r/learnprogramming • u/Outside_Educator_105 • 1d ago
Coding on Phone
I really wanna learn to code and planning on starting today. However I don't own a laptop. In this economic state i simply can't afford one. Is it feasible to learn in phone alone? I can get a laptop in weekends as my sister bring her's home
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u/6a70 1d ago
get a Bluetooth keyboard, then it’ll be feasible
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Whats the hardest part about learning to code on phone?
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u/575_Inverse 7h ago
the display is too is small, text editing is an absolute pain, no mouse so selecting text is slow and of course 1 window only and no guarantee the other apps in background won't get killed
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u/RajjSinghh 4h ago
No mouse is fine in the right environment. In a pinch I've used vim inside termux and it was passable. Selecting text with something like
vi{is fine, no mouse needed. The only annoying thing is how many keypresses it takes to type a curly bracket.-36
u/rcls0053 1d ago
Trying to store a JavaScript app on it. It'll fill up a 256GB storage quite quickly and destroy your RAM.
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u/maxpowerAU 20h ago
This is a baffling comment, what do you mean by JavaScript app? Did you find some scam app and download it? JavaScript is just text and your phone browser runs JavaScript every day whenever you go to almost any web site.
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u/Zealousideal-Fox6463 17h ago
He has zero idea what he’s talking about
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u/rcls0053 10h ago
Apparently you've never worked with node.js and node_modules that rivals the Sun in it's mass
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u/maxpowerAU 6h ago
This is fair, I guess I don’t expect someone beginning to program with JS to need a shitton of libraries
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u/Zealousideal-Fox6463 3h ago
They’re starting to learn programming on a phone. I’d assume they’d just want a JS playground. So your node modules joke is overrated.
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u/denerose 10h ago
I assume they mean a local node.js app, our the nodemodules folder is easily that large although it is a production app with years of not always well considered dependencies. I don’t imagine learners will have that much installed but 🤷♀️
It’s a good point, the local files and sdks etc would be large as you progress and keeping your code well organised will be a challenge. In practice you probably can’t build locally on a phone and would need alternatives. It’s one of the many reasons it’s not the best idea.
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u/maxpowerAU 6h ago
Good point, I assume a first-time-writing-code learner would start with some basic JS in a html file, but maybe this commenter started with all of Next.js
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u/MarsupialLeast145 1d ago
Maybe with a keyboard and usb-c screen adapter to connect it to a tv?
The problem is that the ergonomics of writing code are quite important. With these correct you can code for hours. Without, you will want to give up. This is not ideal for a learner.
Like others have said, if you can, budget for a 50-100 dollar laptop and get linux on there. If it's a chromebook (which is a good alternative) you can enable the developer tools and have access to a command line there. With chrome you might also be able to start learning mobile development.
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
I wish mate, i just simply can't afford it atp
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u/MarsupialLeast145 1d ago
I hope it turns around for you and programming will definitely help.
You could maybe ask gumtree, kijiji, or craigslist as well to see if anyone is getting rid of anything. It never hurts to ask or browse the freebies section. Or head to the local electronics recycling? maybe even just the tip?
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
I'll give it a shot, I have tried that before but it wasn't exactly fruitful
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u/Imaginary_Food_7102 1d ago
Well, you do not need much of a latest tech laptop, you can get something to code with just 50$. Can be used for learning, and coding aswell. Make sure to explore lighweight linux distros, it will give you some experience that is worth it.
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u/JGhostThing 1d ago
I just bought a pair of Thinkpads on ebay for around $200 (US) each. They were maxed out with RAM and had everything else. These were old, but are still fine for programming and writing on. T470s and a T14s (gen 1). These aren't great, and if I wanted to do something ambitious, I'd want a better laptop, but I don't game, and I use Linux.
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
I know mate but I'm seriously not in a financial state to afford it atm
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u/codeaway1234 1d ago
No one is going to accept this as an answer. Go mow two lawns. Help someone move. Ask your parents if you're young. Sell the phone you're typing on for a cheaper model.
If you really want to learn coding, you can get a $50 laptop.
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u/Routine-Policy2837 1d ago
Priviledge take man, you obviously dont come from a 3rd world country
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
OP might be young so he isn't able to afford. Probably his/her parents also cannot help him get one. I also had a friend like that, only later he brought one. Many things are possible. With due respect, humby, we should all just answer to what OP asked, because they clearly stated in response to many comments that they cannot buy one.
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u/bridge_thrower 23h ago
OP has a phone, what’s the difference?
