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Development Environment

ADL gives you a full Ubuntu Linux system running on ARM64 hardware. That means you can run the same development tools that professionals use on desktop Linux workstations. This guide walks you through setting up a complete coding environment from scratch.

ℹ️ARM64 Architecture

Your Android device uses an ARM (aarch64) processor. Most development tools work without issues, but some software only ships x86 binaries. This guide focuses on tools with native ARM64 support.

VS Code / Code OSS​

Visual Studio Code is the most popular code editor for nearly every language. On ARM64 Ubuntu, you have two options for getting it.

Option A: Code OSS from Ubuntu Repositories​

Code OSS is the open-source build of VS Code available directly from apt. It lacks some Microsoft-proprietary features (such as the built-in marketplace and certain extensions), but it is the simplest path to a working editor.

$apt update && apt install -y code-oss

Launch it from the terminal or your application menu:

$code-oss

Option B: Official VS Code .deb for ARM64​

Microsoft provides an official ARM64 .deb package at code.visualstudio.com. This build includes the full extension marketplace and all proprietary features.

curl -L -o /tmp/vscode.deb 'https://code.visualstudio.com/sha/download?build=stable&os=linux-deb-arm64'
$apt install -y /tmp/vscode.deb
$rm /tmp/vscode.deb

Launch with:

$code
⚠️x86 Binaries Will Not Work

Do not download the standard x86-64 .deb from the VS Code site. It will not run on your ARM64 device. Always select the ARM64 or aarch64 variant.

⭐Best Practice

If you need extensions from the Microsoft marketplace (such as the official Python or C++ extensions), use the official ARM64 .deb. If you want a lighter install with no proprietary components, Code OSS is a solid choice.

After installing VS Code, add these extensions to improve your workflow:

  • Python (ms-python.python) -- language support, linting, debugging
  • GitLens -- visualize Git blame, history, and branches inline
  • Prettier -- automatic code formatting for JavaScript, HTML, CSS, JSON
  • Remote - SSH -- edit files on remote servers directly from VS Code

Install extensions from the terminal:

$code --install-extension ms-python.python

Git​

Git is the standard version control system. Every developer needs it, regardless of language or project type.

Install and Configure​

$apt install -y git

Set your identity. These values appear in every commit you create.

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"

Set a default branch name and a helpful pull strategy:

$git config --global init.defaultBranch main
$git config --global pull.rebase false

Verify your configuration:

$git config --list

Basic Git Workflow​

Clone a repository, make changes, and push:

$git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git
$cd repo && git checkout -b my-feature
$git add .
git commit -m "Describe what you changed"
$git push origin my-feature
⭐Best Practice

Create a new branch for every feature or bug fix. Work on the branch, then open a pull request to merge it. This keeps your main branch stable.

For a deeper look at Git commands and workflows, see the development tools reference.

Python Environment​

Python is one of the most beginner-friendly languages and is widely used for scripting, automation, data science, and web development. Ubuntu includes Python by default, but you should install the full toolkit.

Install Python, pip, and venv​

$apt install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv

Verify:

$python3 --version
$pip3 --version

Virtual Environments​

Virtual environments isolate each project's dependencies so they do not conflict with each other or with system packages.

Create and activate a virtual environment:

$python3 -m venv ~/myproject-env
$source ~/myproject-env/bin/activate

Your shell prompt changes to show the active environment. Install packages inside it:

$pip install requests flask

When you are finished, deactivate:

$deactivate
⭐Best Practice

Never install Python packages globally with pip install outside a virtual environment. Global installs can break system tools that depend on specific package versions. Always create a venv first.

Node.js via nvm​

Node.js lets you run JavaScript outside the browser. The recommended way to install it is through nvm (Node Version Manager), which lets you switch between Node versions per project.

Install nvm​

$curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

Reload your shell so the nvm command becomes available:

$source ~/.bashrc

Verify nvm is installed:

$nvm --version

Install Node.js​

Install the current LTS (Long Term Support) release:

$nvm install --lts

Verify:

$node --version
$npm --version
✅💡 Tip

If you work on multiple projects that require different Node versions, use nvm install <version> and nvm use <version> to switch between them. Each version is isolated.

Quick Test​

node -e "console.log('Node.js ' + process.version + ' running on ' + process.arch)"

This should print your Node version and arm64 as the architecture.

SSH Client and Server​

SSH lets you connect securely to remote machines and lets other machines connect to yours.

SSH Client​

The client is what you use to connect to other servers. Install it:

$apt install -y openssh-client

Generate an SSH Key​

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "you@example.com"

Press Enter to accept the default file location (~/.ssh/id_ed25519). Set a passphrase for extra security, or press Enter for none.

Display your public key:

$cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Copy this key and add it to services like GitHub (Settings > SSH and GPG keys) or to a remote server's ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file.

Test your GitHub connection:

$ssh -T git@github.com

SSH Config File​

Create shortcuts for servers you connect to frequently. Edit ~/.ssh/config:

Host myserver
    HostName 192.168.1.50
    User ubuntu
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Then connect with:

$ssh myserver

SSH Server​

The server component lets other machines connect to your ADL environment. This is useful for editing files remotely with VS Code's Remote SSH extension, or for accessing your device from a laptop on the same network.

$apt install -y openssh-server
ℹ️No systemctl in proot

ADL runs inside a proot environment, which does not support systemctl. You cannot enable the SSH server to start automatically at boot. Instead, start it manually each session.

Start the SSH server:

$/usr/sbin/sshd

Check that it is running:

$ps aux | grep sshd

Find your IP address so other devices can connect:

$hostname -I
⭐Best Practice

If you use the SSH server regularly, add /usr/sbin/sshd to a startup script or your .bashrc file so it launches when you open your terminal.

Additional Tools​

Round out your environment with these utilities that many development workflows depend on.

Build Essentials​

Compilers and build tools required by many Python and Node.js packages that include native extensions:

$apt install -y build-essential cmake

curl and wget​

HTTP clients for downloading files and interacting with APIs from the command line:

$apt install -y curl wget

Text Editors​

If you prefer working entirely in the terminal, install a terminal-based editor:

$apt install -y nano

Or for a more powerful (but steeper learning curve) option:

$apt install -y vim
✅💡 Tip

New to terminal editors? Start with nano. It shows keyboard shortcuts at the bottom of the screen. Press Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X to exit.

Install Everything at Once​

If you want the full toolkit in one command:

$apt install -y git python3 python3-pip python3-venv build-essential cmake curl wget nano openssh-client openssh-server

Verify Your Setup​

Run these commands to confirm all tools are installed and working:

$git --version && python3 --version && node --version && npm --version && gcc --version && ssh -V

For more development tool details and workflows, see the development tools reference and the VS Code guide.