OpenBoard
TAS Score: S3/3 — D4/5 — A3 / T2 D4 not D5: development has stalled — HeliBoard is the actively maintained successor (Q8).
Brief Description
Open-source Android keyboard based on AOSP keyboard. No internet permission, no data collection. Simple and lightweight. Largely superseded by HeliBoard, which continues active development.
Architectural Role
Client-side input layer — keyboard. No network access.
Technical Autonomy
- Works without internet (no network permission)
- Stores data locally
- Does not require external accounts
- Allows data export (settings)
- Provides offline updates (F-Droid)
Philosophical Assessment (whose.world criteria)
| Criterion | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | ✅ | Switch anytime. |
| Exit | ✅ | Standard Android keyboard. |
| Recoverability | ✅ | Reinstall from F-Droid. |
| Visibility | ✅ | Fully open-source. |
| External Dependencies | ✅ | Zero. |
Rating key: ✅ fully meets · ⚠️ partially meets or requires configuration · ❌ does not meet
Configuration (Minimal)
Install from F-Droid. Select as default keyboard. Consider migrating to HeliBoard for active development.
Related Recipes
Alternatives
| Alternative | Autonomy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HeliBoard | A3 / T2 | Actively maintained fork. More features. Recommended. |
Trajectory
Direction: closing Development has largely stopped. HeliBoard has taken over as the maintained fork. Use HeliBoard for new installations. Signal assessment: | Signal | Status | Evidence | |——–|——–|———-| | License | ✅ | GPL-3.0. | | Feature gating | ✅ | All features free. | | Self-hosting | ✅ | Client app. | | Governance | ⚠️ | Unmaintained. HeliBoard is the successor. | Signal key: ✅ opening · ➖ neutral · ⚠️ closing —
Sources
- Website: https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard
- Repository: https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard
- Docker image: —