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VS Code text editor App
Even though this forum has a bias towards macOS as a desktop OS, I’m making the assumption that most here that program (or who dabble with programming) have come across Microsoft’s ace text editor VS Code.
I discovered today that an enterprising iOS developer has used the fact that VS Code is fairly function-complete as a standalone web app; so he put a shell around the web app, integrated it with the iOS file system, and most importantly included a reasonably functional UNIX-like terminal (approx 70 UNIX commands), so you can run Python and Javascript locally (he added Matplotlib, Pandas and Numpy too to extend Python beyond the standard library). It also has Git integration and a built-in web server, so you can use it for far more than 'toy' projects.
It was £4.49 here in the UK and I think it's worth every penny. In terms of ongoing maintenance, Microsoft releases a new version of VS Code every month and those are automatically integrated into the iOS version of Code.
https://thebaselab.com/code/
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/code-app/id1512938504
In the same vein (also includes the VS Code editor) is Blink Shell & Code, but this is more focused on remote workflows. Of note here, they have what they call the Community Edition, which is a public beta via TestFlight (weekly releases). If remote development is your thing, it's definitely worth a look.
https://blink.sh/
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/blink-shell-code/id1594898306
Comments
Hey, great tip! Code is really awesome! Thank You!
No problem. Glad it was useful to somebody else.
Up until now, I've been using a Raspberry Pi 4 networked and powered via USB C as a portable coding environment. I still really like this for its flexibility (and yet again it's using the web app version of VS Code so you feel right at home, once you have everything configured).
But having a setup with local file access where I can tinker with Python, Javascript and even C (it includes Clang for C compiling) is pretty cool.
If you're interested in the Raspberry Pi setup, this video explains how to get it configured.
Does it support VS Code extensions?
a-Shell is very good. It includes Python, JS, Lua, C/C++ to WebAssembly compiler, git client and many unix utilities. For writing scripts, one can use vim or an external editor like Textastic
I take it all back ref emacs, I was updating my knowledge of the other Linux shell style environments on iOS and discovered one I hadn’t explored fully before - iSH.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ish-shell/id1436902243
I must admit I’d dismissed iSH when I first encountered it, but what I hadn’t realized is that not only is it a complete Linux environment - the super lean AlpineLinux, but you have root privileges and it has the full community package manager enabled by default - apk. And sure enough, not only was I able to install emacs, but the 'good enough for most tasks' text editor of choice, nano could also be installed (far less intimidating for most folk).
The dangerous side of -iSH is that having root privileges means it’s all too easy to destroy your installation if you don’t know what you're doing (make yourself a home directory and do all your tinkering there, would be my first advice!). However, if you do break things, you're in a sandbox, so you can’t break anything else, and a simple reinstall of -iSH has you back up and running.
As long as it’s in the community repository, you can 'apt add' most things that you normally install in a Linux installation, most coding languages, Git, your shell of choice inclusive of zsh, etc etc. There's even a way to install pip and virtual environments (it's not obvious, so if anybody wants the info, let me know).
What you're getting is effectively a lean sandboxed Linux VM, and that's probably how they've got away with allowing the ability to add new packages. The VM doesn't have the ability to talk to the iOS file system in the way that a-shell does. But it's a whole lot more capable once you've added the packages you need, and you can use Git for moving files in and out of the VM.
Some extensions work, others don't. But importantly, IntelliSense works across all supported languages. You can even sync your preferences to your desktop installation.
If you want the most flexible setup, using a Raspberry Pi, networked/powered by USB C is the way to go. In my setup, I use PD passthrough charging via my hub to power my iPad Pro and there's enough power left to connect, power and provide a wired network connection via my hub to a Raspberry Pi. There's a VS Code server tech that enables you to run VS Code in your browser on the iPad Pro or if you really need to you can VNC into the Raspberry Pi for the full desktop experience (this runs fluidly as your using a wired network connection via USB-C) but I find that running VS Code via Safari, once I've saved the bookmark to my home screen, runs VS Code without any Safari interface chrome so it's an uncompromised desktop experience.
I'll mainly be using the iOS Code app for Python and Node.js. And mainly for sketches, not serious projects. The fact that it's self-contained means I can use it on my iPhone and iPad Mini too, which are more likely to be in my bag on any given day.
Thanks, Code App looks interesting. One of the problems with Pythonista, as I recall, was that running scripts would be paused and/or closed if they were put into the background. There was no way to flag them as an "audio app" that would be maintained and executed even when not in the foreground. Do you know whether Code App has this same limitation?
I haven’t tested but I suspect that Code would be much the same with Audio as things stand. But the developer actively looks for feedback on his GitHub, so if you can make a case for Background Audio I’m sure he’d consider it.
