Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AnySoftKeyboard VS Blockly

Compare AnySoftKeyboard VS Blockly and see what are their differences

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AnySoftKeyboard logo AnySoftKeyboard

Android (f/w 1.5+) on-screen keyboard for multiple languages.

Blockly logo Blockly

Blockly is a library for building visual programming editors.
  • AnySoftKeyboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-16
  • Blockly Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18

AnySoftKeyboard features and specs

  • Open Source
    AnySoftKeyboard is open source, which means the code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute. This promotes transparency and trust among its users.
  • Customizability
    The keyboard allows for extensive customization, including themes, layouts, and gesture controls, enabling users to tailor their typing experience to their preferences.
  • Privacy
    AnySoftKeyboard places a strong emphasis on user privacy, avoiding cloud-based predictions and ensuring that all typing data remains on the device.
  • Multilingual Support
    It supports a wide range of languages, making it a versatile choice for users who communicate in multiple languages.
  • Regular Updates
    The active development and regular updates ensure that the keyboard stays current with new features and bug fixes.

Possible disadvantages of AnySoftKeyboard

  • Learning Curve
    Given its wide range of features and customization options, new users might find it initially complex and difficult to navigate.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some proprietary keyboards, AnySoftKeyboard might lack certain advanced features like highly accurate predictive text or integrated AI assistance.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Like many open-source projects, it can have occasional bugs or glitches due to the continuous addition of new features and changes.
  • Performance
    On lower-end devices, it may not perform as smoothly as some other lightweight keyboards, potentially affecting typing speed and accuracy.
  • Lack of Cloud Sync
    The focus on privacy means that it doesn't offer cloud sync for preferences and settings, which could be a downside for users who switch between multiple devices.

Blockly features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    Blockly offers a highly intuitive and visual interface. Users, especially beginners and non-programmers, can easily drag and drop blocks to create programs without needing to write code manually.
  • Educational Value
    Blockly is excellent for educational purposes. It simplifies the learning curve for programming by abstracting the complexities of syntax, allowing learners to focus on understanding logic and computational thinking.
  • Cross-Language Support
    Blockly can generate code for multiple programming languages (JavaScript, Python, PHP, Lua, Dart). This makes it versatile and useful for teaching and transitioning to various languages.
  • Customizability
    Blockly is highly customizable. Developers can create custom blocks and define their own rules, making it adaptable to various projects and domain-specific needs.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Blockly provides the flexibility to modify and extend the toolkit to fit specific requirements. This open nature encourages community contributions and improvements.

Possible disadvantages of Blockly

  • Limited Complexity
    Blockly is designed for simplicity and may not handle very complex programming tasks efficiently. Advanced users might find it insufficient for sophisticated or large-scale projects.
  • Performance Overhead
    The visual programming model can introduce performance overhead. Converting blocks to executable code and running it can be less efficient compared to hand-written code, especially for performance-critical applications.
  • Learning Transition
    While Blockly is great for beginners, transitioning from block-based programming to traditional text-based coding can be challenging. Users may need additional guidance to adapt to the intricacies of syntax and coding best practices.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    Blockly does not offer advanced debugging tools. Debugging issues can be more challenging compared to traditional IDEs that provide sophisticated debugging capabilities.
  • Scalability Issues
    For large projects, the block-based approach can become unwieldy and harder to manage compared to traditional text-based code which can be more neatly structured and maintained.

Analysis of AnySoftKeyboard

Overall verdict

  • Yes, AnySoftKeyboard is considered a good keyboard option, especially for users who prioritize privacy and customization. Its open-source nature and community-driven development ensure regular updates and support. While it may lack some advanced features found in proprietary keyboards, its strong emphasis on user control and data security make it a solid choice.

Why this product is good

  • AnySoftKeyboard is a popular open-source keyboard for Android devices. It is appreciated for its privacy-focused approach, offering no ads and not collecting user data without permission. Its extensibility allows users to customize layouts and functionality through downloadable plugins and add-ons. It supports multiple languages and offers various features such as gesture typing, voice input, and a robust suggestion system.

Recommended for

    AnySoftKeyboard is recommended for Android users who value privacy and customization options. It's particularly suitable for those who need support for multiple languages or who prefer to have control over their keyboard's appearance and features. It's also a great choice for people who prefer using open-source software.

Analysis of Blockly

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Blockly is a good tool, especially for educational environments and projects that benefit from visual programming. It's well-supported by Google and the community, making it a reliable choice for developers.

Why this product is good

  • Blockly is a powerful library for creating visual programming editors. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows both beginners and advanced programmers to create code blocks that can be converted into various text-based programming languages like JavaScript, Python, and more. This ease of use makes it an excellent tool for educational purposes and rapid prototyping.