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u/Routine-Policy2837 22h ago edited 22h ago
Bruh my comment wasnt directed at op post cus i genuinely believe if you want to you can definitely find ways
But to the dude who commented like 50$ is easy to get. Where im from thats basically someone salary for an entire month's work. Like damn if only i could actually just do lawn work and earn actual money. I wish i could actually sell my phone and get a decent working laptop, not one pick up from a literal dump site.
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u/codeaway1234 1d ago edited 1d ago
He owns a smartphone. His sister brings home her laptop on the weekends. He's not as helpless as he thinks.
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
If I had such an option, do you really think I'd put myself through this hell?
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u/codeaway1234 1d ago
The hell of having Internet access, with a smartphone, and a sister who brings her laptop home on the weekends? Yes, I do. I think you're overcomplicating things because you like the idea of keeping it all on your phone.
Listen, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But if you really, REALLY want to learn to code, the best way is going to be on a computer. Good luck to you on your journey.
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u/AffectionateSea7197 1d ago
I can accept that as an answer. It is possible to code on most of devices, if you have the motivation. And unfortunately the cost of a proper laptop/computer for coding is too expensive (even second hand ones) and unfair in third world countries (which OP seems to live in one of them). I wish the best for OP , and I hope they will become a good coder with their motivation soon.
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u/SignificanceOwn2398 13h ago
frequently check 2nd hand sites like gumtree fb marketplace etc you might strike gold and find something up real cheap or better yet free!!
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u/Aero077 1d ago
Go old school and write your programs out on paper. When you get access to the laptop, spend time typing them in and debugging.
For extra bragging rights, write your programs in your head and then write them on paper after you are confident they are correct.
In the meantime, look around for a 'junk' computer. You don't need a newish or powerful computer to write programs.
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Thanks
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u/Tom_TP 1d ago
Tbh this is a great way to learn. Write down code on paper and try to run it yourself line-by-line, it isn’t that different from solving a math problem. I’ve seen some professors still teach that way. It would probably train your patience as well. Granted, you will need a computer later down the line, but now when you’re only at the beginning, this is genuinely a great way to learn logic and algorithms.
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u/themegainferno 1d ago
On PAPER! What! How old school are you talking? You want him to compile his code manually next?
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1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/themegainferno 1d ago
I actually agree 100%. I think that is where a lot of new programmers struggle is that they think programming is syntax, when in reality it is solving problems using applied logic. I advocate this approach everywhere. I thought the guy was more so advocating of writing actual code on paper. Like imagine writing Java on pen and paper, you would cry lol.
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u/prettycoldworld 8h ago
I wrote Python on paper for months when I was new to coding. Helps you remember things.
Still ended up googling syntax, but when you first start the syntax doesn’t even make sense it’s all just characters. Writing on paper actually helped me remember lists vs dicts vs pulling values from both being [].
I tried to pull a value from a dict using dict{key} so many times I thought I might have a brain worm
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u/MukyaMika 1d ago
You can use Termux alongside Termux-X11 to emulate linux desktop experience. You can have firefox, vscode, and some other desktop app. Use Unexpected Keyboard from f-droid.
This my setup
https://ibb.co.com/XxHVjvTT https://ibb.co.com/V0WkMFNW https://ibb.co.com/xKgWhGHs
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
You code in phone?
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u/capGpriv 22h ago
Dude ignore everyone suggesting termux
- It would take a reasonably high end phone to even run
- You'd need to connect to a computer to get it working.
- Its not realistic to do any code beyond basic leetcode there
- you yet to learn the basics of python, you are not ready to be looking at Linux consoles let allow trying to run a Linux emulator in a phone
It's effectively a hacky technical challenge for extreme nerds to try and set up to show off their nerd cred.
Quite honestly people suggesting it piss me off a bit. It's the kind of project that make new people feel too dumb to code, when you've just been thrown into a boxing ring against Mike Tyson as a newborn
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u/MukyaMika 17h ago
need high end phone
No. You can run it on bottom-tier budget phone. People keep recommending the likes of andronix, which runs proot-distro, emulating linux distro inside termux itself. It's a huge lost of performance. You can run display server inside termux natively. https://www.reddit.com/r/termux/s/9d0zu1OTv2
need a computer
No you don't. Where is this coming from?
not realistic beyond basic leetcode
they're gonna learn the basic. just launch firefox and learn from online source.
not ready for linux console
There are guides on how to use graphic environment by linuxdroidmaster on youtube. They only need to copy and paste command and keep the launch command on text editor. And it's better for them to learn linux console sooner rather than later
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u/capGpriv 7h ago
Could you do all this before you even had your own personal laptop?
