Capture command output
val output = Shell.SH.run("ls").out

For more information, refer to the Android Shell GitHub repository.

3. Termux:

Termux is a powerful terminal emulator and Linux environment for Android devices. It provides a complete Linux distribution with a package manager, allowing you to install various command-line tools and utilities. To install Termux, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and install the Termux app from the Google Play Store.

Usage Example:

import android.content.Intent
import android.net.Uri

// Execute a shell command
val process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("ls")

// Capture command output
val inputStream = process.inputStream
val output = inputStream.bufferedReader().use(BufferedReader::readText)

// Open a URL in the browser
val url = "https://example.com"
val browserIntent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(url))
context.startActivity(browserIntent)

For further information, visit the Termux GitHub repository.

Additional Libraries:

Here are some additional Android terminal libraries worth exploring:

1. RootShell: A library for executing commands as root or with superuser privileges.

2. ShellCommand: A lightweight library for executing shell commands and capturing output.

3. JShell: A Kotlin library for executing shell commands with a simple and fluent API.

4. ShellExecutor: A library that simplifies executing shell commands and managing command output.

Conclusion:

Android terminal libraries provide developers with powerful tools to interact with the command line interface within Android applications. In this tutorial, we explored some of the top Android terminal libraries, including Termux-API, Android Shell, and Termux. We covered their installation process and demonstrated their usage through code examples. Additionally, we introduced several other libraries that can further enhance your terminal-based capabilities in Android development. Now, armed with these libraries, you can harness the power of the command line in your Android applications.