My take on things would be that the sandboxed nature of iOS would make it difficult to run background scripts of any real value, so the focus seems to be more on providing a REPL type environment. Something that lets you rapidly prototype ideas without it becoming a solus development environment. And I think there’s still a huge value in that alone. If you are schooled in the UNIX development approach of creating lots of small programs that do one thing well, that are in turn designed to be used together in concert to solve larger problems; having a mobile REPL environment can still be very useful as part of larger projects.
Codea is worth a look if you're serious about coding audio/visual projects on iOS devices. Its combination of Lua scripting and killer AV modules allow you to create some pretty impressive stuff with relatively little effort.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/codea/id439571171
I cocked up earlier. I thought I was writing a new post from a quote, when I actually edited a previous post so things got out of sync. Here's the post in it's rightful place!
I take it all back ref emacs, I was updating my knowledge of the other Linux shell style environments on iOS and discovered one I hadn’t explored fully before - iSH.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ish-shell/id1436902243
I must admit I’d dismissed iSH when I first encountered it, but what I hadn’t realized is that not only is it a complete Linux environment - the super lean AlpineLinux, but you have root privileges and it has the full community package manager enabled by default - apk. And sure enough, not only was I able to install emacs, but the 'good enough for most tasks' text editor of choice, nano could also be installed (far less intimidating for most folk).
The dangerous side of -iSH is that having root privileges means it’s all too easy to destroy your installation if you don’t know what you're doing (make yourself a home directory and do all your tinkering there, would be my first advice!). However, if you do break things, you're in a sandbox, so you can’t break anything else, and a simple reinstall of -iSH has you back up and running.
As long as it’s in the community repository, you can 'apt add' most things that you normally install in a Linux installation, most coding languages, Git, your shell of choice inclusive of zsh, etc etc. There's even a way to install pip and virtual environments (it's not obvious, so if anybody wants the info, let me know).
What you're getting is effectively a lean sandboxed Linux VM, and that's probably how they've got away with allowing the ability to add new packages. The VM doesn't have the ability to talk to the iOS file system in the way that a-shell does. But it's a whole lot more capable once you've added the packages you need, and you can use Git for moving files in and out of the VM.
When I last tried iSH, a couple years ago, it was quite slow. It uses emulation, translates x86 code on the fly behind the scenes to run on iPad processors, so its performance isn't very good. Fully sandboxed VM and can't interact very well with iOS system, though as you say it's really flexible and can run lots of software. Just not something you want if you need snappy performance. As I recall, it was fast enough to give a fairly smooth experience in Emacs, but barely (on my 10.5" iPad Pro 2017).
I'm asking because I checked the screenshots and the Extensions button on the left wasn't even there. So I assume it's not possible to install third-party extensions. Probably because Apple wouldn't allow it
Code Server looks nice but I already gave up on using my iPad Pro as a development machine. It's just so much easier to carry my 13" MBPro with me than the ipad + keyboard + usb hub + powerbank + external ssd + cables. I guess it would be more useful for someone who from time to time needs to make changes to their projects on the go, but that's not me.
I may try this app though, so thanks for mentioning it
I'm mainly using a-Shell + Shortcuts to automate staff, works really well for my needs.
@yug Apologies for the mix-up ref extensions in Code app. The weird thing is that Blink Shell & Code does allow one to add extensions and Code app doesn't. I think that's a distinct design choice by each of the developers. Code app is aimed at less savvy users so allowing extensions could end up with a ton of support emails ref extensions that won't load. No extension that relies on a compiled language will work on iOS full stop, so you're limited to extensions that do their thing with scripting languages like Python and JavaScript. The situation is exactly the same when it comes to pip for python packages when using AlpineLinux in -ish. You need to be savvy to what the platform will allow. And the Code developer probably decided that it was best to remove temptation altogether.
@hes I've not noticed slowdowns in -ish, but I'm on an M1. And maybe the developer has optimised the VM over time. I'm going to try and get Doom Emacs set up in -ish, as that will truly show how the VM is coping. All of the prerequisite packages are available via apk, so it will be interesting to see how I get on.
Like any true nerd, a lot of my efforts aren't with the aim of setting up a serious development platform on my iPad. The exploration journey itself is fun, even if nothing practical comes back from that journey of lasting value. My instinct tells me that Code app, even with its limitations, will provide the most practical use case in the long run. That's discounting the Raspberry Pi setup. I've got an 8GB model and overclock to 1.9Ghz (I have a Fan Shim for cooling). It's a surprisingly capable little box, and having Mathematica included for free is a definite bonus (which can be run via the terminal).