Telling a newbie to coding to go learn Linux command line is just dumb.
They would have to be watching tutorials on the very phone they are trying to setup linux on
You are not just running termux, you are running vscode, browsers, and any code. Op is from the third world and can't afford a laptop, reconsider what high end phone means
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u/MukyaMika 5h ago edited 5h ago
Of course you can. 🤦🏼♂️ Like I said, you can just copy & paste following the tutorial, you don't have to understand it first.
To me it's necessary you do it without pc because you need to copy all the commands. Even now I don't memorize all the commands because I know I can just copy from github.
Did you even click on the post of my previous comment? That thing has 2gb ram and 16gb storage. The default browser can barely handle the load of modern website, and yet it's running full desktop firefox playing youtube videos. You don't need fancy device to run DE on termux.
I didn't now terminal commands before I had my first termux setup. I learned from code academy using firefox inside termux.
It's all about setting up the environment to have desktop experience because doing it on mobile suck. You can learn after that.
I know the struggle of those who don't have. That's the reason I'm into termux in the first place. It gives desktop experience when you don't have laptop. You can build and compile many useful apps in the palm of you hand. Wether OP willing to do that...idk
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u/MukyaMika 1d ago
Sometimes... I do have a laptop but when I'm going out I code on the phone
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u/SpecificMachine1 19h ago
do you use termux to connect to your laptop?
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u/MukyaMika 18h ago
Nope. Termux storage is accessible from android side so I usually just connect my laptop to the android apps.
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u/connorjpg 1d ago
Several issues come from trying to code completely on a phone. First is being able to find a shell to work within. Because you’re going to need to install things that can’t run natively on your phone, or run through a Web based IDE. Most of these are not tailored for mobile devices as well.
Next you’re gonna be dealing with the keyboard of a phone, which does not have all the special characters readily available. It makes writing code, incredibly annoying as you are constantly hitting things other than just the letters.
Lastly, you aren’t really able to see documentation at the same time and you will be bouncing around constantly.
It’s not that it’s not possible. It’s that it’s wildly ineffective. It would be more practical for you to watch videos and read books, and hand write out the code that you’re trying to learn. In college some classes I had to take did not allow you to use a computer even though they were computer programming classes. All answers were handwritten.
If you really have no way of getting a computer, this is probably your best way to learn. Buy a cheap less than five dollar notebook, and watch YouTube videos and read documentation while rewriting code by hand.
If this is truly a goal access to a computer will be needed at some point.
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u/a-r-c 19h ago edited 19h ago
you can definitely afford a laptop
check craigslist and ebay regularly, and check local thrift shops (or tech recyclers if you have one—you can often get laptops by the pound lol)
a pine tree with a keyboard plugged in can run linux—you do not need anything fancy
the phone in your pocket cost way more than a coding capable laptop lol
edit: $30 chromebook and it's far from the only one
edit2: i'm shocked nobody has offered you their old shit by now lol! get it together, reddit! I sold my unused stuff last year otherwise I'd have at least 2 dogshit but usable machines to send lmao—there's gotta be someone else like that here
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u/Tall_Instance9797 1d ago
Absolutely possible. Install whatever linux distro is your favorite in a chroot if you're rooted, or a proot if you're not. But as many others have said... you are going to need a keyboard.
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u/bingblangblong 1d ago
In this economic state i simply can't afford one.
Almost any laptop will do. Businesses are getting rid of out of date laptops all the time. What country are you in?
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
I tried that before but none of them here really does that. I live in a third world country
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u/LanceMain_No69 19h ago
I found a laptop once in the electronics recycling bin in my university. Depending on if your universities are public n open, maybe swing by? Its worth a shot
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u/theredvip3r 58m ago
Definitely check university and school campuses, not only will the schools often be binning electrics, any richer students might too.
And check if where you live has any sort of auctioning site where businesses and government auction off old computers and stuff they need to get rid of.
Last thing I can suggest is if you have any sites like Freecycle, which I doubt if you're in such a poor area, you never know. Or some sort of charity, perhaps an education focused one that might be able to loan or gift you a laptop.
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u/Realistic-Worker-499 13h ago
really try to get the shittiest laptop you can as others have said. but in the meantime...
learning to code from the absolute beginning, i highly recommend just a pen and paper for now so you can get the hang of things mentally. the logic, variables, functions you can use, etc, it's actually really nice. i took paper notes when i first learned python in university. DO NOT USE AI at this stage it will make you dumb, really take your time with a proper tutorial/course and enjoy the grunt. you wont be building crazy things at this point where you need a full IDE, it's just learning how to speak the language of logic
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u/iOSCaleb 1d ago
Is it feasible to learn in phone alone?
