Code on the Go
Code on the Go is a free, open-source IDE for building Android apps with Kotlin or Java on phones and tablets.
What Code on the Go is
Code on the Go is a free, open-source IDE for building Android apps with Kotlin or Java on phones and tablets. It supports writing, editing, debugging and building projects on the device, and is designed to work offline for those tasks. Its Sketch to UI feature converts a photo of a hand-drawn interface into Android XML. The app also offers visual UI design, app packaging and on-device debugging that its maker says needs no additional hardware. Users can add plugins and templates or create plugins of their own; community-built plugins have not been audited by the maker and come without stability, security or compatibility guarantees. The stated minimum is Android 9 on 32-bit or 64-bit ARM, approximately 3.5 GB of storage and 1.5 GB of free RAM. The included toolchain is JDK 21 and Kotlin 1.9.2, with no official support for other JDK versions. Projects made with release 26.37 or earlier may need migration to build on release 26.38 and later.
Good
- Works offline for coding, debugging and builds.
- Supports Kotlin and Java Android projects.
- Sketch to UI converts layout photos into Android XML.
- Includes visual UI design and app packaging.
- Free and open source, with no subscription or paywall.
Watch out
- Requires Android 9 on ARM devices.
- Needs approximately 3.5 GB storage and 1.5 GB free RAM.
- Community plugins are unaudited and provided without guarantees.
- Older projects may need migration for newer releases.
Who it suits
It suits learners and developers who want to create Android apps directly on a phone or tablet, including when reliable internet or a traditional computer is unavailable. Users should check the device requirements and toolchain limits first.
Verdict
Code on the Go brings core Android development tasks to a mobile device and is designed to work offline. Its device requirements, fixed supported toolchain and project migration caveat are worth checking before starting a project.
Plans and prices
From Code on the Go's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free and open source · No subscription or paywall |
The facts
Each one read from Code on the Go's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Editor and builds
- Users can write, edit, debug, and build Android projects on their phone.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Offline use
- The IDE is designed to work offline, including for coding, debugging, and building apps.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Code on the Go supports optional plugins, templates, and other add-ons, and users can build their own plugins.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Plugin safety
- The maker says community-built plugins have not been audited or reviewed by its team and are provided as-is without guarantees of stability, security, or compatibility.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker's privacy notice says it does not process sensitive personal information and describes collecting information users provide, such as email addresses, and technical usage data when visiting its services.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Project migration
- Projects created with release 26.37 or earlier may fail to build on release 26.38 and later unless migrated.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Code on the Go is a mobile-first IDE for building Kotlin and Java Android apps on phones and tablets.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The stated minimum is Android 9 on 32-bit or 64-bit ARM, with approximately 3.5 GB of storage and 1.5 GB of free RAM.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sketch to UI
- The Sketch to UI feature turns a photo of a hand-drawn app layout into Android XML.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can find in-app documentation through long-press tooltips, join the support and discussion forum, or submit issues and suggestions through GitHub.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Toolchain limits
- The app ships with JDK 21 and Kotlin 1.9.2; the maker says it does not officially support other JDK versions and does not guarantee testing of newer Kotlin versions.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Belmont, Californiachecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker and audience
- App Dev for All says it builds free, open-source tools for people who need app development and educational resources without a traditional computer or reliable internet.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- On-device debugging
- The maker describes an on-device debugging stack that does not require additional hardware.checked 8 Oct 2026
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