To write and develop Bash applications on an Android phone or tablet, you will need two or three things: 1. (_Optional_) **Keyboard** which works well for code ( _rather than texting_ ) 1. **Text Editor** to write and edit Bash scripts ( _plain-text files_ ) 1. **Bash** ( _e.g. a Linux environment running on Android with Bash_ ) As of 2021, there is really only one good option for running **Bash** on Android: [[#Termux]]. There are _multiple_ text editors available, but I recommend the free, powerful [[#Acode]] **Text Editor**. The following instructions will get you up-and-running with Bash on your Android device! - [[#Hacker's Keyboard]] - [[#Acode]] Text Editor (_with Bash support!_) - [[#Termux]] Linux Environment (_with Bash!_) # Hacker's Keyboard  _(Optional)_ The built in Google Keyboard supports auto-correct which works great (_sometimes_) for writing text messages and emails. The Gboard auto-complete is _not so great_ when writing code. If you are using a _physical keyboard_ with your Android device, then this is less important. If you're using a touchscreen, I recommend installing: [Hacker's Keyboard](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard&hl=en_US&gl=US) from the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard&hl=en_US&gl=US). When writing code, you'll want easy access to characters such as `, `{`, `[`, `>`, etc. This keyboard will help! 1. **Install** Hacker's Keyboard 2. **Open** Hacker's Keyboard 3. **Enable keyboard** 4. Set **Keyboard mode, portrait** and **Keyboard mode, landscape** to use the option: - `5-row compact layout (US QWERTY only!)` - _for non-US QWERTY users, choose:_ `Full 5-row layout` 5. Try it out! > **Instructions** (_shown when opening the application_) >  > Click **Enable keyboard** and say `OK` to all of the options. > Then use the toggle switch to enable the keyboard. >  > Change the **Keyboard mode** in **Settings**. > The default keyboard does not give easy access to `{` and other characters which you will want regularly in Bash. >  > To switch between the default **Gboard** and the **Hacker's Keyboard**, open the **Gboard** (_e.g. by clicking the `Test` text on the settings page_), click the little keyboard icon in the _very bottom right_ of the **Gboard**. > > This will give you an option to switch to the **Hacker's Keyboard**. > > Use the same method to switch back to the **Gboard** as desired. >  # Acode  There are multiple Text Editors on Android. *If you already use a Text Editor which supports syntax highlighting code files on your Android device, try using your existing editor!* But I _highly_ recommend using the free, powerful code editor: [Acode](https://acode.foxdebug.com/) Acode has _built-in support_ for editing Bash files, which is _super helpful._ 1. [Install Acode](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxdebug.acodefree&hl=en_US&gl=US) from the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxdebug.acodefree&hl=en_US&gl=US) 2. Open Acode 3. Allow Acode to access your device files 4. Create a new folder to put your Bash files 5. Create a new Bash script: `hello.sh` 6. Add Bash code to the file: `echo "hello world"` 7. Save the file > Allow **Acode** access to your files upon opening the application: >  > Tap the 📁 to enter the `Internal storage` folder. >  > Tap the ➕ in the upper right and choose `New Folder` and name it whatever you like, e.g. `Adventure`. > > This is where you can store all of your files while reading through **The Adventurer's Guide to Bash**. > > _Recommendation: While adventuring, you will likely want to organize your files into additional subfolders._ >  > Tap the 📁 to enter the `Adventure` folder. >  > Tap the ➕ in the upper right and choose `New File` and name it `hello.sh` >  > Tap the back arrow (_or swipe right_) to go back to the editor. > > From here, click the three dots in the upper right and choose **Open file** > > Browse to your new `Adventure` folder and choose `hello.sh` >  > Now, in the editor, write some Bash code! > > Write the following: > ```shell > echo "hello world" > ``` > And then tap the 💾 icon to save the file. >  > _Next, we will run this Bash script with Termux!_ # Termux  [Termux](https://termux.com/) is a free Android application which provides a lovely terminal with a Linux environment including Bash right on your Android phone or tablet. > The [Termux Wiki](https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Main_Page) has lots of great documentation! 1. [Install Termux](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux&hl=en_US&gl=US) from the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux&hl=en_US&gl=US) 2. Open **Termux** 3. You will be presented with a black screen with a ` prompt. - **Termux** needs permission to access the **Internal storage/Adventure** folder. - To give **Termux** access, type the following, followed by the return key <kbd>⏎</kbd> ```shell termux-setup-storage ``` 4. Now, browse to the `Adventure` folder and run `hello.sh`! > Run `termux-setup-storage` >  > Allow access to files >  > To get to the `Adventure` folder, browse to `storage/shared/Adventure` using the change directory (`cd`) command. > > Once there, run the `hello.sh` script via: `bash hello.sh` > > You will see the output: `hello world` >