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jump to repliesI like #CLI and #TUI tools. I use them everyday to read my emails, edit code, manage my agenda and todo list, access some websites and gemini capsules, even chat with my local LLM...
I miss these tools when I use my phone. I sometimes use ConnectBot to access them on one of my machines via ssh, but the phone keyboard and the screen size don't give me the same satisfaction.
Have you tried to use an external #keyboard with your Android phone to play with CLI/TUI software? Is it a solution? Which keyboard?
6 replies
back to topDepending on the device, Clicks makes a keyboard case for some, but IDK how it's character support is.
I've been eyeing building a Fairberry since it uses the old BlackBerry keyboards and is open source, so you could edit layers as needed for your use case. Waiting until I'm back on a slab.
https://github.com/Dakkaron/Fairberry
Out of stock, but same idea w/o DIY:
https://www.tindie.com/products/zitaotech/bb9900-usb-keyboard-with-trackpad/
Some people like carrying a 35-40% kb for mobile use, but that isn't usable handheld.
And if you want a dedicated mobile terminal, there are several in various states of development:
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/attack-of-the-beepy-clones/
@McKenna I already have a sqfmi beeper, but the keyboard is too small.
I've also tried a Rii Mini i8, it is better but not ideal.
Understandable, especially if you weren't a BB user back in the day!
They take a bit of adjusting to and are pretty small.
There's sometime working on this thing, but it's not finished yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/surfaceduo/s/jkcRT6h8IV
@McKenna interesting concept
Yeah, curious to see what comes of it. Feel like there's a dearth of mobile kbs these days, unfortunately. Used to be all kinds of wild and wonderful options. Lol
