Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hacker's Keyboard VS Onboard on-screen keyboard

Compare Hacker's Keyboard VS Onboard on-screen keyboard and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Hacker's Keyboard logo Hacker's Keyboard

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

Onboard on-screen keyboard logo Onboard on-screen keyboard

An onscreen keyboard useful for tablet PC users and for mobility impaired users.
  • Hacker's Keyboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03
  • Onboard on-screen keyboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13

Hacker's Keyboard features and specs

  • Full Keyboard Layout
    Hacker's Keyboard offers a full 5-row layout, including arrow keys, numbers, and punctuation, which is beneficial for users requiring more than the standard mobile keyboard functionality.
  • Customizable Key Settings
    The keyboard is highly customizable, allowing users to tweak key sizes, colors, and functions to suit their specific needs and preferences.
  • Multiple Language Support
    It supports a wide range of languages and layouts, making it a versatile choice for users around the world who need to type in different languages.
  • ASCII Control Characters
    The keyboard allows easy access to ASCII control characters, which is particularly useful for developers and tech enthusiasts.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, it allows users to inspect the code, contribute to development, and ensure no unwanted data collection or malware is present.

Possible disadvantages of Hacker's Keyboard

  • Complexity
    The extensive options and settings may be overwhelming for some users who prefer a simpler keyboard with fewer features.
  • Interface Design
    The default design and layout might not be as polished or aesthetically pleasing compared to other modern keyboards, potentially impacting user experience.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might need some time to get used to the full 5-row layout and extensive functionality, especially if they are accustomed to simpler keyboards.
  • Performance
    On some devices, the keyboard might not be as responsive or fast compared to other lightweight keyboard alternatives, possibly lagging during intensive typing sessions.
  • Battery Usage
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, the Hacker's Keyboard might consume more battery than simpler, less feature-rich keyboard apps.

Onboard on-screen keyboard features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Onboard provides an essential accessibility feature for users with physical disabilities, allowing them to input text without a physical keyboard.
  • Customizability
    The on-screen keyboard offers a high degree of customizability with options to change layout, size, theme, and key labels to suit different user preferences.
  • Integration
    Onboard integrates well with the Ubuntu desktop environment and other distributions, ensuring smooth usage alongside other system tools.
  • Ease of Use
    It is designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive settings and simple instructions, making it easy for non-technical users to operate.
  • Predictive Text
    Includes a predictive text feature that suggests words as you type, improving typing efficiency and speed.

Possible disadvantages of Onboard on-screen keyboard

  • Resource Usage
    Due to its graphical nature, Onboard can consume more system resources than a physical keyboard, which may affect performance on older or less powerful machines.
  • Screen Space
    Taking up part of the screen can be inconvenient, especially on smaller displays, reducing the available space for other applications.
  • Limited Features Compared to Physical Keyboards
    While Onboard offers basic keyboard functionality, it lacks some features and tactile feedback that physical keyboards offer, potentially hampering prolonged use.
  • Dependency on Pointer Device
    Relying heavily on mouse or touchpad input can be a limitation for users with difficulties using these devices, potentially necessitating additional accessibility tools.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    While generally well-integrated with Ubuntu, there might be occasional compatibility issues with other software, especially non-mainstream applications.

Category Popularity

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Web Frameworks
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iOS Tools
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Ruby Web Framework
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User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Hacker's Keyboard should be more popular than Onboard on-screen keyboard. It has been mentiond 6 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.

Hacker's Keyboard mentions (6)

  • No Alternative of Google keyboard in Dictionary, word prediction and Autocorrect
    I use 3 different keyboards 1. For the daily stuff Android Keyboard (AOSP) 2. For when I need Ctrl-C, maths symbols and operators when SSHing into my RPI's Unexpected keyboard https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • iPhone physical keyboard from ex-Crackberry guy
    I've tried all kinds of portable physical keyboards but for programming on android you can't beat Hackers Keyboard https://github.com/klausw/hackerskeyboard I've got a fork working with Android 14. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Does any one know where I can download a mobile Na'vi keyboard
    I forked the Hacker's Keyboard app on GitHub tweaked it, and compiled it. (using Android Studio). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • A pocket sized open-source AR device for the imaginative hacker
    Does not work with Hacker's Keyboard (https://github.com/klausw/hackerskeyboard). It closes itself after a few deciseconds, whereas usually the permanent notification feature can be tapped to open and use a keyboard anywhere. Or maybe I haven't tried using it on the new Android 11 yet and yet another of my favorite hacks broke.... Now that I try it elsewhere,... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Using your phone as a software development platform
    I used to code NodeJS services on my phone quite a lot when I was commuting to an office. I used Termux - https://termux.dev/en/. It was brilliant, and worked far better than you'd think it would. The main problem was the keyboard because the stock Android one doesn't support a lot of symbols. I solved that with https://github.com/klausw/hackerskeyboard. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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Onboard on-screen keyboard mentions (4)

  • Korean (Hangul) on-screen virtual keyboard for Linux.
    With the archaic xvkbd, layout switcher didn't work for me. I also found some custom layouts for onboard, but was unable to download/use them. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Steam Deck - Steam Deck Client Update: Notifications and Input fixes - Steam News
    Https://launchpad.net/onboard is exclusively what I use in desktop mode. Pinned it to my favorites. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Onboard virtual keyboard switches layout while writing
    Report the bug here https://launchpad.net/onboard. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Challenge: Use KDE Plasma ONLY With Touchscreen
    Do you mean this one: https://launchpad.net/onboard? What do you like more about it in comparison to Maliit? Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Hacker's Keyboard and Onboard on-screen keyboard, you can also consider the following products

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

Free Virtual Keyboard - Free Virtual Keyboard is a free, lightweight, multilingual and finger friendly virtual keyboard.

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

Comfort Keys Pro - Virtual keyboard, automation, shortcuts, flexibility, advanced clipboard management.

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

Hot Virtual Keyboard - A replacement for Windows' built in virtual touch keyboard.