deVStudio – Runs VS Code on Android

[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).

[reedf1]

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.

[rcarmo]

Try xorgxrdp. Might make it nicer for getting a remote display going, and has less latency.

[o1y32]

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 in its memory usage, and on a phone/tablet the RAM could easily run out, even if swap is enabled.

[archargelod]

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.

[jeroenhd]

Modern phones come with 8GB of RAM, if you close a bunch of background apps it should deal with VS Code just fine.

I wouldn't even try it on a budget device, but high end Androids should run this more than well enough.

[raybb]

Do you have guide on hand about enabling swap on Android devices?

I searched a bit but saw some conflicting info and most of it was quite old. It seemed like people don't recommend doing it is possible.

[userland_tech]

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

[userland_tech]

This is made by the makers of UserLAnd - Run Linux on Android. Looking for early feedback. If you want a promo code (first 500) please email [e-mail].

[wrexx0r]

Is there a planned feature for it to be incorporated into UserLAnd? Possibly through an In-App Purchase? It would be neat to be able to manage this along side other UserLAnd instances

Edit: Nevermind it is there. Super Awesome

[kposehn]

Very cool! While I'm not an Android user, I'm glad to see this released. The more tablet-friendly IDE's the better.

[nfriedly]

I've been running https://github.com/coder/code-server for the past few months, and I really like it.

It's basically self-hosted VS Code in a browser. I can switch from my desktop to my laptop, even to my phone, and pick up right where I left off with uncommitted changes, long running processes, etc. Additionally, I get the full resources of my server and don't have to worry about it running down my battery or causing the fans to spin up on my laptop.

[qingcharles]

The sad thing is, you shouldn't need it if only Microsoft would spend some time to make their own web-based version work on mobile devices:

https://vscode.dev/

[ris58h]

> I can switch from my desktop to my laptop, even to my phone, and pick up right where I left off with uncommitted changes, long running processes, etc.

Valid only while you have a (good) internet connection.

[circuit10]

From the screenshots this seems to use an X/VNC server or something, it might be good to also explore using https://github.com/coder/code-server with a native Android browser to get things like graphics acceleration (though with disadvantages like not being about to develop graphical applications)

[userland_tech]

An option using code server is coming. Will be in the same app, just different launch option.

[o1y32]

code-server can't use Microsoft's extension marketplace, but this can. Supposedly this runs the original Microsoft binary which is why things work exactly like a Linux desktop version. I know, this sucks.

[fire]

Does this use actual vscode or is it based on vscodium?

I'm curious how much tweaking you needed to do to get this to work - I'd love to see this with https://cursor.sh (vscodium based) as the editor

[userland_tech]

This actually runs vscode.

[figers]

Just installed, c sharp extension installed fine, looks very promising.

The only issue I've run into so far is signing into my Microsoft Azure and GitHub account since it doesn't seem to be able to load a web browser by default from this VS code instance?

[userland_tech]

It is a pretty minimal install. I should probably put a web browser with it later. Thanks for the feedback. Please review it on the Play Store.

[flagged24]

My biggest gripe with vscode on Android (code-server pwa on DeX) is lack of mouse hover and text selection. With so much intellisense hidden behind mouse popovers not having access to that is a bit of a show stopper.

[flagged24]

I installed devStudio and hover seems to work fine, probably due to the vnc layer. What doesn't work well is the mouse pointer, there is a weird offset between the native cursor and the vnc cursor.

[iampivot]

the irony that you can't run Android Studio on Android, but can run VS Code?

[userland_tech]

As soon as there are arm binaries, we will make an app out of it :)

[kindawinda]

This seems like a complete waste since https://vscode.dev etc exist. Why would anyone want to develop inside of a walled garden?

[tbenst]

The web version you linked does not support the remote SSH extension, which is critical for many folks workflows. I can’t do any work without that extension.

I’m curious if the android version supports this extension?

[satvikpendem]

Ironic that you call it a walled garden when the online version is not self hostable as actual VSCode is and is offered online at Microsoft's sole discretion.

[qingcharles]

Microsoft's version does not work on mobile. I have tried many times to make it work on Chrome on Android, but it just isn't designed to work on a small screen and is unusable. It's sad.

When I got out of jail all I had was smartphones I would borrow from friends and the only way I could end up developing sanely was to open a terminal to a Linux box and just use nano instead, which meant no IDE with auto-complete, syntax lookups, formatting and most importantly, debugging.

[hedora]

Is there an open source / self hosted version of that (preferably with support for remote ssh, since it should be easy to support in a self-hosted environment)

[noduerme]

I don't have a decent enough Android device to play with this, but how would one / could one run tsc alongside it on Android? Invoked through termux or something?

[vanarok]

web version vscode.dev win, this app very have big delay for input

[issafram]

Yes but why?

[darknavi]

I work on Minecraft (bedrock) addon APIs and have found a thriving subculture of creators develop solely on their mobile (Android) phones.

What seems crazy to me seems to work for others. I assume many of them are constrained by what they can afford.

[diffeomorphism]

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).

[jeroenhd]

An Android phone or tablet with Dex can make for an excellent laptop replacement if you hook up a keyboard and a mouse.

[jyf007]

termux tur pkg install code-server

[mknapper1]

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

[o1y32]

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.

[kposehn]

+1 to Code App. The developer has been super responsive to bugs. So far the app is the best IDE offering on iPad imho.

[rock_artist]

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

[dijit]

something like this but using the ssh remoting feature would be killer for me.