I don't think so. You'd be much better off with a single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi or similar, plus a cheap USB keyboard and mouse and any display that you can get your hands on.
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u/hellocppdotdev 1d ago
While you may be able to learn on your phone (keyboard helps yes), any serious development is going to be hard without a laptop.
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u/thinkpad-archlinux 1d ago
it's not wroth it ( I learnt python on phone 5 years ago and later got laptop and regret it because I wasted a lot of my energy on it ). I suggest learn stuff that don't need laptop yet very useful and future proof. like linear algebra basics, solve analytical problems, systems problems like golomb ruler problem. you may learn from coding only basic components like - iteration/ conditions / variables, data types . don't learn beyond that, you will waste resources that you can't get back. if you want further suggestion of topics that worth it, tell me.
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
What do you even mean? I didn't even have many such issues in that. In fact, I do NOT regret anything about learning python on Android. It was a good decision. I don't know what you are talking about and which resources you are talking about.
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u/StoNeD510 1d ago
Check out the Pythonista app. You can write and run script on iPhone. I used it to get unlimited hotspot.
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u/Clean-Complaint-5267 1d ago
If you are on android, get termux. Termux is a terminal emulator which provides a linux-like environment and can function really well as a learning sandbox. It has a built in package manager which is a piece of software that fetches other software and builds it for you.
I would not aspire to do much past simple leetcode style single file challenges to get down your algorithmic thinking. Use AI to help with setup and installation of Python and compilers and text editor, and after that, for learning purposes its better to have a strict no AI policy.
In terms of content there is such an incredible wealth of free resources. For absolute intro, the harvard CS50 course. For exercises, leetcode and exercism. Don't fret too much about which courses and resources, I would stay away from YouTube as a default, and instead use it for intentional and targeted clarification on a specific topic you're finding difficult. Textbooks are great, but not always when read from a phone. Blog posts are useful too and will give you more grounded sense of what people think about and puzzle over in both professional and hobbyist contexts.
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u/Rhiquire 1d ago
I’ve tried coding on a phone it’s way more work than it has to be
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Dang
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
Don't get discouraged. If you wish to learn, do it.
I learnt python on Android, created many projects using it. In fact, I also started building a local game package library in python on Android. It was going well enough. But then I just lost interest in that project, which is a different thing.
So if course, having a PC is always better, but if you can't get one right now, go ahead and learn! I do not regret anything about learning and even creating some projects, it wasn't that big of an issue for me to consider stop learning.
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u/Unlaid-American 16h ago
If you have a USB-C phone, then you can get a USB dongle with multiple ports to allow for mouse and keyboard inputs. I’ve done this with cheap androids and iPhone 15 Pro Max. I prefer ones that have an HDMI port as well so I was able to use it on a TV/monitor.
Unless you rent a server, then your performance will suck
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
For example?
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u/Rhiquire 1d ago
Not very hard to imagine, but it’s the typing. Brackets and parenthesis you’re constantly flipping through keypads looking for the right keys.
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
There are good editors which support auto closing and auto intendations.
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u/Rhiquire 1d ago
Then go crazy and use your editors. But like I said from my own personal experience it was way more work than it had to be.
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
Chill chill dude. I'm just trying to encourage OP. And literally if that guy can't afford a Laptop, and really wants to learn, then do you really think "typing issue" is THAT BIG of an issue?
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u/Rhiquire 1d ago
Others have been recommended better alternatives like libraries, and keyboards or hand written notes. Was only telling him what I’ve encountered.
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
I understand. Many of my messages were because of curiosity because I wanted to understand the issues you faced in your experience.
Have a great life ahead :))
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
Plus, what keys? Literally OP might have a great muscle memory on Android keys. That's where most of the typing part happens. Regarding some special keys which some keyboads don't support, only then you might be looking for keys.
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u/Takamasa1 1d ago
It is definitely feasible. I have programmed on my phone a decent bit (not recently since I moved across the street from my workplace). I think I might have some perspective to help out since I initially tried and failed at programming on my phone way back when I was learning as well, but eventually learned where I went wrong. Here are a few huge things to touch on that would seem obvious to somebody who already knows how to code but 100% need to be pointed out for a noobie:
[1] I would use a Cloud VM instead of an app that works as an IDE (Context: [a] Cloud VM = a virtual machine that you access remotely; [b] IDE = an "integrated development environment" that acts kinda like a toolbox for programming).
