Node.js development on android tablet

Question

I bought an Android tablet with manual keyboard and since the combo seems so ideal for other work, I thought coding with it would enable a pension for my oldish PC computer if the tablet would substitute that approach, too.

Node.js is run on npmI suppose, and I have installed a terminal app that enables me using common unix commands.

I found this link:

https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/59863/a-real-terminal-root-or-no-root

stating that terminal would never be like terminal in normal linux e.g. lacking sudo and apt for example.

Any go for a node.js program development then on my machine?

Answer 1

There is an App for npm and node runtime in Google Play Dory - Node.js

Answer 2

I second the Cloud (c9.io) approach for when you've got a large screen, a decent keyboard, and a great network. But quite a lot of the time I don't and I want to try something with node and then I've got to start up a PC to do so. Your question leads me to believe that you're looking for offline android use of nodejs and npm. Though obviously you'll need to be online to bring in packages and run 'apt update' and the like.

I just started using and liking Termux for an older Android tablet and it works very well. I found this link tutorial and followed along. So far so good. I can't say I care for the soft keyboard. I use a separate Bluetooth keyboard and the whole setup works great for a long airplane flight when I don't have a laptop with me.

Termux itself is a free download and I've used it to install and run some pretty involved v6.5.0 work and so far haven't run across any problems with packages. There's an additional pay-app that adds styles; a few comments seem to be you don't need them but it's a nice way to tip-the-hat to the Termux developer. I'm starting to agree... the emulator is pretty impressive.

Answer 3

I have used cloud 9 on android and it works great. Also you don't need to use git hub as the repository you can also use Bit Bucket which is private by default. And fully integrated with cloud9. you can then also use codeship for continuous delivery/integration and deploy automatically to heroku.

Answer 4

I think your best bet is to use a "workaround". Sign up for a cloud based IDE such as Cloud9. Then you can use the web browser on your tablet. The source code can be stored on GitHub, or your own private git repository, and tested and run on the cloud9 servers. You get a command line interface to your VM where you can do your git and npm things.

I find it nearly unuseable on my old, slow Nook tablet with the screen keyboard, though I can log in and browse code. On a newer tablet with a real keyboard it should be acceptable. Let us know how it works for you, or if you find another cloud based IDE you prefer to Cloud9, which looks good to me but is the only one I really tested.