Morrison Chang

Posted on Oct 6, 2020 • Edited on Mar 4, 2023

How to get Visual Studio Code to run on Android with Termux -- Mar 2023 Update

#android #termux #vscode #samsungdex

Every below is from before 2020 so Don't use Termux from the Play Store use Termux from F-droid

Getting code-server is now easier with the following commands:

pkg install tur-repo
pkg install code-server

Start old stuff

~~Termux from Play Store~~ is an app which provides a Unix/Linux-like environment on your Android device. But getting an familiar IDE like Visual Studio Code previous required a number of steps. Recently this seems to have been streamlined by the various package maintainers and now can be done in fewer steps.

First is that we will be installing the the open source version of Visual Studio Code (VS Code), called code-server.

code-server is an Electron app and needs support from nodejs environment.

In Termux run the following commands:

pkg install nodejs

pkg install yarn

Per the Termux NodeJS wiki also install:

pkg install build-essential

pkg install python

pkg install git

As they are needed for building native extensions.

And finally install code-server itself.

yarn global add code-server

Note: Installing code-server will take a while

code-server is now installed and will be the back end server to your front end client, a Chromium browser, like Chrome for Android or Microsoft Edge.

Now from the command line run code-server or have it run in the background by adding an ampersand like code-server &.

code-server &

You'll get some output logs about where the password is located.

In my case I used cat ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml to find out what was configured.

Open up a browser, as I was using Samsung DeX as a desktop, I used Samsung Internet, connected to 127.0.0.1:8080 and entered the password.

Once connected, you can install plugins. As you can see, the MS Python plugin appears to work.

A few caveats:

code-server is not Microsoft Visual Studio Code The summary is that not all plugins are supported, YMMV.
I'm using Termux and code-server with Samsung DeX so I don't have any the soft keyboard issues that others have encountered.

Updating VS Code/code-server to latest (1.50.0)

Step 1: kill code-server if running

Step 2: Now update all of the packages (check above list)

pkg update

Step 3: In order to force a rebuild, use yarn to remove code-server

yarn global remove code-server

Step 4: And add/install code-server (yes it will take a while)

yarn global add code-server

Getting Search to work

Thanks to yozman on this issue ticket

Install the package ripgrep:

pkg install ripgrep

And add to the code-server directory

which is in my setup can be reached by:

cd /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/code-server

a softlink to the rg binary:

ln -s $PREFIX/bin/rg ./lib/vscode/node_modules/vscode-ripgrep/bin/rg

Top comments (15)

Stefano Pompa • Dec 11 '21

it seems wonderfull. Unfurtunately at the moment i receive this error:
code-server@3.12.0: The engine "node" is incompatible with this module. Expected version "= 14". Got "16.13.1"

Malius • Jan 2 '22

Same thing here. Did u manage to make it work?

Stefano Pompa • Jan 2 '22

unfurtunately no!

nimbul • Jan 2 '22

You should just need to install version 14.x of Node. I'm not sure how to do this with a termux pkg, you'll have to dig.

I installed nvm and ran source /usr/share/nvm/init.nvm.sh and nvm install 14 on my proot Arch, not sure if that'll help you!

kunalsain007 • Apr 21 '23

try running this
pkg upgrade -y
pkg install nodejs python yarn binutils

v=$(node -v); v=${v#v}; v=${v%%.*};

FORCE_NODE_VERSION="$v" yarn global add code-server@4.6.0 --ignore-engines;

carlotamburin • Oct 29 '20

When I install everything and type in the pass i get his error 500, and when i go home error 404. I tried dozens of ways to install android studio and only 2 way worked, installing not so latest 3.4.1 version with ubuntu and installing VHEditor from google store but with this I cannot install latest packages and extensions. Same goes with 3.4.1 version. I really want to set up my code server on tablet. Any help appreciated.

Morrison Chang • Nov 7 '20

Android Studio != VS Code. I haven't tried VHEditor so I don't know how well it works. What I described worked for me, but I also know that not all plugins and extensions will work. I also don't know what tablet you are using, running what version of Android, and how much free memory you have.

carlotamburin • Nov 7 '20 • Edited

I am running on android 10, Samsung galaxy tab a7 10.4, 3GB of ram. The problem is that I can install the earlier version of code server 1.4.1 and I am running it now. But for example I couldn't install latest Python extension on it cause it says it needs newer version of visual code. So I manually downloaded VIX file of extension for my 1.4.1 version and it works. I am fine working on it but just wondering why I can't run the newest 1.5.0 version. I tried all possible methods on internet and only one worked for me and It's also from dev.to portal from publisher Josias Aurel. It method included installing ubuntu in terminal and using that method it works for me but no luck if I clone newer from the same github.

Morrison Chang • Nov 8 '20

Update my instructions above. You may have to 'yarn global remove' to make sure that code-server is built/linked against latest versions. But as of now I've got code-server VS Code 1.50.0 running on my Samsung Galaxy S9, Android 10 in Termux.