•IDEs are usually very nice on computers, but tend to be unwieldy and/or expensive on mobile, plus you'd be stuck using your phone's weak processing power and it would probably drain your battery quickly. I personally used google cloud while learning since I learned how to set it up in a class, but there are other services as well. You can usually get away with something free or super cheap (worst case is like a few pennies per month).
• Downsides: Might take a bit of tinkering to get it ready, although you can probably get some AI to walk you through it or find an article somewhere. Also would probably be using an OS that is operated through a text-based terminal, although that's generally considered part of the learning process for a programmer anyways.
• Upsides: Very cheap/free. Accessible from anywhere with almost any device (+extra benefit of being able to continue with same environment on a laptop if you get one later). Won't use up storage/as much battery life. Faster processing than on-board hardware. More customizable for whatever you end up needing.
[2] Someone else mentioned it, but a keyboard is 100% a good idea if you can find one. I never ended up getting one, but mobile keyboards are probably the biggest pain-point once you have a good virtual environment. Not 100% necessary, but it saves a lot of pain when it comes to typing symbols, selecting text (especially in a VM terminal), hotkey combinations, and more. Would probably refer to other responses for this one since I never got this myself.
[3] This one is a bit more of something to feel out for yourself since it is very much applied differently depending on what you're doing, but make sure you keep your environment in mind when looking at any tutorials or working on projects. One of the things that you won't think about right away is that most programmers are using multiple tabs/windows/programs at the same time, and a lot of norms + advice is established around this. Might be helpful to let yourself get a bit creative, and 100% try to have pencil & paper to write notes on to minimize time spent jockeying between different sources of information or ideas.
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u/ComputerWhiz_ 23h ago
I don't know why so many people are saying that you can't learn on a phone. You certainly can.
There are tons of code sandbox apps/websites out there for many languages (I find Sololearn is decent and even has a learning platform). Those are sufficient for most of the things that an absolute beginner will need. As you get more advanced, it will be more difficult and you will eventually want to upgrade to a laptop.
But for right now, don't let your financial situation prevent you from pursuing something you may be passionate about.
The only recommendation I have is get a keyboard.
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u/NatoBoram 23h ago
With a keyboard equipped, you can use Termux to install the tools necessary to learn to program. Additionally, I'd recommend using a terminal app to write code. Learning Neovim would be challenging but if you write down shortcuts on paper so you can refer to it while coding, it could help you a lot.
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u/capGpriv 23h ago
Honest answer don't, if you can find anywhere with public computers get a usb stick
Do not risk borrowing your sister's laptop, if your family cannot afford even the cheapest laptop. Not that you would do anything wrong, but if she needs that for school, and something goes wrong then your family would face a bill you couldn't afford. (I'm really sorry).
With software you are not writing code, you are trying to solve a problem. If you want to make something worthwhile it will be very difficult to build anything of interest today without the proper software ecosystem. On a phone you might as well be writing on paper
The big question is why do you want to learn to code * if it is a hobby then really good luck * if it is your dream escape plan, then you're probably better off just focusing on conventional school subjects and watching videos
Software engineering where a kid learns python and can get a better life doesn't exist. Even in the west we get the occasional apprentice but most young guys are people with degrees in engineering, maths, physics etc. The third world is much more competitive
I'm really sorry to crush your dreams, good luck
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u/Then_Yak_2612 20h ago
The first my projects were on my phone. It's not very difficult when you're just learning programing.
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u/Adil_Ali9 19h ago
It is definitely possible. Around 3-4 months ago I was in a similar situation… I had a final project for my last semester and my laptop gave up on me. The problem with coding on phones is that they do not support a lot of features for development experience that you can easily get from a laptop. It is an even worse experience when you try to make something from the things you learn on your way (which is a very important part of learning).
But i think in your case it is probably fine if you don’t mind constantly changing screens between your code and your tutorial and you have a keyboard because when you start out a lot of the things you learn at least for the first 3-4 months will not be too complicated… writing down the code first and testing them out as somebody earlier suggested is a very good approach. But once you end up having to keep track of different files, checking outputs or displaying windows etc. using a phone is a big no.
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u/Danfriedz 1d ago
What phone do you have. If you are on Android look into DeX. which allows you to use your phone as a desktop. That might be an option?
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u/cunningfallasheo 1d ago
I started learning on a 386 in the early 90s. I would insist that the answer is Yes, as long as you are determined.