Recommended for

  • Educators looking to introduce programming concepts to students.
  • Developers seeking to build applications with a visual programming interface.
  • Hobbyists interested in creating projects without extensive coding knowledge.
  • Organizations aiming to develop interactive tutorials and learning platforms.

AnySoftKeyboard videos

AnySoftKeyboard

More videos:

  • Review - AnySoftKeyboard| Multiple Keyboard|Gesture Support| Themes

Blockly videos

Blockly: Using Block Based Coding in your App

More videos:

  • Review - Fable Blockly Review
  • Review - Trying Out Blockly, Google's New Programming Language [DiceTV]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AnySoftKeyboard and Blockly)
iPhone
100 100%
0% 0
Web Frameworks
0 0%
100% 100
iOS Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Game Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AnySoftKeyboard and Blockly

AnySoftKeyboard Reviews

We have no reviews of AnySoftKeyboard yet.
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Blockly Reviews

Top 20 Javascript Libraries
Blockly, a creation of Google, is a web-based visual programming editor. When added to the code, the library adds an editor to the app that represents code snippets like loops, expressions, variables, and more as blocks. The best part is that you can create custom code, and the output is syntactically correct in your choice of the programming language. Blockly has no...
Source: hackr.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Blockly should be more popular than AnySoftKeyboard. It has been mentiond 31 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AnySoftKeyboard mentions (12)

  • Gboard Double Sided Version
    > I'd take a one-touch button to temporarily disable autocorrect/auto-capitalization. Either toggled or until next space. AnySoftKeyboard¹ has this²; the button disappears with the suggestions but the setting only "sticks" until you dismiss the keyboard. 1: https://anysoftkeyboard.github.io 2: https://i.imgur.com/CE1xeGY.jpeg. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • F-Droid, Keyboard Libraries, and Choosing a Browser
    I didn't last long with the stock keyboard before installing AnySoftKeyboard which is one of the few FOSS alternative with support for swipe typing. The experience was... OK. It felt slow and it's accuracy left a lot to be desired. I still had to be slow and pretty accurate, so it didn't really feel like much of a change from the stock experience. FlorisBoard have also introduced their own implementation but the... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Swipe keyboard app, open source and safe to usw?
    AnySoftKeyboard should do the trick: Https://anysoftkeyboard.github.io/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Can anyone please explain this interaction between android calendar and Signal?
    AnySoftKeyboard is another good FOSS option and does have (beta) swipe typing. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Block app Internet access (Android)
    I was going to suggest NetGuard. I would switch to AnySoftKeyboard. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Blockly mentions (31)

  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    Scratch is fantastic. There are also a number of similar (block-based) tools that let you create your own custom blocks and see the code behind them - e.g. Blockly (https://developers.google.com/blockly). - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: Modern Day Equivalent to HyperCard?
    If your kid is already doing Scratch, Blockly is a really easy next step. https://developers.google.com/blockly Critically, Blockly can emit JavaScript and Python, plus it supports plugins for extended functionality. So the kid can stay inside the blockly universe for as long as they like, but easily peer under the hood and get into Python or JavaScript as soon as they like. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • A shortage of teachers for computer science classes in California
    The issue with Alice is that graphical, block based coding is not at all an ergonomic way to code. Sure, C++ probably isn't the best for an intro CS courses, either, but even just Python with some wrappers over SDL to draw sprites is not only a better teaching tool it's also forms a more useful springboard to build other projects. Graphical, block based coding seems to be a common attempt to make coding more... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • ⚧︎ Super Smash Siblings Trans
    Unless it would contradict canon, every stage is very bright, highly interactive, full of pre-placed items, and so huge that you can usually run from your NPC opponents and enjoy exploring the stage in peace while they catch up to you. All buildings have Linux computers with actual internet access that allow you to program and print out your own projectiles/books/flags/UNO reverse cards/shinigami eyes/soupcans/cis... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children
    If your kids tinker with Scratch, try out TurboWarp[1], a Scratch mod that compiles projects to JavaScript. Other alternatives to tinker with are Blocky[2] and Snap[3]. 1. https://turbowarp.org 2. https://developers.google.com/blockly/ 3. https://snap.berkeley.edu. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing AnySoftKeyboard and Blockly, you can also consider the following products

Gboard - Google-powered keyboard with search, GIFs, emojis and more!

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

Hacker's Keyboard - Are you missing the key layout you're used to from your computer when using an Android device?

Spring Framework - The Spring Framework provides a comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java-based enterprise applications - on any kind of deployment platform.

Fleksy - Fleksy is the #1 private, white-label virtual keyboard SDK, enabling companies to create unimaginable products.

Spark Mail - Spark helps you take your inbox under control. Instantly see what’s important and quickly clean up the rest. Spark for Teams allows you to create, discuss, and share email with your colleagues