Anyone tried AIDE?

General Discussions
#1

Android IDE: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aide.ui&hl=en

I am thinking of getting a Nexus 7 next year and it would be nice to have a little Java IDE on it for sketching out ideas. But I have no idea how an IDE would perform on a tablet, or how well normal IDE features like code completion would work.

#2

Phones/tablets have to small screens for any programming, 1366X768 and good keyboard are a minimum for this task. If you want to sketch out ideas, it is better to plan them in your own head. :slight_smile:

#3

When I sketch code in my head it always compiles and runs first time :slight_smile:

#4

Same here. I assume that the bugs that come up once the code is transferred from my head into the IDE are due to faulty hardware. You’d be surprised at the number of PC’s with faulty hardware that I come across on a daily basis. :wink:

#5

I have AIDE on my nexus 7 and memo pad. I think it is excellent just so long as you are using an external keyboard as typing on the screen sucks. I link to my projects in dropbox and use AIDE when ever I’m away from my desktop. I prefer the 10" screen of the memo pad but the nexus is more portable. Both are fine for tinkering.

#6

No android, but that promo…
EPIC!

I kind of like the idea, but typing on smart phones SUCKS for me. Something about not being able to rest my hands on the board… Great experiment though, and I will definitely watch for some projects done with it!

#7

AIDE has been out for years now… There are plenty of projects completed with it.

#8

Oh. Was not aware. TIL! [sub][sup]I feel stupid…[/sup][/sub]

Looking at all the screenshots though, and I don’t think I could never use this… It just looks so tiny! I simply cannot imagine myself typing on my phone, coding. Maybe on a tablet, but not a phone.
Looks very functional though. I mean, github-ing from your phone; that is just awesome.

#9

I use a GitHub app on my phone to keep track of my repos on the go, I think iOS has an app too for it.

Its ok typing on that small of a screen, but I wouldn’t use it for Android development, ironically enough. Its just too much work to create an app with it, but I think I’ll test it out when it supports Java!

#10

The bugs drop from the ceiling into the keyboard while you blink :persecutioncomplex:

#11

I dont believe bugs drop from the ceiling.

#12

You shouldn’t go to my grandma’s house then!

#13

In my humble opinion, it sucks with a virtual keyboard that occupies most of the screen, it sucks less with an integrated physical keyboard but it is still less comfortable than a decent real computer keyboard.

#14

A nexus 7, a cover with integrated keyboard - it would be sweet!

#15

I finally got an android device, an Asus Memo Pad HD, and I am running AIDE on it. It’s not exactly IntelliJ, and using the on-screen keyboard can be painful, but AIDE is a sweet little thing. I’m porting Headline Benchmark over to Android through AIDE, and it’s going smoothly :slight_smile:

#16

I have AIDE running on my HTC Desire S. Not exactly uncomfortable to the point of unable to use it, but it still gets the work done.

  1. I have AIDE set up so that it is always locked in Portrait Sensor mode (basically, Auto Portrait Mode).
  2. Due to circumstances, I usually program Android Java in AIDE while I’m lying in bed. Therefore, Auto Portrait Mode here works perfectly.
  3. With PVStar+ installed, I can use a headphone to listen to podcasts/programming lectures/etc. while I’m programming.
  4. GIT usage is minimal. I can actually checkout a repo from GitHub, but the GitHub account requires that it’s not set to 2FA. I don’t know how to work around this problem, but I guess 2FA is basically unnecessary for a small repo.
  5. With rooted access, AIDE is a lot faster at compiling/running APKs.

I also have AIDE installed on my Asus Transformer Pad TF701T, with MobileDock.

  1. Tablet-wise, I have set the global accelerometer to be locked Landscape Sensor mode (i.e., Auto Landscape mode).
  2. However, using the tablet in bed is seriously bad. I do not like the experience of typing with and without the MobileDock that comes with it.
  3. With unlimited cellular network, I use a tethering hotspot to get my Asus tablet connected to the phone. I can actually watch Youtube videos and program in AIDE at the same time in bed.
  4. I recommend dual-usage of devices in your repertoire. AIDE in one hand, watching movies in another. This is, in my opinion, a good way to combat burnout and procrastination.

AIDE functionalities:

Pros:

  1. Suitable for Android Java Development.
  2. Can also compile Libgdx-based games. Unfortunately, due to my hardware limitations, compiling the project is tedious and boring.
  3. Basic features of a common IDE is supported.
  4. It can actually force you to program in pure OpenGL ES of any versions.

Cons:

  1. No pure Java programming. I don’t know when it will be integrated.
  2. There’s an issue in any Portrait modes (Reverse Portrait, Auto Portrait, Portrait modes) that has the soft-keyboard list of commonly used symbols are stuck at the bottom of the screen at all times. It’s a pain to program on smartphones than on tablets. Would recommend tablets/Galaxy Note sized smartphones.
  3. You have to compile/build your APK files EVERY time. Even if you haven’t change anything, it needs to rebuild. I’ve bet this is probably a Won’t Fix issue regarding out-of-sync files and the Android application lifecycle. Nothing is persistent.

Recommended:

  1. Root your Android dev device if you can. The prompt asking you to install/reinstall your app is annoying.
  2. Do your programming on a computer. Even my Asus Transformer Pad has quirks that I cannot debug, and have to resort to many Googling and forum lurking in order to nail it down.
  3. Again, do your programming on a computer. AIDE does not have runtime debugging, nor does it allows you to step-in/over/out codes. I can recall days of frustrations with it without my laptop, just because I didn’t set a variable right. I had to resort to using Eclipse just to step-through the codes to find it.
  4. Buy it while it is on sale. I got this on sale at 50% price, and it’s worth it. But I feel as if it’s not worth 100% of its price tag. If they actually have Java programming, then it’s truly worth it.
  5. MOST IMPORTANT: If you are carrying an Android smartphone with you to a war zone, or serving a compulsory military service, like me, then I would totally recommend having AIDE on that device. While you are training, especially if you hate being forced to service the country, it’s better to practice your programming skills during your offtime. Without it, you can easily forget what you’ve learned and zone out or something. I had many CS and IT guys with programming backgrounds all failed to remember how to insert/remove an element in a linked list.
#17

I’ll never use it, it HURTS MY EYES!!!

#18

even programming on a netbook sucks D=

maybe what we need is audio programming via voice control :3

#19

No. You would have no kind of overview anymore…

#20

Pros:

  • You can increase the text size to however you want.
  • You can change the color scheme to light or dark.

Cons:

  • Can’t let you put your cursor at the very end of a line. You need to slide the cursor a bit, then hold it at the very edge of your screen in order to force scroll the overview to the very end of the line.

Thanks for reminding me of this, SHC.