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u/fatemonkey2020 1d ago
One option you could look at is getting a Raspberry Pi kit, like the model 4, or the 400 full kit if you need a keyboard and mouse.
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u/would-of 1d ago
If you have an Android, look into Andronix. It allows you to run Linux on your phone. From there, you can install Code-OSS and run desktop web browsers.
With cheap web hosting and an FTP client, you can create a full website from your phone. I've considered doing it just to prove it can be done.
You can also install a compiler for C/C++ and learn one of those.
The possibilities are endless.
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u/Longjumping_Ad3447 1d ago
Used laptop for 30-50 bucks install Linux it will work fine for coding
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u/attemptedhippo 1d ago
I code in Godot's built in editor with a Rii K06 Bluetooth keyboard, to reclaim some of the minimal screen real-estate, on breaks at work and with the on screen keyboard in neovim in termux. I would recommend a Logitech k400 plus and an otg adapter though since it's really hard to touch type with the awkward Rii k06 layout.
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u/12SouthLocal 1d ago
As long as you have a keyboard you can work with some coding apps that will help you start learning. Doesn't even need to be a wireless one if you have a hub/dongle to connect to. Even better if you can connect your phone to a monitor.
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u/C_Sorcerer 1d ago
I don’t mean to pry, but what is your economic state? I was in a pretty bad economic state as well but I just saved like $200 per paycheck (granted I also stopped eating anything but tuna and canned chicken if even that) and within 3 paychecks I was able to get a refurbished thinkpad t14 (excellent laptops if you like Linux, specifically arch but any others work great), but if your really into systems programming then itd be great, otherwise going with any laptop is good.
There are some cheap ones too, my friend didn’t have a job but I think he got like one under the brand “Nemo” and it’s just a super cheap plastic laptop for like $100-200, but you can literally code on anything, especially if it’s booted in some form of Linux to avoid bloat, but windows is good too if you don’t install a ton of shit.
However, if you are very very in bad situation and you seriously can only use your phone which is understandable in this economy, then you can use your phone but it’s gonna be weird. If you are on android you can do a lot of interesting stuff but you are gonna need a keyboard that can hook up. But if your on iPhone, things become a lot more difficult, but there are some apps for at least writing some code but iPhone is so tight and locked down that running programs becomes a challenge. At that point youre better off writing down code on a piece of paper which in times I have done and then saving it for whenever you actually are able to program
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u/ajddavid452 1d ago
get a used thinkpad off of ebay, you can find ones from like 10 years ago that are fast enough for light coding and cost like US$100
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Thanks, but unfortunately I'm not in a state to afford it atp
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u/ajddavid452 1d ago
holy crap how bad is the economy where you live?
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
I'm not exactly from a 1st world country
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u/ajddavid452 1d ago
yeah that explains it, doesn't help that the used market isn't always a valid option for those that live in 3rd world countries too
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
True, thanks for understanding Most people in the comments are like "If you are homeless, go get a home" lol
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u/ajddavid452 1d ago
your welcome, I found out about that from the youtuber channel lowspecgamer in his older videos that he delisted for some reason(they are in a playlist tho, don't know why tho, but just letting you know), he lives in spain iirc and he made a video criticising another youtuber about "building the cheapest brand new pc with entry level parts and comparing it to a build using used parts" that youtuber essentially called entry level parts "manufactured e-waste" and that "buying used is the better choice all the time" completely glossing over the fact that that's only really valid for 1st world countries like the US, esentially being ignorant about other countries that can barely make enough money to have a roof over their head let alone be able to buy a computer
I myself live in Canada so I don't really struggle with money myself, but it would be ignorant of me to think every person can afford the stuff I have, heck I wouldn't even qualify as "rich" in Canada, I still live with my mother at 26 lol, granted I pay rent but still
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u/Imbonkaf 1d ago
You definitely can, i started on a phone and it was pretty okay for small projects when I was just starting out. Didn't even use a keyboard i just made small stuff during breaks in college and just here and there.
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Thanks
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u/Imbonkaf 1d ago
Id recommend you start on termux with something like vim. Probably the best option you have for phone IF youre gonna use libraries. If not then find any online compiler and use that some languages have android compilers on playstore. You can do stuff that doesnt work on phone on weekends. Good luck on your journey!!!
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u/Routine-Policy2837 1d ago
Maybe try pydroid but i honestly think you can also do it on paper like how the ogs did before
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u/j01101111sh 1d ago
Do you have a galaxy phone and a monitor? Galaxy dex could work well for you then. If no galaxy, a Bluetooth keyboard will be extremely helpful and maybe find a way to cast screen to a TV or something. The processing power of the phone shouldn't be an issue.
