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deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

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Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#51

Post by sebmaynard »

userland_tech wrote: post #47
o1y32 wrote: post #6

Great! I have been wondering why something like this did not already exist, given that you can already run a full Ubuntu from termux (and indeed people have run a coder-server from such an environment). Someone must be able to create a more user-friendly version of vscode on Android. Will try this out on my Samsung tablet. My only concern is the memory management -- vscode (and its extensions) is not super friendly i…

When we run Ubuntu on Android, we prefer UserLAnd over termux :)

I've been a happy UserLAnd user for a long time and it's a wonderful project, thank you!

I've have recently started using vmConsole too (which is based on qemu instead) as I needed docker. Also great.

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#52

Post by diffeomorphism »

issafram wrote: post #38

Yes but why?

Because getting a high resolution, oled, good aspect ratio, fast refresh rate display is much easier and more affordable on a tablet? Sure, even with a kickstand it is not quite as "lapable", but the screens are nice.

On a related note, when is pkvm supposed to be available outside pixel devices? Getting a proper linux or windows VM on one of the bigger samsung tablets + keyboard just might replace my laptop (yeah, remote stuff works, but offline on device would be much more convenient, e.g. on trains).

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#53

Post by paraknight »

My daily driver is Android + Samsung DeX, and I've tried doing this a couple different ways. In the end, the only thing that didn't make me pull me hair out in the long run was proper VSCode (arm64 build) inside termux/Ubuntu (installed via Andronix). Crucially, the only VNC client that works well with this (and I've tried all the paid ones too) is AVNC from FDroid.

I had too many issues with code-server and vscodium and such when it came to proprietary extensions unfortunately, and my actual dev machine is in the cloud so I rely on the Remote Dev extension. Has to be real VSCode.

I like that you can create a PWA from a standard code-server deployment too, and that works quite nice on DeX (proper immersive-mode full screen), but for me that has been too limiting because I cannot remap my brain away from my vim keybindings, and some stuff just doesn't work in a browser context. The browser will take over certain things (like ESC for getting out of full screen or alt+tab for navigating across browser tabs rather than VSCode tabs, etc).

As a rule of thumb now, any software that's complicated enough to require tabs, I try to run native arm64 builds for (VSCode, Obsidian, browser) and everything else I can get away with kiosk-mode browser windows masquerading as apps (email, calendar, feed reader, chat).

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#54

Post by rock_artist »

mknapper1 wrote: post #3

Code App is a similar app available on iOS. I've used it a bit, and it's pretty polished. It's a paid app in the app store but the testflight build is available for free. https://github.com/thebaselab/codeapp

Another consideration about Code.app: - it's open sourced - developer is super responsive

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#55

Post by rock_artist »

o1y32 wrote: post #7
mknapper1 wrote: post #3

Code App is a similar app available on iOS. I've used it a bit, and it's pretty polished. It's a paid app in the app store but the testflight build is available for free. https://github.com/thebaselab/codeapp

I think they only look similar but are completely different. OP's app runs a full-featured vscode (not creating a new editor) and supposedly has access to all vscode's marketplace extensions.

Indeed that's worth remembering but iOS eco-system is as always more scoped/limited. And code.app really integrates well with Apple's limitations.

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#56

Post by reedf1 »

paraknight wrote: post #53

My daily driver is Android + Samsung DeX, and I've tried doing this a couple different ways. In the end, the only thing that didn't make me pull me hair out in the long run was proper VSCode (arm64 build) inside termux/Ubuntu (installed via Andronix). Crucially, the only VNC client that works well with this (and I've tried all the paid ones too) is AVNC from FDroid. I had too many issues with code-server and vscodium…

Can you elaborate on how you use DeX specifically? I recently bought my first Samsung - and was a bit curious about it, surprised to hear that it is a powerful tool.

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#57

Post by matheusmoreira »

archargelod wrote: post #30
o1y32 wrote: post #6

Great! I have been wondering why something like this did not already exist, given that you can already run a full Ubuntu from termux (and indeed people have run a coder-server from such an environment). Someone must be able to create a more user-friendly version of vscode on Android. Will try this out on my Samsung tablet. My only concern is the memory management -- vscode (and its extensions) is not super friendly i…

I've been using termux + neovim as my default text editor on my phone. And it is surprisingly comfortable even with a touch screen keyboard.

Agreed! Termux profoundly changed my life. I do all of my programming inside Termux now. I find it to be pretty comfortable too.

Only thing I'm still missing is a way to build Android applications from inside Termux. We can write software for normal computers from inside themselves. Conversely, phones have always been these consumer machines, only running software produced for them and with no ability to program themselves. Feels like it's the only remaining barrier in the way of Android phones becoming truly general purpose computers.

I opened an issue on their repository about packaging the Android development tools:

https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/issues/17701

Someone linked a discussion where someone got it to work. I haven't had any luck setting this up though.

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#58

Post by matheusmoreira »

diogenes4 wrote: post #35
archargelod wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using termux + neovim as my default text editor on my phone. And it is surprisingly comfortable even with a touch screen keyboard.

Does it come with a modal keyboard or the same static one?

Android allows you to swap the virtual keyboard. I use unexpected keyboard which is also free software. It's excellent for programming. Before that I used Hacker's Keyboard which has actual arrow keys.

Termux also has a configurable bar at the bottom where you can map any keys you want. I use it for function and arrow keys plus a bunch of common symbols.

Here's an example from my dotfiles:

https://github.com/matheusmoreira/.files/blob/38565320fefb92...

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#59

Post by neals »

reedf1 wrote: post #56
paraknight wrote: post #53

My daily driver is Android + Samsung DeX, and I've tried doing this a couple different ways. In the end, the only thing that didn't make me pull me hair out in the long run was proper VSCode (arm64 build) inside termux/Ubuntu (installed via Andronix). Crucially, the only VNC client that works well with this (and I've tried all the paid ones too) is AVNC from FDroid. I had too many issues with code-server and vscodium…

Can you elaborate on how you use DeX specifically? I recently bought my first Samsung - and was a bit curious about it, surprised to hear that it is a powerful tool.

I spent some time last week trying to set this up.

You can use Andronix to install Linux and a window manager onto you phone. You then use a VNC app to connect to that (local) Linux container and you'll have a fully working Linux phone. Works pretty well, though I had to jump to a few hoops as not all distro's worked on my Fold 3.

DEX starts automatically when you plug HDMI into your (Samsung) phone. You then start the Andronix Linux container thing from DEX and you have a fully working Linux distro, right from your pocket. Pretty magical.

What I do, is use remote VSCode to connect to my dev server, so I don't need to run anything locally, because speed wasn't great for me. But if you set it up as I did, you can work from anywhere and you don't need a laptop.

Re: deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

#60

Post by sejl »

reedf1 wrote: post #56
paraknight wrote: post #53

My daily driver is Android + Samsung DeX, and I've tried doing this a couple different ways. In the end, the only thing that didn't make me pull me hair out in the long run was proper VSCode (arm64 build) inside termux/Ubuntu (installed via Andronix). Crucially, the only VNC client that works well with this (and I've tried all the paid ones too) is AVNC from FDroid. I had too many issues with code-server and vscodium…

Can you elaborate on how you use DeX specifically? I recently bought my first Samsung - and was a bit curious about it, surprised to hear that it is a powerful tool.

Just a heads up, newer versions of Android will kill processes that spawn a certain amount of subprocesses. You'll want to look into disabling the phantom process killer using adb (works for unrooted phones but you need to repeat those steps after each reboot.)
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