Stephen Essoun • Dec 14 '21

I have tried and tried several times and I am still having the same error.
I have run different codes from different source and still not opening

Saeed M Farahani • May 7 '22

yarn global v1.22.18
[1/4] Resolving packages...
[2/4] Fetching packages...
[3/4] Linking dependencies...
warning "code-server > @coder/logger@1.1.16" has unmet peer dependency "@google-cloud/logging@^4.5.2".
[4/4] Building fresh packages...
[1/3] ⠄ argon2
[-/3] ⡀ waiting...
error /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2: Command failed.
Exit code: 1
Command: node-pre-gyp install --fallback-to-build
Arguments:
Directory: /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2
Output:
node-pre-gyp info it worked if it ends with ok
node-pre-gyp info using node-pre-gyp@1.0.9
node-pre-gyp info using node@16.14.2 | android | arm
node-pre-gyp info check checked for "/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3/argon2.node" (not found)
node-pre-gyp http GET github.com/ranisalt/node-argon2/re...
node-pre-gyp ERR! install response status 404 Not Found on github.com/ranisalt/node-argon2/re...
node-pre-gyp WARN Pre-built binaries not installable for argon2@0.28.5 and node@16.14.2 (node-v93 ABI, unknown) (falling back to source compile with node-gyp)
node-pre-gyp WARN Hit error response status 404 Not Found on github.com/ranisalt/node-argon2/re...
gyp info it worked if it ends with ok
gyp info using node-gyp@8.4.1
gyp info using node@16.14.2 | android | arm
gyp info ok
gyp info it worked if it ends with ok
gyp info using node-gyp@8.4.1
gyp info using node@16.14.2 | android | arm
gyp info find Python using Python version 3.10.4 found at "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/python3"
gyp http GET nodejs.org/download/release/v16.14...
gyp http 200 nodejs.org/download/release/v16.14...
gyp http GET nodejs.org/download/release/v16.14...
gyp http 200 nodejs.org/download/release/v16.14...
gyp info spawn /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/python3
gyp info spawn args [
gyp info spawn args '/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/gyp/gyp_main.py',
gyp info spawn args 'binding.gyp',
gyp info spawn args '-f',
gyp info spawn args 'make',
gyp info spawn args '-I',
gyp info spawn args '/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/build/config.gypi',
gyp info spawn args '-I',
gyp info spawn args '/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/addon.gypi',
gyp info spawn args '-I',
gyp info spawn args '/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.cache/node-gyp/16.14.2/include/node/common.gypi',
gyp info spawn args '-Dlibrary=shared_library',
gyp info spawn args '-Dvisibility=default',
gyp info spawn args '-Dnode_root_dir=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.cache/node-gyp/16.14.2',
gyp info spawn args '-Dnode_gyp_dir=/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp',
gyp info spawn args '-Dnode_lib_file=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.cache/node-gyp/16.14.2/<(target_arch)/node.lib',
gyp info spawn args '-Dmodule_root_dir=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2',
gyp info spawn args '-Dnode_engine=v8',
gyp info spawn args '--depth=.',
gyp info spawn args '--no-parallel',
gyp info spawn args '--generator-output',
gyp info spawn args 'build',
gyp info spawn args '-Goutput_dir=.'
gyp info spawn args ]
gyp info ok
gyp info it worked if it ends with ok
gyp info using node-gyp@8.4.1
gyp info using node@16.14.2 | android | arm
gyp info spawn make
gyp info spawn args [ 'BUILDTYPE=Release', '-C', 'build' ]
make: Entering directory '/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/build'
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/ref.o
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/argon2.o
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/core.o
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/blake2/blake2b.o
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/thread.o
CC(target) Release/obj.target/libargon2/argon2/src/encoding.o
AR(target) Release/obj.target/argon2.a
/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/sh: 1: ar: not found
make: *** [libargon2.target.mk:149: Release/obj.target/argon2.a] Error 127
make: Leaving directory '/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/build'
gyp ERR! build error
gyp ERR! stack Error: make failed with exit code: 2
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.onExit (/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/build.js:194:23)
gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:526:28)
gyp ERR! stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:291:12)
gyp ERR! System Linux 4.14.133
gyp ERR! command "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/node" "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" "build" "--fallback-to-build" "--module=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3/argon2.node" "--module_name=argon2" "--module_path=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3" "--napi_version=8" "--node_abi_napi=napi" "--napi_build_version=3" "--node_napi_label=napi-v3"
gyp ERR! cwd /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2
gyp ERR! node -v v16.14.2
gyp ERR! node-gyp -v v8.4.1
gyp ERR! not ok
node-pre-gyp ERR! build error
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack Error: Failed to execute '/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/node /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js build --fallback-to-build --module=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3/argon2.node --module_name=argon2 --module_path=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3 --napi_version=8 --node_abi_napi=napi --napi_build_version=3 --node_napi_label=napi-v3' (1)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess. (/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/@mapbox/node-pre-gyp/lib/util/compile.js:89:23)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:526:28)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1092:16)
node-pre-gyp ERR! stack at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:302:5)
node-pre-gyp ERR! System Linux 4.14.133
node-pre-gyp ERR! command "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/node" "/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/node_modules/.bin/node-pre-gyp" "install" "--fallback-to-build"
node-pre-gyp ERR! cwd /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2
node-pre-gyp ERR! node -v v16.14.2
node-pre-gyp ERR! node-pre-gyp -v v1.0.9
node-pre-gyp ERR! not ok
Failed to execute '/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/node /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js build --fallback-to-build --module=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3/argon2.node --module_name=argon2 --module_path=/data/data/com.termux/files/home/.config/yarn/global/node_modules/argon2/lib/binding/napi-v3 --napi_version=8 --no

Aniket Kumar • Aug 30 '21

Sir i'm unable to login. I couldn't find my password it say password us in ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml

youralmight • Jul 6 '21

Much help. It works for me and now I can play on my phone freely.

FerseinChris • Jan 18 '22

This is here the issue I'm meeting, please can you tell me how to fix this ?

Stephen Essoun • Dec 14 '21

I am getting stacked in my class due that I have no laptop so please try and help me
I am using Techno Spark 4
Is it possible or not? Because I've tried severally. Thank You.

View full discussion (15 comments)

DEV Community

How to get Visual Studio Code to run on Android with Termux -- Mar 2023 Update

Top comments (15)

Read next

Ask Anything in VS Code now for Development!

Mastering Bruno: A Beginner's Guide to API Clients

Migrating the VSCode theme generator to oklch

2024 Update: Top 10 Alternatives to Postman