this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2023
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I'm looking for a privacy-respecting open-source android keyboard, and so far I've found:

Does anyone have any experience with these (or other alternative keyboards)? Which one would you recommend?

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[–] EyesEyesBaby 29 points 1 year ago

Imagine asking this question 15 years ago

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I use openboard but it gets me mad sometimes when I start deleting characters and it removes the space between the last word..sometimes it's really annoying!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

That weirdly only happens on jerboa for me

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Is it while using Jeroba for Lemmy? I had that problem with that app so I switched to Sync for that reason.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

No way I didn't see that! I thought it was while using the English keyboard since it doesn't happen in message apps and the only place I use English keyboard is in Lemmy (jerboa) .. I'll switch to other app

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's a Jerboa bug with any keyboard AFAICT. Insane how this hasn't been fixed yet.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Here's my lazy and unpopular solution

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I use FlorisBoard. It's not perfect, but it has a fully featured clipboard and undo-redo functionality. Missing the swipe tho.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (8 children)
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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I use Gboard but with internet access disabled for it. I haven't found a comparable open source keyboard yet.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Same. Tried openboard again two weeks ago, but had to switch back. The predictions were just too bad

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I use thumb-key, made by dessalines. I downloaded it from fdroid

If you check out screenshots, you'll see that its a very non traditional type of keyboard that requires time and effort to get the hang of.

Once you do, you will be able to type roughly as fast as you would with predictive swipe

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That is really out there!

Probably not going to use it (since I'm already too used to normal keyboards), but props to the devs for developing something different.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Understandable. I had to take some time to learn it, and I sometimes do stop for a bit when I dont exactly know how to spell something lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I just noticed, that keyboard was created by one of the Lemmy Devs.

Quite fitting to see it posted here

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Any keyboard with no internet permission should be "privacy-respecting", as it can't (as I understand it) send any data back to the developers. I'm personally a big fan of Unexpected Keyboard, though it's definitely something to get used to.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Just adding Simple Keyboard here as well. It has no features besides typing. It's literally just a keyboard. Been using it for a bit and like it, but it won't be for everyone.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

+1. Took some time for me to adapt, but since then it's been a good experience. Been using since 2022.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

my dumbass thought you were referring to a physical keyboard

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Open source physical keyboards do exist though

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use open board since forever and always hoped they get gesture... Why would I need to find it this way haha.. Thanks

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[–] jzefbeio54 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

I just tried Unexpected keyboard, it's easy to use and open source : https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard you can find it on F droid

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Does it support ota updates by any chance?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Might want to look into Obtainium, automatic updates from any git repo.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

This was a one off that hasn't been updated in almost a year. I doubt it's getting any more updates.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

All good but Florisboard has an internal clipboard with past entries. If you use its buttons (change in the settings, top row) and not the android ones, the system never gets your clipboard

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

@ashtrix shared a link for open board with gestures, this is what I use now

[–] LucasWaffyWaf 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Right now I'm using SwiftKey, but if I can find an open source keyboard alternative with good customization and keyboard resizing (vertical and horizontal) I'd happily swap away.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Florisboard is my daily driver and I have unexpected keyboard so I can do proper VNC sessions from my phone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Privacy respecting, but not open source:

Typewise

(Also a lot less typos and faster writing once you get used to it.)

[–] twelvefloatinghands 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Problem is, without seeing the code, how do you really know?

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[–] WhoRoger 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Any keyboard that doesn't have an internet connection.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

my favorite is unexpected keyboard. it takes a while to get used to but once you do it's way faster than any othet keyboard.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Related: how good privacy wise is the default AOSP keyboard found in no-Google-services ROMs like Lineage and /e/? Does it still phone home?

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