Is there a way to run Python on Android?

python

mobile-development

cross-platform

android-apps

byAnton Shumikhin·Dec 29, 2024

Yes, you can run Python on Android! Use Kivy for custom UI apps or BeeWare for native widgets' feel.

A simple Kivy app:

pip install kivy  # That's all you need to set Kivy up

from kivy.app import App
from kivy.uix.button import Button

class MyApp(App):
    def build(self):
        return Button(text='Hello StackOverflow!')  # A button that greets StackOverflow, cute right?

MyApp().run()

To deploy your Kivy app on Android, use buildozer.

To use native widgets with BeeWare:

pip install briefcase  # BeeWare boxes your Python code beautifully!
# Then follow the official BeeWare tutorial to build your mobile app

Kivy for UI control, BeeWare for native elements. Your choice!

Going beyond the basics with Kivy and SL4A

Kivy is an open-source Python library for rapid development of applications that make use of innovative user interfaces, such as multi-touch apps. One key advantage of using Kivy is that it allows for the development of a single app that runs on all platforms, meaning your Python code can be written once and run on Android, iOS, Windows, OS X and Linux.

Formerly known as Android Scripting Environment (ASE), SL4A provides a layer of abstraction over Android's native APIs and makes them accessible to your Python scripts. Notably, it enabled the integration of Python for developing Android barcode scanners, showcasing Python's integration capabilities. Although the SL4A project is no longer actively developed, existing forks offer active support and updates.

Python's other pit stops on Android

Apart from Kivy and SL4A, there are other ways to run Python on Android:

Chaquopy: An SDK that blends Python and native Android development. It's googling "Android Studio" and "Python" and getting a response that's not a middle finger.

Pydroid 3 and QPython: Think of these as on-the-go Python interpreters on steroids, capable of running scripts and even doing light data analysis with libraries like Numpy and Pandas. They're like having a Python playground right in your pocket.

For fans of Jupyter Notebooks, try Carnets for iOS and Junopy for Android. With these apps, you can run your Jupyter notebooks right on your phone, anytime, anywhere.

Practical tips for Python on Android

When developing Android apps with Python, keep these tips in your toolbox:

Optimize your UI/UX: Ensure your design is responsive, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
Test on multiple devices: Device fragmentation is a real concern on Android. The more devices you test on, the fewer surprises you'll have.
Monitor performance: Python isn't the native language on Android. Expect some hiccups and optimize accordingly.
Consider battery life: Efficient code uses less CPU, and therefore less battery. No one likes an app that's a battery hog.