Surprisingly, Emacs on Android is pretty good

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

The Hacker News discussion about running Emacs on Android centers around three primary themes: the usability of input methods, the practicality of development features (like LSP support), and the complexity of syncing files across devices.

Here are the $3$ most prevalent themes:

1. Input Method Constraints and Customization for Virtual Keyboards

A major topic is how users manage the intensive modifier key combinations required by Emacs when using on-screen virtual keyboards. Users discuss workarounds like specialized keyboards, remapping physical keys, or utilizing on-screen modifier bars.

Quotation: Regarding virtual keyboards, the initial poster asks, "What's the experience like pressing Ctrl+Shift+Meta+key shortcuts with those virtual keyboard apps? I assume they turn Ctrl, Shift, etc. into toggles so that you tap Ctrl, tap Shift, tap Meta, tap the shortcut key. But that's still four taps. [...] Is that annoying, or is it easy enough to do that the annoyance fades into the background?"
Quotation: A solution mentioned is using volume buttons as control keys: "Termux allows me to remap the volume buttons to control and meta which makes it much easier" (Author: "procaryote").

2. Viability of Full Development Environments (LSP/IDE Functionality)

Users debate whether an Emacs setup on Android can support serious software development, particularly due to challenges integrating modern tooling like Language Server Protocol (LSP) via eglot.

Quotation: One user notes the limitation when using Emacs for development: "you can't really leverage eglot so it's basically a no-go for any meaningful software development. I've been using it for org-mode and it is fantastic for that" (Author: "s20n").
Quotation: Another user pushes back on the necessity of modern tooling for all development, saying, "people have been doing pretty meaningful software development for several decades now, and LSPs are, I don't know, 5 years old?" (Author: "mbork_pl").

3. Challenges and Solutions for File Synchronization and Workflow Continuity

A recurring pain point is maintaining a consistent, reliable workflow between the mobile device and the primary computer, especially concerning large or complex data like Org-mode files or knowledge graphs.

Quotation: A user describing their complex workflow highlights the sync issue: "I just can't stand Dropbox. [...] After about 13 years of trying I still am not as functional as most Dropbox users" (Author: "sroerick").
Quotation: A key requirement list for mobile editing includes: "Instant & reliable sync. Logseq Sync is too buggy (at least it was in 2023). Things like Syncthing just aren't good enough if you don't also host a server that is always on" (Author: "medstrom").

🚀 Project Ideas

Project 1: Virtual Modifier Key Manager for Mobile Text Editing

Summary

A specialized Android keyboard application designed specifically for TUI/terminal-based editors like Emacs (in Termux) or Vim, aiming to solve the "four taps for C-x C-s" problem.
Core value proposition is low-latency, ergonomic modifier key access (Ctrl, Alt, Meta, Shift) on virtual keyboards without requiring the user to hold or switch modes constantly.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Users running TUI applications (Emacs, Vim, shells) on Android via Termux or similar terminal emulators.
Core Feature	A "Modifier Toggle System" where pressing a modifier key (e.g., Ctrl) toggles it on until the next keypress, or allows for sequential, latching combinations (Ctrl, then X, then S), displayed via small on-screen indicators next to the virtual keys.
Tech Stack	Kotlin/Java (for Android app development), potentially leveraging existing keyboard framework APIs. Deep integration required with the Android Input Method Editor (IME) service.
Difficulty	Medium (IME development is complex, but the scope is narrow—just handling modifiers).
Monetization	Hobby

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it: Directly addresses the pain point mentioned by zelphiqualt: "How on earth am I even gonna input all the special key combos that I use for things in Emacs? ... cumbersome to quickly input something like C-x C-s for saving a file."
Potential for discussion or practical utility: This is a successor to simple key-bar additions (like the one suggested by sasaf5) but with smarter, dedicated integration specifically focused on rapid, sequential chord input common in Emacs/Vim.

Project 2: LSP/Eglot Forwarding Service for Mobile Emacs

Project Title

LSP Gateway Proxy (LSP-GP)

Summary

A lightweight, installable service (perhaps a Java/native Android service or a dedicated package deployable via Termux) that bridges the gap when running Emacs via TUI on Android, allowing it to utilize language servers (LSPs) running on a remote machine (e.g., a VPS or desktop via SSH/Mosh).
Core value proposition is enabling rich, modern IDE features (like Eglot/LSP) for remote development sessions initiated from a mobile Emacs TUI.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Developers running Emacs in Termux/TUI mode on Android/iOS who need real-time code intelligence (Eglot, autocompletion) linked to a powerful backend.
Core Feature	An intelligent proxy written in something fast (Node/Go/Elisp) that listens for LSP JSON signaling from the local Emacs instance, tunnels it securely over SSH/TCP to a remote LSP server, and relays responses back, handling any necessary path mapping or initial connection setup.
Tech Stack	Go or Node.js for the proxy/bridge, SSH for secure transport, Elisp interaction layer within the local Emacs.
Difficulty	High (Requires robust cross-process/network handling and deep understanding of LSP communication protocols).
Monetization	Hobby

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it: Solves the exact bottleneck identified by s20n ("you can't really leverage eglot") and hazebooth's implied question about why LSPs don't work when development is remote. It bridges the gap between sroerick's desired Org workflow and his need for IDE tooling.
Potential for discussion or practical utility: This tackles the "real development" problem mentioned in the thread, turning mobile Emacs from a note-taking tool into a viable secondary coding station.

Project 3: Unified Org/VimWiki Data Sync Aggregator

Project Title

Semantic Link Sync Service (SLiSS)

Summary

A secure, cross-platform synchronization service (with Android accessibility focus) specifically designed to handle the network synchronization of structured note formats (.org, .vimwiki) while guaranteeing that internal semantic links (e.g., Org-IDs, Wiki links) remain functional across devices.
Core value proposition is reliable, conflict-resistant synchronization of knowledge graphs/outliners between desktop Emacs/Vim and optimized native mobile apps.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Users (both Emacs/Org and VimWiki devotees) frustrated with basic file syncing (Syncthing/Dropbox) failing to preserve semantic link functionality (IDs, context referencing) between mobile and desktop.
Core Feature	Utilizes Git/Git LFS or a custom layer to manage file changes, but critically, it employs a pre-commit/post-sync hook system that resolves and normalizes link references (especially Org-IDs which are fragile across file moves) immediately after sync, ensuring mobile apps see functional links.
Tech Stack	Python/Rust for the sync handler, Git for provenance/conflict resolution, and client SDKs/APIs for interacting with file system changes on Android (via background services) and Desktop OSes.
Difficulty	High (Handling synchronization conflicts in graph-like data structures is notoriously difficult).
Monetization	Hobby

Notes

Why HN commenters would love it: Directly addresses the extensive discussion around syncing needs (zingar, PaulRobinson, medstrom). Medstrom listed link preservation as requirement #2, which standard file syncs fail to meet, making this highly valuable for power users of Org or VimWiki.
Potential for discussion or practical utility: This is a premium feature many hobbyists are looking for—a way to use the best mobile editor experience (like Apple Notes ergonomics, per PaulRobinson) while keeping the data format native to their primary editor ecosystem.