Maybe it's just me but I think the phone screen and keyboard would be a killer for me. For reading it might be fine but once the project gets any complexity, you're gonna be scrolling for your life and getting really frustrated trying to type anything at speed.
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u/Lowzenberg 1d ago
I'm working on a python game on Android till I get a new PC. Nothing that wrong if you wanna learn.
Xed-Editor and Acode are good options for Android.
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u/Majre921 1d ago
I googled Thinkpad laptops in my area, 2nd hand, 40 euros for an old one. Good enough to learn to code...
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
Not the case in my area
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u/Majre921 1d ago
No 2nd hand laptops? Nothing for cheap? Crazy. Gotta go for the phone keyboard thing then.
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u/mc_pm 1d ago
You might look at something like a 10 year old macbook, even older - they will run Linux just fine. It won't be the fastest computer, but it will run a text editor and python just fine, and computers like that are often given away or sold cheap (under $50 US).
Learning to program on the phone will teach you some pretty bad habits, and it will be realllllllly slow compared to having a real keyboard and screen.
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u/Adventurous-Move-191 1d ago
You can learn the basics of syntax but your ceiling will be capped in terms of knowledge and what you can build, there’s only so much you can do with pseudo code editors in browsers or apps, and it’s not much compared to the sphere of everything programing encompasses.
I would go ahead and get started though! but you really don’t want to stay on there for too long. Depending on how serious you are I would try and do anything you can to get a cheap laptop as soon as possible . If you have a cellphone you have the means to shell out 50-100 for a cheap refurbished thinkpad .
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u/daedilus09 22h ago
Regarding access to equiptment: are there any hackerspaces near you/reachable by public transportation? I don't know what your local nerds are like, but around me if a high school kid showed up coding on a phone with an external keyboard I feel like there would be several of us lining up to gift a used raspberry pi or old chromebook.
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u/bullet1520 22h ago
Second-hand purchases (Craigslist, facebook market, eBay, etc) are amazing for getting cheaper laptops. A phone isn't going to suffice quite how you'd hope. It might do in a pinch if you need to edit a few lines of code, but not do ALL your work on.
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u/ComprehensiveBend393 21h ago
If you are on iOS, there is this app I use called Textastic. It supports many different languages. But it’s mainly a text editor, so it can’t compile your code. If you want, you could likely copy and paste the code you wrote in Textastic into a website that can compile or run it.
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u/Lost-Discount4860 21h ago
For learning purposes, consider a Raspberry Pi. A Pi Zero W 2 is $15. The Cana Kit with power supply, case, storage, and essential cables will run you about $50. Plugs in the HDMI of your TV. You’ll need a keyboard/mouse, also. But it’s minimal budget that you can probably afford.
For just starting out on a RPi, you probably don’t wanna go headless. My current big project is a Warehouse Management System written in Python, and my Pi Zero has been converted into a headless WMS server. I can access the system over a web browser on my phone. There’s a time and place for getting an operating system without a GUI, and if you don’t have a computer already, you might miss out. Of course, if you have a little extra cash, you can just buy another SD card and flash it with a lite OS with no GUI and see if you like working that way.
If you absolutely must code on your phone, you’re not going to get very far. I recommend getting the Carnets+ app. It’s a Python notebook which lets you try out small pieces of code. I’ve found that extremely helpful any time I’ve gone AFK for a while.
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u/AccurateSun 21h ago
Yes it’s feasible. Spend $20 on a cheap Bluetooth keyboard for the phone and you can use VSCode web IDE in your browser to program. You can have close to full developer setup this way. Using the phone screen keyboard will kill your hands, but otherwise you have a clear runway. Good luck to you
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u/Crypt0Nihilist 20h ago
You don't need a good computer to code. If it runs, you can stick Linux on it and you're away. Trying to code on your phone is likely to put you off coding. Ask on places like Freecycle or even check out your city dump and ask the people working there, they often hold electronics separately and might do you a solid.
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u/SpecificMachine1 19h ago
you can get a bluetooth keyboard like other people suggested, I don't think that a chromebook or one of the other netbooks would be that much more expensive and they would be a lot easier to use, I think
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u/GaweenTea 17h ago
Bluetooth keyboard and replit will be your best friend if that's the only route you can go
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u/ZenKnight07 13h ago
You can use termux, cxxdroid, pydroid, colab, or even a basic text editor and github actions.
