A decent SSH client for Android is not what one would expect

I’m not too happy with using mobile devices as a daily driver for server connections. When one needs to use a keyboard, in many cases the appropriate device is inevitably a laptop or a desktop computer. Anyway, sometimes it happens that the mobile phone should be used as an SSH client for an emergency or to perform simple remote tasks. Possibly using an app that is usable, decently supported, and can share common configurations among multiple devices with a reasonable level of security.

For years, the most used client on Android has been JuiceSSH, but unfortunately, it became abandonware some years ago, and at the end of last year, it was also delisted from the PlayStore. A few days ago, I changed my smartphone and finally moved to the latest Fairphone model. Now, who knows me already knows how much I hate mobile phones, which are generally the realm of apps with the worst UX ever conceived. Since then, I discovered that the pro option of JuiceSSH is also dead, and basically, SSH forwarding cannot be used anymore. Too bad, I decided to look for a state-of-the-art SSH client application and discovered that the generally suggested apps (i.e., Termius and Connectbot) are the usual PITA.

Thanks gosh, Termux entered the room.

For people who don't know it, it is an Android terminal that emulates a color xterm, but has some nice features, specifically a damn good package management tool built in. Of course, it is pure FOSS.

pkg install openssh git vim

Now it could be nice to access the common storage area by enabling it with

termux-setup-storage

This could be useful for exchanging files with remote hosts and keeping them available for/from other apps.

Now, a useful .ssh/config file can be pulled via git, stored locally, and possibly customized to simplify ssh network access, with all helpful host stanzas. Even a local password-protected host key can be created and stored locally for safety.

So far, so good. Probably, I should simply start giving up on treating Android as a special beast and treat it as just another Linux host. Fewer apps, more terminal, and fuck the majority!