Android Development in Python with QPython

QPython is a script engine that lets you run Python scripts on Android. If you want to make Android apps, use Kivy instead.

Related courses:
If you want to make Android apps, I recommend one of these courses:

• Develop Android Apps using Python: Kivy
• Kivy with Python: Learn Kivy From Scratch (2016)

QPython
The QPython app contains:

• Python programming on Android


• Run scripts / projects


• IDE on Android


• Pip (package manager)


• SL4A for Android access (GPS, network, bluetooth and many more)

Please do note QPython is a scripting engine, similar to SL4A, and not an app development platform.

Installation

On the Google Playstore you can find both QPython (Python 2.7.2) and QPython3 (Python 3.2.2). We recommend going with Python 3.2.2 but you may want to use Python 2.7.2 for legacy reasons.

Python on Android

Usage

Once installed you will find yourself in an iconic menu. The first icon will open the Python interpreter.

qpython-menu

IDE

The second icon (Editor) will start the Python IDE. It has syntax highlighting and some other features. While its useful to have an IDE on the Android device, typing on a mobile or tablet may not be your preference. All scripts are stored in /storage/emulated/0/com.hipipal.qpyplus/scripts. You can upload directly to this directory from your favorite editor on the desktop. (The run button is at the bottom.)

QPython IDE

Interpreter

You can use the Python interpreter directly on your Android device. This is similar to starting the Python interpreter on Windows or Linux. While useful at times, you probably prefer using the IDE.

Python Interpreter on Android