Coding is normally done on the desktop, as the keyboard provides special keys. The keyboard of android phones is usually limited in this respect.
Is coding possible smart phones at all ?
You must log in or # to comment.
Absolutely. I use termux + a project called Andronix to install full Debian. After that you’re off to the races. Install NVM, node, git, whatever. I use
screenfor tabbed terminals. I use one tab to run my node server and another to edit with vim.Keyboards: as mentioned, Hacker keyboard, Unexpected keyboard, or Codeboard. Or you can attach a Bluetooth keyboard.
Everything just works. If you know vim and have patience, it’s a lot of fun.
Well, you can plug in a keyboard and use termux. I doubt it would be fun though.
Yes, and lots of people in lower income countries do so using a Bluetooth keyboard.
I’ve done it before. Would I do it again given other options? Probably not, but it is doable
The main limitation is your input device, attach a keyboard and a monitor and you should be able to program on anything
Yeah, lol. Bluetooth keyboard + USB-C display adapter connected to a larger monitor, and the phone becomes kind of usable for coding.
I have previously used my phone like this to run godot and it actually works well.
Yeah, Samsung’s dex is pretty amazing for this (only on the high end gear, I believe). Suck its a Samsung value add, cos they’re horroble devices
I’ve done the same thing on lineageos using xwindows. A little clunk to be sure. And the phone ran HOT, but it worked.
Nice! I didn’t l know you could (never looked into it it).
We considered trying dex at work but the cost of the phones was so much more than a thin client it really wasn’t worth it
Apps exist, often with keyboard augmentation, but I don’t see it being useful for much more than touchups.
I’ve always wondered for compiled languages, but I’d imagine you’d need some sort of Linux compatibility.
It might be easier if you get more limited/creative, off the top of my head I suspect using something like TIC-80 might be viable. Doesn’t quite interest me and I don’t even have wired keyboard capability (not just keys, I don’t think I could do much of anything at any appreciable speed/reliability on a virtual keyboard).
Maybe with DroidVim for Android or with KDevelop on a Linux phone, yeah.
Most android keyboards have all the special keys you need, they’re just 2-3 clicks away instead of 1. Something like Unexpected Keyboard might be more convenient. But the small screen is a bigger problem than the keyboard. Of course it can be done, it’s just a miserable experience.
Possible, yes. Pleasant, no.
I don’t like editing a spreadsheet on my phone, or typing much at all. If I had a blackberry, they would be different.
I feel like you would get a RSI way quicker on a blackberry keyboard than on a normal keyboard tho
But that’s just a gut feeling
if I had to use a mobile only, then a blackberry was amazing. but if I had a travel keyboard and a blackberry, I would keyboard.
Sure it’s possible. It’s also possible to cut an acre of grassland with scissors. Both are terrible ideas.
This reminds me of a research project I did in university (studied ecology).
The goal was to find out how much food geese need during migration.
You can’t weigh them before and after they feed.
So we went to a meadow they always frequent on their migration path.
And then we used a ruler to measure the length of every single blade of grass, before and after they fed.In addition, we collected what they left behind.
Like coding on a phone, it was foul shit.*fowl shit
damn, thanks. corrected it.
It’s also possible to cut an acre of grassland with scissors.
Honestly, I’m not sure it is. The scissors might get dull and stop being able to cut before you finish. (Grasses often incorporate silica into their structure to grind down the teeth of animals that try to eat it and thus discourage them from eating too much.)
Is your lawnmower “laser-based” or something ? 🤔
Lawn mowers rely more on speed than sharpness. Even an extremely worn lawnmower blade will still cut grass if you give it enough RPM. They also have a lot more mass to be worn away than a pair of scissors.
You can sharpen scissors too…
possible to cut an acre of grassland with scissors.
Never heard that. What’s all this modern nonsense? Traditionally you have to use a nail clipper!
Coding on an old flip phone with a 10-key keyboard would be analogous to cutting the field with nail clippers.
I only code on T9 keyboards.
And trim the trees with a herring.
You can, but small upgrades go a long way. Upgrade path I’d go for is keyboard -> mouse -> monitor -> used pc/laptop.
Honestly though, if you’re going to spend some money on it buying a used bargain bin laptop and installing Linux on it will be nice. Plenty of used laptops in $100-200 range are good enough.
Termux can do a LOT, even with Android’s heavy sandboxing. I’ve used anWriter before, to make websites and serverside JavaScript apps, and also just as a text editor.
I do also know there are ways to host VS Codium via a Linux VM in Termux and other ways to make the experience less awful.
A physical keyboard and mouse hooked up via USB OTG is also recommended.Possible? Yes. But if you don’t have a keyboard, it’s a huge pain to type code. And, depending what you’re building, it might be hard or impossible to treat your code locally.
yes
