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Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

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Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#11

Post by gregjor »

I use an iPad Pro exclusively for programming, have for a while now. But I use it as a mostly-dumb terminal. Blink shell for ssh/mosh, Github client and Working Copy for git, Textastic for editing locally offline. The Inspect browser for web dev tools.

That means most of the work actually happens on a remote VPS with command line tools, my preferred environment.

I travel constantly and like the iPad for convenience, battery life, and the focus of having one app at a time on the screen.

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#12

Post by musicale »

greggman7 wrote: post #9
Jtsummers wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://support.apple.com/guide/playgrounds-ipad/share-a-pla... You can actually publish from the iPad now. I think that's been an option for 2 years or so.

Yes of course, Apple doesn't have to follow it's own rules.

Well yes, Apple's internal software development teams aren't bound by Apple's standard external developer license.

Though I suppose the EU might eventually insist that external developers gain access to the same APIs that Apple itself can use.

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#14

Post by scarface_74 »

greggman7 wrote: post #2

AFAIK this is still mostly forbidden by Apple > 2.5.2 Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumsta…

https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/22/24200536/windows-xp-ipad-...

For terminal emulation, you can use iSH.

An app is allowed to use the standard method to read and write to use the standard document storage API where any installed storage providers can be accessed - iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox, the local device, etc

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#15

Post by ImJamal »

musicale wrote: post #12
greggman7 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes of course, Apple doesn't have to follow it's own rules.

Well yes, Apple's internal software development teams aren't bound by Apple's standard external developer license. Though I suppose the EU might eventually insist that external developers gain access to the same APIs that Apple itself can use.

> Though I suppose the EU might eventually insist that external developers gain access to the same APIs that Apple itself can use

Isn't that one of the issues Microsoft had in their monopoly trial?

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#17

Post by runjake »

You'll have to be more specific if you want useful answers.

Do you want a remote shell to a development environment? Then yes, there are a ton of iPad apps for that (Blink Shell, Termius, etc). There's also the Working Copy app for some level of repo-based development.

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#18

Post by tmaly »

Jtsummers wrote: post #5

Coding as in the act of writing code is easy. There are a handful of editors and a good git client (Working Copy). You can get several terminal emulator apps, but they don't really let you run anything local like most people would want from a terminal, but from them you can access remote systems (Blink gives you access to VS Code for the Web, or whatever it's called). For running on the iPad, there is the obvious Swi…

Working Copy is great, I use it to sync my Obsidian notes. Any recommendations for a terminal app that supports ssh?

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#19

Post by Jtsummers »

tmaly wrote: post #18
Jtsummers wrote: post #5

Coding as in the act of writing code is easy. There are a handful of editors and a good git client (Working Copy). You can get several terminal emulator apps, but they don't really let you run anything local like most people would want from a terminal, but from them you can access remote systems (Blink gives you access to VS Code for the Web, or whatever it's called). For running on the iPad, there is the obvious Swi…

Working Copy is great, I use it to sync my Obsidian notes. Any recommendations for a terminal app that supports ssh?

I use Blink but they changed their pricing model from one-time purchase (what I got it with) to an annual subscription, so up to you on that one.

I recommend using mosh instead of ssh proper, and Blink supports it as do several others but I haven't used other apps so can't suggest alternatives. When the app goes to the background it will lose its network connection and you have to reconnect. With ssh, reconnecting is manual (and if you use tmux or screen, like I do, this is an annoyance since you don't lose any work). With mosh, it'll automatically reconnect and whether you use tmux (like me) or not is irrelevant, things are still as you left them. This is also useful if you're actually mobile (moving between networks), which I was doing back when I first tried using an iPad for development like this.

Re: Ask HN: Coding on an iPad?

#20

Post by musicale »

ImJamal wrote: post #15
musicale wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well yes, Apple's internal software development teams aren't bound by Apple's standard external developer license. Though I suppose the EU might eventually insist that external developers gain access to the same APIs that Apple itself can use.

> Though I suppose the EU might eventually insist that external developers gain access to the same APIs that Apple itself can use Isn't that one of the issues Microsoft had in their monopoly trial?

yes...
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