Android version update

News
1

I’m working on update to the android version to replace the editor keypad.

This will include a toolbar which the SDL version will inherit.

There are a few annoyances with using the standard keypad which the custom keypad should overcome.

The update will be in the test channel sometime soon.

2

Today SmallBASIC was updated from the test channel on my tablet. I tried your keyboard and like most of it. Especially the toolbar is great. So nice to have an easy to access run-button.
I’m missing the shift key. Pressing the layer-button many times to get capital letters is to complicated.
On a tablet/mobile phone I have quite often problems to bring the cursor on the exact position by tapping. Usually with Hackers Keyboard, I use then the arrow keys for fine positioning. To have additional left and right arrows would be perfect.
Here a sketch of a keyboard layout I would prefer. The keys are 10% less in width. Height is the same. I think that an additional row with numbers is still ok in terms of screen usage. There are some empty spots for more keys.
Thank you for this great work. I’m looking forward to use the new keyboard.

keyboard_layout
keyboard_layout796×431 66 KB

3

Thanks for your feedback.

I ran some scripts over the samples folder to find the usage/frequency of punctuation symbols. This was used to order their positions. I also ran a script which shows upper case is only used < 20% of the time. That’s how it ended up being pushed to the back.

The current layout is optimised for mobile in portrait mode. I think your design would be great for mobile landscape and also for tablets. So really needs to be responsive. I’ll take a look at this next.

Also, in the current “narrow” mode, I could replace the bottom () symbols with left and right arrows if that helps.

I just pushed another update to fix the back key for android 16 devices. There is also a google deadline for publishing the final update:

4

Usage of upper case depends strongly on the user. I use it a lot. But I think I can get used to the new way. A responsive keyboard depending on the orientation or screen size would be great.
Here a layout for small screen size. Just a idea. I still like to have a number row.

keyboard_layout
keyboard_layout794×448 60.4 KB

5

There could be multiple layout themes to select from. Then it’s just a question of how to make the selection. Probably a button that’s in the same location for each theme. This might be better than making it reactive.

6

I’ve pushed another update. This has a preliminary version of responsive layout handling. The landscape version has left and right arrows. I’m planning to release this version unless there are any show stopper issues. It can be updated at a later stage with further enhancements time permitting.

7

I create my own for Android :slightly_smiling_face:

new_KB
new_KB1200×2000 85.1 KB

Really excited about this ongoing development, many thanks :+1:

8

I tested the keyboard in Android the last days. I think you can release it. Some minor think:

  • the resolution of the icons is not good enough. On big screens like a tablet they look unsharp
  • some icons have black pixels inside the white outline
  • in case of a long source code:
    • some syntax error in line 30
    • cursor is in line 200
    • after clicking the run icon the error message appears
    • taping the screen to change cursor location leads to random jump inside the source code
  • on my mobile phone in portrait mode I have the keyboard with the left/right arrow keys. It doesn’t change the layout. Actually I like it. The space bar key is still long enough
1 Like
9

Thanks for testing. I’ll try to improve the image issue. I’m guessing the long source code issue is unrelated to the keyboard.

1 Like
10

Icons looking nice now. Thank you. :slight_smile: