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TouchDevelop VS Textastic

Compare TouchDevelop VS Textastic and see what are their differences

TouchDevelop

Program your devices directly from your devices with TouchDevelop! You do not need a separate PC.

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0 reviews
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Textastic

Textastic is a text, code, and markup editor for iPad and iPhone with support for syntax highlighting, FTP, SFTP, and Dropbox.

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0 reviews
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ReleasePad
Changelog software that turns GitHub commits into release notes your users actually see — inside your app. Built for founders and teams who ship fast. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Textastic seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1 time since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 1
Software Development popularity
29% vs 71%
alternatives listed
11 vs 118

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

TouchDevelop
Textastic
Website touchdevelop.com textasticapp.com
Listed in
Text Editors IDE Software Development Developer Tools +1
Text Editors IDE Software Development IDEs And Text Editors +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

TouchDevelop 5 features
Textastic 5 features
  • Beginner-Friendly
    TouchDevelop provides a simplified programming environment that is accessible to beginners, making it easier for those with little to no coding experience to start developing applications.
  • Cross-Platform Development
    The platform allows users to create applications that can run on multiple operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android, thus broadening the reach of the applications developed.
  • Cloud Integration
    TouchDevelop seamlessly integrates with cloud services, enabling users to store data and access various web services easily within their applications.
  • Mobile Friendly
    TouchDevelop can be used on mobile devices, allowing users to develop apps directly on their smartphones or tablets, which enhances portability and convenience.
  • Interactive Learning
    The interactive tutorial and help system guide users through the learning process, enhancing their understanding and making it easier to pick up programming concepts.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    For more experienced developers, TouchDevelop lacks some advanced features and flexibility offered by more powerful development environments, limiting its usefulness for complex applications.
  • Discontinued Support
    TouchDevelop is no longer actively maintained by Microsoft, which means users might encounter issues or lack updates and support in the future.
  • Dependence on Internet Connection
    While it offers cloud integration, reliance on internet connectivity for some features can be a drawback in situations where access to the internet is limited or unavailable.
  • Platform-Specific Limitations
    Although it is designed for cross-platform compatibility, TouchDevelop may have some limitations or inconsistencies across different operating systems.
  • Limited Community and Resources
    As a niche tool with a smaller user base, finding community support, third-party tutorials, or comprehensive resources can be more challenging compared to popular platforms.
  • Wide Language Support
    Textastic supports syntax highlighting for more than 80 programming languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and PHP, making it versatile for diverse coding needs.
  • iOS Compatibility
    Designed specifically for Apple's ecosystem, Textastic offers a seamless coding experience on iPad and iPhone, providing portability and ease of use on mobile devices.
  • FTP and SFTP Integration
    Textastic allows users to connect to FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV servers, facilitating easy file uploads and downloads directly from within the app.
  • Code Auto-completion
    The app provides auto-completion features for various languages, enhancing productivity by reducing typing time for developers.
  • Customizable Themes
    Textastic allows customization of the editor’s appearance with themes, giving users the ability to create a comfortable visual environment for coding.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to more robust IDEs, Textastic lacks some advanced features such as integrated debugging tools and built-in support for version control systems like Git.
  • No Cross-Platform Availability
    Textastic is only available for iOS and macOS, limiting its use to Apple's platforms and restricting cross-platform workflows.
  • Paid Application
    Unlike some other text editors and IDEs that are free, Textastic requires a purchase, which might not be ideal for users looking for free coding solutions.
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
    While not overly complex, new users or beginner programmers might find it challenging to fully utilize all features due to a lack of in-depth tutorials.
  • Dependency on Apple Ecosystem
    Being a product tailored for Apple's ecosystem, it doesn’t cater to users on other platforms, limiting collaborative and cross-device coding experiences outside Apple devices.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

TouchDevelop
Textastic

Overall verdict

  • TouchDevelop was a well-designed educational programming tool created by Microsoft Research, but it has been discontinued and is no longer actively maintained or accessible as of 2019, making it not a viable choice for current use despite its historically innovative design.

Why this product is good

  • Pioneered touch-based coding for tablets and phones, letting users write scripts by tapping rather than typing
  • Cloud-based platform allowed scripts to run and sync across web, Windows, and mobile devices
  • Strong educational focus with a simple, structured language ideal for teaching programming fundamentals
  • Included a built-in library for accessing device sensors, media, and social APIs, enabling fun and interactive app creation
  • Backed by Microsoft Research, ensuring quality design and pedagogical thoughtfulness during its active years

Recommended for

  • Historical or academic interest in early mobile/touch-based coding environments
  • Researchers studying the evolution of educational programming tools
  • Not recommended for current coding education or app development due to discontinuation

No analysis of Textastic yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

TouchDevelop 1 video + Add
Textastic 3 videos + Add

TouchDevelop - Create apps ON your phone!

Textastic Mac & iOS Review

More videos

  • - Textastic Review 2
  • - Textastic Code Editor - iPad App Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
TouchDevelop
Textastic
29% 29%
Software Development
71% 71%
17% 17%
Text Editors
83% 83%
20% 20%
IDE
80% 80%
100% 100%
Developer Tools
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using TouchDevelop and Textastic. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

TouchDevelop 0 mentions
Textastic 1 mention

Tracking TouchDevelop since Mar 2021.

  • Top 5 text editors for mobile in India 2021
    Textastic is a very popular text editor on IOS devices and it is from Alexander Blach. This text editor is has a lot of features and it supports more than 80 programming and markup languages including C++, C#, JavaScript, PHP, PERL,... - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago

Alternatives to TouchDevelop and Textastic

When comparing TouchDevelop and Textastic, you can also consider the following products.

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