There's a powerlessness to using Android.

It's difficult to just do things. Even windows feels more "free." Phone OSes are built like prisons.

Ideally Android would let you drop into a real shell, without having to deal with android sandboxing.

Regardless, I use termux and tasker to get my automations done.

streb-lo 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Probably because carriers don't want a bunch of poorly secured devices on their networks.

lytedev 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Can't you get USB modems and cram a SIM inside? Are carrier networks really more scary than the internet at large?

gruez 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

They don't seem to put much effort in proactively blocking residential VPNs though?

dsr_ 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Counter-evidence: the Google Play Store, which is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

And also malware.

	▲	armadyl an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Counter-evidence: Repos such as AUR That blast radius coupled with (non-Android) Linux's atrocious security is a far worse option

smalltorch 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What are the main things you can do in a real shell versus termux for instance?

It's a pretty big sandbox in my experience.

	▲	seba_dos1 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		If something bothers me with my phone's UI or if I want to change the behavior of some system service, I can do e.g. "apt source phosh", patch it and then "apt build-dep .", "dpkg-buildpackage -b" and "apt install" it right on the phone. I can even send the patch for upstreaming from there. How easy it is to do an equivalent thing on Android?
	▲	4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		[deleted]

You can root it if you really want (and if the bootloader is unlocked)