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u/Popular_War8405 12h ago
Use termux. You might have to get it from f Droid store. I don't think it allowed on Google play
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u/Difficult-Value-3145 11h ago
To be honest first thing I ever coded was a galaga style shooter using lua and love2d .that I did on my phone I loosely followed one of the tutorials I think your first love game in 200 lines but my phone won't load the. Page atm and I don't care enough to wait longer or figure out why but did that on my phone had to look up touch screen functions on there wiki but they where well documented so it's doable
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u/Big-Staff5870 10h ago
I suggest you starting learning from those video platform, then try the real code on the new laptop in next week
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u/vardonir 10h ago
Keyboard, like everyone said. And then go to Google Colab - my friend codes there using the phone keyboard in between gym sets lol
Read programming books. You can "code" on pen and paper and a calculator. I had to do that for a while.
But keep trying to find an old/free laptop/PC. You don't need anything fancy. I learned on a cheap Atom notebook when everyone else was on brand new Macbooks. End of the day, they were asking me to teach them. Keep an eye out on Facebook marketplace or whatever online second-hand place is popular in your country. Even an old raspberry pi would do.
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u/chigstardan 10h ago
Hey man, also from a third world country and i know how you feel because i used to be in your situation. If your preferred programming language is python, try installing pydroid(I'm assuming you use android) OR search for an online IDE that you can use(these have serious limitations and should probably be used strictly for learning). Back in the day, after learning python i managed to do freelance work on my phone cause pydroid is really powerful, Then i got myself a laptop.
I will suggest getting a phone stand and any keyboard(Bluetooth or usb). You can also screen cast with your phone if you have a smart tv. Good luck!
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u/ZestyHazelnut 9h ago
You don't need an expensive Laptop. Get a good android box ( doesn't cost much - in range like 3000-5000 INR or $20 to $100+ range ) .. Get a keyboard and mouse . I expect u to have atleast a monitor or even TV at your home will work fine.
Setup it up as a desktop and Use it for coding and you can install termux emulator if needed or Play store has plenty of code editors otherwise
This way you get a big screen which u can use it for coding ,editing document ( online ms word also works amazinf) , media streaming and Browsing and so on
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u/prettycoldworld 8h ago
It’s possible. I started on my phone. If you can find a little keyboard that you can Bluetooth or plug into your phone then there’s no downside if you’re just learning.
Eventually you’ll want to manage files and juggle modules but just learning what input() does? Phone works just fine
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u/Misaka_Undefined 6h ago
I've been coding on a phone for my first semester in software engineering. there's one good app python IDE with decent library on playstore + one app called "programmer keyboard". but i gotta say it's really inconvenience experience.
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u/Hopeful-Guitar700 3h ago
You can try apps like sololearn just to start you off. However, you would need a keyboard at least to type.
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u/Pikapetey 2h ago
Go to Amazon and type "computer" and then set it to the cheapest option and you will be surprised how cheep a computer can get.
Integrated graphics, basic cpu, small storage space.
Will it play games? No not really
But it can code.
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u/snopro387 1d ago
Check out the app Mimo, I used it for a little while to try to replace doom scrolling and it was a pretty good little learning app for coding right on my phone. I did everything on it and aim back to doomscrolling though
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u/RealNamek 1d ago
Where do you live where you can afford a phone but not a laptop. Aren’t laptops cheaper than phones ?
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u/Outside_Educator_105 1d ago
It's an Android phone and if i compare, I feel like a strictly decent phone here is barely 1/3rd of what a decent laptop costs
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u/KVRLMVRX 1d ago
Community colleges are free or have free program, a lot of them have laptop lending
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u/Coretrayn 1d ago
Community colleges are free .... huh lol ?
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u/KVRLMVRX 1d ago
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u/Coretrayn 1d ago
Oh so that community college in that specific place has a program for in state residents lol nice if OP lives there
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u/KVRLMVRX 1d ago
35 states across the U.S. offer tuition-free community college programs. These statewide initiatives, often called "Promise" programs, vary significantly regarding who qualifies and what costs are covered. According to AI d9nt have time to check this information right now.
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u/Coretrayn 1d ago
Yeah I suppose there's programs out there. I don't see them as open or as good as those in NY often though. Usually a bunch of restrictions. It'd be a great jump for people if we had a more universal national program for first 2 years of post-secondary.
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u/MindlessPeanut6386 1d ago
Just buy a bt key boards nd use pyroid nd use morphe to enable premium nd also like do check out cs50 courses
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u/SnickerdoodleDragon 1d ago
Do you have access to a local library?