Is there any free C++ and/or C# compiler that runs on an Android-enabled Tablet PC?

Question

The question is not about writing C++ for Android, it's about writing C++ on Android.

I have an Android-enabled Tablet PC and I need to do both C++ and C# programming.

Is there any free C++ and/or C# compiler that runs on any Android-enabled Tablet PC?

I do not want to develop Android apps on PC.

I want to do my programming on an IDE that runs on Android.

Solution 1

It exists in some form, at least. I have managed to find an application that even compiles C and Delphi without any extra dependencies (I assume it comes with GCC and FreePascal.) I can't find it at the moment, but keep searching. In the meantime, TouchQode at least will give you some scripting support. For C#, you'll need Mono. The runtime for Mono is certainly available on Android and I see absolutely no reason there can't be a compiler for it on Android as well. edit: As CommonWares mentions, there is no freely available Mono port for Android, so none of this applies. Pity.

Solution 2

Why not, it's a linux kernel and a well supported architecture (arm). You can compile GCC for android, but the performance of a tablet will not amaze you. You will also need to build glibc I guess - you can check here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1299962

Basically you will need to cross compile gcc and glibc for the arm architecture.

Solution 3

Is there any free C++ and/or C# compiler that runs on any Android-enabled Tablet PC?

Let's pretend, for the moment, that the answer was yes (it's certainly not for C#).

You would also need:

• the Android SDK and its toolchain
• the Android NDK (since you are interested in C/C++) and the rest of its toolchain
• the IDE

None of that exists to run on Android at this time, though there are some OK text editors.

Comments

[CommonsWare]

MonoDroid is most certainly not free.

[MerickOWA]

He wants to compile on the Android, not for the Android

[John Chadwick]

He said you need the SDK/NDK/IDE on Android. That's not actually true (for C/++, all you need is a toolchain, a la the NDK) but it's still not a misunderstanding the question. Also, his comment about C# is true because no free port exists that I know of. But it's all possible.

[John Chadwick]

That's true. I thought another port of Mono was being worked on, but it certainly doesn't look like that's the case.

[CommonsWare]

@MerickOWA: The only reason to run a compiler on Android is to write code for Android. If the OP simply wants to edit C/C++/C# code, all you need is an editor.

[CommonsWare]

Yeah, it would have been nice if MonoDroid (and MonoTouch) were free, but they didn't go that route.

[user366312]

Although, the TouchQode App is not so versatile, this answer is the most relevant.

[John Chadwick]

The one I was looking for has sourceLair. It's another app. To be honest, though, on-device development tools are still a new thing for Android. I think given the power of recent devices we'll be seeing a bit more of it.