# 05 — Claude Code on Termux

The reason this whole repo exists. Two non-obvious things break Claude Code on Termux:

1. **Version ceiling: v2.1.112.** Starting v2.1.113, the CLI ships as a native binary (SEA) for `linux-x64`, `linux-arm64-glibc`, `linux-arm64-musl`, `darwin-*`, `win32-*`. Termux's `process.platform === 'android'` is not in that list. Even `--force`-installing the `linux-arm64` package fails because the binary needs `/lib/ld-linux-aarch64.so.1` or `/lib/ld-musl-aarch64.so.1`, neither of which exist in Bionic libc.
2. **`/tmp` is hardcoded.** Claude Code writes to `/tmp/claude/...` for background tasks. Termux doesn't have a writable `/tmp`. `termux-chroot` exposes `/tmp -> /usr/tmp` to **all child processes** (which `proot -b` alone does not).

## Install

If you just want it working, run the top-level installer:

```bash
bash install.sh
```

Otherwise, the manual steps are:

```bash
# 1. Pin to the last compatible version
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@2.1.112

# 2. Protect against the auto-updater (it can ignore env vars)
chmod -R a-w $PREFIX/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/

# 3. Make the wrapper available
cp bin/clauded ~/.local/bin/
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/clauded
```

## Settings

`~/.claude/settings.json`:

```json
{
  "env": { "DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER": "1" },
  "skipDangerousModePermissionPrompt": true,
  "effortLevel": "xhigh"
}
```

`DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER` is also exported from `bashrc.snippet`. Belt and suspenders — the auto-updater has been observed to ignore the env var in some releases, which is why `chmod -R a-w` is the real defense.

## How `clauded` works

```
clauded
  └── termux-chroot
        └── claude --dangerously-skip-permissions "$@"
```

`termux-chroot` simulates a Linux FHS where `/tmp`, `/etc`, `/usr` etc. point to their Termux equivalents. Crucially, every child process inherits this view, so any background task Claude spawns also sees a working `/tmp`.

## Updating safely

```bash
claude-update
```

This script:
- Checks npm for the latest version.
- Compares against the ceiling (`2.1.112`).
- Refuses to upgrade past the ceiling.
- Reapplies `chmod -R a-w` after a successful install.

If a future Anthropic release re-supports Android (or restores the pure-Node fallback), bump the ceiling in `claude-update` and the README.

## Authenticating

```bash
clauded
# Inside Claude:  /login
```

Subscription accounts and API keys both work. The OAuth flow opens a URL; long-press to copy it on Android and paste it in a real browser (Chromium, Firefox).

## When the wheels come off

See `TROUBLESHOOTING.md` for:
- `EACCES: /tmp/claude/...`
- `native binary not installed`
- `claude --version` works but `clauded` errors
- Sharp / image support
- `proot-distro` escape hatch (lets you run newer versions inside a real glibc rootfs)