Does anyone write on their phone?

Has anyone written a game in ChoiceScript on a phone or mobile device, or do you have to work on a “proper” computer?

Ik @poison_mara did some writing on her phone if I remember correctly.

When I write I use my phone as a first draft before transferring it to choicescript.

But if you’re asking because you don’t have a computer or laptop then I don’t really think there is a way on mobile.

If your first draft isn’t ChoiceScript, what is it?

I use google docs, but you can literally use any text editor you want, even the notes app.

It’s basically just like if I was writing a book but I include choices after every few paragraphs.

Example:

Whatever it was looking for wasn’t here.

The beast roared again, it looked around the room again and its eyes set itself upon a group of villagers behind it.

*choice
*if (class = “rogue”) #Distract the beast by swinging in its direction.
*set prowess +5
*set brave %+3
*goto distract_rogue
*if (class = “warrior”) #Distract the beast by hitting it with an arrow.
*set prowess +5
*set brave %+3
*goto distract_warrior

It’ll look exactly like that when I type it up in docs, except I color code a few (*) commands to make sure I remember where I am. Then later when I get to my laptop I just copy/paste and fix the formatting.

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Have you ever tried using a code-editor app?

I’ve tried a few times, but I feel like those apps aren’t really the best in terms of what I want them to do. But it may be different for you.

I tried both Runestone and Visual Code, like I said they’re perfectly fine code editors, just not what I was looking for.

I’ve written a game on my phone. :stuck_out_tongue: Wouldn’t recommend, phone keyboards are horrid, but it’s doable. (Tablets are better for that, especially if you have external keyboard.)

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Exactly I wrote a If +100k in month and half for a contest like six years ago. It was bonkers, but shows anyone can write on a tablet or phone.

When I am on hospital I still working on my android devices.

I don’t understand why people believe that it is impossible or hard.

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Can you run tests on your phone? Or “compile” your code?

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I just ran mine on Dashingdon to catch any bugs.

Does it have to be “compiled” before you put it on DashingDon?

Yeeh, I use my tablet exclusively lol

For tests I literally just make a private/ only I can see game and do it there.
Of course, it becomes harder with more variable and branches that results in errors often slipping through😜

No, you’ll just put your txt scene files there (of course, that means you’ll have to use an app that can export txt files). Of course, I don’t know about running the automated tests on mobile, so I don’t know if you can make a complete HG game that way (mine was a jam entry), although I’d imagine someone of your testers could run them for you if you asked.

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There is also the Cside online too. People just want to believe is not possible when lot of people do it since in my case 2011.

In a big tablet with keyboard like I have it is basically the same thing that a laptop. There is also cloud saving so one can switch from one device to another.

It is more comfortable for most people a Pc, yes. But if you move a lot or have to go hospital a lot a mobile device is key to use moments you can use to write

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Can you run the tests on that? I haven’t tried it, since I don’t have that much of a reason to code on mobile (when I’m not trying to hit a deadline that’s in a few hours :sweat_smile:)

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I didn’t try in years due I do testing on pc but years ago worked . If you need testing for the jam I can do it for you as I am at home

Thanks, but I’m all set for that one (writing it, though…), it was the diversity jam one I had no time to get on my computer for.

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You don’t “have” to, but it is much more convenient and practical (as long as you have one at reach)

I’ve written sometimes on my phone when I’m away from my pc, but to say it is horrible is a little shorthanded. That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.

If I had to do it cause I don’t have another option, first of all, I would try to get a Bluetooth or USB keyboard that works on the phone, even a tiny one without numpad would be better. Cause handling the cursor on a small touchscreen is dreading.

If that’s not an option cause you’re, I don’t know, standing up or in a place that doesn’t allow you to, then the best second option I can think of is to try different text editors and keyboards / layouts to seek for the best functionality combination.

I remember using some code editor a long time ago on my phone, but nowadays if I’m away from the PC and have spare time to write, I use obsidian. It’s not ideal, but it uses md format and has some useful shortcuts for writing md that we also use for choicescript. I later handle it on the PC so I don’t mind having errors.

As for testing the game on mobile. I’m not sure if you can emulate a bat file (I think not) and an extreme case would be to emulate windows and then run the tests there, but I don’t find that remotely feasible.

If you still have access to a remote turned-on PC with something like Anydesk or a remote control software of your choice, I think it would be much easier to upload the files to a sync cloud storage from your phone, wait for the files to sync on the pc (it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds), and log in on the remote PC and run the test there.

If that’s not within your possibilities I’m afraid I don’t know any other way to run choicescript tests.

Ideally, you could use vscode for android and use the choicescript extension but as far as I know, vscode is not available for android so not an option either. Unless, another kind of extreme option, you mod a smartphone and install some Linux on it, then you theoretically could use vscode to write and test your choicescript in the same phone.

So, yeah, as for possible, kind of yes. Practical, not at all in my oppinion.

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Yes you can write a whole game , test it and puplish it using only your phone or tablet
I made a long search in this matter and found that it’s possible but harder than writing on PC or laptop

And you can test your game by playing a file named index.html before puplishing the WIP on dashingdon

I don’t have much experience (still working on my 1st game )but I hope I helped you