10 Best Cloud IDEs for Android App Development

There are more apps than ever and more users than ever. This makes it critical for project teams to ensure they are working at their optimal productivity. Integrated Development Environments or IDEs can help app development teams achieve this goal.

What are Cloud IDEs?

Without an IDE, an app development team will end up assembling several tools to develop, test, and iterate an app collaboratively. A cloud-based IDE makes it easier for the entire team to collaborate by working in the same environment, run edits, review code, and revise the project as & when necessary without putting more time in locating files and seeking access. Hence, IDE becomes a framework for developers to collate their aggregate skills. 

Every professional team working on Android apps has shifted or is moving its workflow to a cloud IDE. As a result of this trend, several cloud IDEs have been launched in the last few years. 

This post will help you get a broad idea about the top cloud IDEs for your next Android app development project and give you a comprehensive framework to choose the most suitable one. 

Best Cloud App IDEs for Android App Development

Here are the top 10 cloud IDEs you must consider for your app development lifecycle:

Telerik Icenium Mist

Telerik Icenum Mist is considered to be one of the most preferred app development environments. It falls under the category of a hybrid platform because of its in-browser capabilities. Most web developers use it as a code editor within their browser, making it easy for the team to collaborate without subscribing to additional tools. The IDE has been carefully engineered for a seamless app development process that reflects that it has its own Everlive – its cloud back-end system. 

Application Craft

Application Craft is accessible to both enterprise users and individual app developers. The platform is preferred mainly because of its easy-to-use interface and intuitive navigation. This makes it easy for larger teams to coordinate without any hassles. The IDE is also great for new developers who want to start a project but do not want a complex development environment. All the users for Application Craft get to take advantage of its capabilities of developing the app at once and then deploying it across the web, IOS, and Android. 

Conduit Mobile

Conduit Mobile blends easy-to-use drag & drop functionalities with advanced features like an emulator preview. It supports web apps and custom code modules on one platform, making it a versatile platform for app developers. Apps developed on Conduit Mobile are often submitted for Google Play and Amazon Android App Store, and iTunes. Conduit's very own Revu app makes it easy for developers to test their applications without using a testing environment or third-party emulator.

Cloud 9 IDE

AWS Cloud9 is a popular IDE used by developers who want to write, test, and run their code within their browser. It eliminates the lead time generally required for an environment to get code ready. The platform has been founded to particularly conducive to DevOps, agile methodology, and collaboration. You can make real-time edits to your code and keep the team updated on all the date changes. Since AWS fully manages it, one automatically gets access to the AWS terminal for code execution. 

While the platform does not have auto-correct, it does provide IntelliSense as an alternative feature. The platform is great when all the development resources are aligned for one project. 

Codeanywhere

You can use Codeanywhere as a text editor on any Android device. One of the few text editors for an app that help you connect Dropbox and Google Drive for seamless cloud storage. As most developers will tell you, this is a massive advantage as it saves a ton of time that would otherwise go into locating files. You can virtually track every line of code with any device. While you can use Codeanywhere alongside the GIT repository as an add-on, debugging options will not be accessible if you use it on IOS, Windows, and other operating systems. 

Source Lair

If you plan to use Django, Node.js, or PHP for your web application, Source Lair might be an excellent option to consider. It seamlessly integrates with GitHub and Heroku and is famous for its frictionless interface. Developers who want a minimalistic interface that lets you focus only on coding tend to prefer Source Lair. 

The platform supports Git and Mercurial Source Control Manager (SCM). With Source Lair, you can push or undo changes without configuring the SCM every time. While there is a free plan for your projects, you might end up paying close to $100 annually for the professional subscription. 

Koding

Koding is for professional app developers planning to focus on several projects simultaneously. It allows you to configure environments for microservices, containers, as well as applications. Several users can collaborate at the same time with a visually accessible workflow. The Koding community is one of the strongest differentiators. The platform is an excellent choice if you want an accessible detection environment since it provides 256-color support and allows chatting within the terminal. Since it is open-source, you can virtually use it for free. Koding integrates well with Git and Dropbox, making it easy for you to clone your code. 

groomIDE

It is considered one of the most adaptive cloud development environments supporting everything between Python & Ruby to C & C++. You can also develop your code in JavaScript, Angular, and Node Express and use a collection of debugging tools to ensure accuracy for each line of code. The IDE is preferable for developers who might not have access to a high-end machine and want the capabilities accessible on the cloud. The UI is seamless and supports English, Korean, and Japanese alongside several standard functions you would like from your IDE.

Browxy

Browxy is probably one of the best free cloud IDEs available to developers. You can use it without any limitations imposed on your files, URL calling, etc., while still getting support for a large set of languages like Python, PHP, Java, C++, C#, etc. It also has features like syntax error highlights and auto-completion – which cumulatively reduce the debugging time exponentially. 

Browxy is also known as one of the lightest IDEs. The free version comes with about 2 MB of space and allows you to share your project with friends. The platform is supported by a very active forum of developers across the globe. 

Eclipse Che

If you are working with Kubernetes development, you will like Eclipse Che. You can use it without having to configure a local environment for every system manually. This makes it an ideal tool for coding, testing, and running iterations within the browser. It has features like defined workspace sharing, making it easy for project managers to supervise remote teams virtually. Since it is open-source, you can use this guide for app development cost structure understanding. The UI is worth mentioning as it is intuitively designed and works well, even as the platform supports a wide range of plugins. 

How to Choose the Best IDE

With so many noteworthy IDEs available, it might be challenging to choose the right one. Here are a few thumb rules you can use to filter the aptest IDE for your project:

Match the Project Budget with a Self-Hosted vs. Fully Managed Cloud IDE.

The best option is the open-source alternative with a wide range of plugins. The next best option is a fully loaded IDE. Based on your budget, choose the one that works for you. 

Ensure the IDE Works Well with Your Network Connection.

The IDE must be stable with your network connection. Most IDEs provide a free version. You can use it to see whether the IDE is optimal for your particular relationship or not. This is critical because all your codebase will be in the cloud, and hence network connectivity can make or break the project's continuity. 

Test the IDEs Security.

Make sure you read expert reviews focusing on the security of a particular IDE. Since they are on the cloud, your enterprise security measures might have limited applicability. You must understand the security features available with the IDE you choose. 

Make an Inventory of the Languages You Will Use and Ensure the IDE Supports Them.

Most IDEs have started supporting virtually all languages. However, instead of assuming you will get the support, make sure you build a checklist of wording you will use throughout the project lifecycle and then verify that the IDE supports each of these. 

Explore the Plugin Ecosystem and User Access Across OS.

Some features and functionalities will be accessible only with the plugins, and some IDEs will work great with a supported OS while lagging with others. Make sure your chosen IDE fits the project's needs and your existing technology infrastructure. 

In Conclusion

You cannot create a set of preferred app development tools without having an IDE in it. Integrated development environments can make it easy for project managers to streamline development operations. On the other side, developers can access a wide range of tools and collaborate more proactively. Hence, if you plan to develop an Android app in the near term, it would be a no-brainer to use an IDE in your project lifecycle. Make sure you use the framework mentioned here to explore the wide range of IDEs.