Your phone is a Linux box you already own
No cloud sandbox, no extra device, no subscription just to get a shell. Termux plus proot-distro gives you a real Ubuntu environment, and these agents run in it exactly like they would on a laptop.
Nothing to unlock
Termux runs entirely in userspace. No rooting, no unlocked bootloader, no voided warranty.
Sandboxed by design
proot-distro keeps Ubuntu contained from the rest of your Android install — remove it in one command.
Same commands everywhere
The exact npm and curl installs you'd run on a laptop work unchanged inside the Ubuntu shell.
Pick an agent, follow its guide
Each agent has its own README with a one-line setup.sh and a manual step-by-step path.
OpenCode
Opencode terminal coding agent, run from your Android shell.
Codex
OpenAI's CLI coding agent, installed the same way as the rest.
PI CLI
Lightweight coding agent, installable via script or npm.
Antigravity
Agent runtime for autonomous coding workflows.
More agents
New guides added as new CLI agents ship.
Three layers, one shell
Every agent in this guide sits on the same foundation, so once you've set it up once, adding another agent takes one command.
Termux gives you a terminal
Installed from F-Droid, Termux provides a real package manager and shell on Android — the foundation everything else runs on.
proot-distro gives you Ubuntu
A full Ubuntu userland, isolated from Android, so agents that expect a standard Linux environment just work: proot-distro login ubuntu.
Node.js gives you the agent
Most agents ship as npm packages or install scripts. Install Node once, then install any agent in a single line.
Common questions
Do I need a rooted phone?
No. Termux and proot-distro both run without root access, on any Android device that can install apps from F-Droid.
Will this work on any Android phone?
Yes, though performance depends on your device's RAM and CPU. Mid-range and flagship phones handle these agents comfortably.
Is this safe to run alongside my normal apps?
Yes. proot-distro's Ubuntu environment is isolated in its own directory and doesn't touch the rest of your Android system. Removing it is a single command.
Can I run more than one agent at a time?
Yes. All agents install into the same Ubuntu environment, so you can switch between claude, codex, pi, and antigravity freely.