Device as external keyboard

Basically, simulate a keyboard when plugged into a computer.

This is really useful if you're using a computer at say, work or school and therefore can't install Keepass XC.

[J-Jamet]

By computer, you mean a Chromebook with Chrome OS ? I have not tested on this platform yet. I will look at how it works to improve the application.

No. Any computer.

Just like https://github.com/whs/K2AUSBKeyboard

[justintime4tea]

Oh I see, use the phone as a virtual keyboard for the computer. So you can hit "type/go" on the app and it types on the computer over the USB. Nifty.

[J-Jamet]

Ha ok, it is a feature that can interest me too, why not in the future. I have to look at the compatibility of the drivers, it must depend on the phones.

[justintime4tea]

From what I'm reading it looks like this K2AUSBKeyboard app (and others like it: https://github.com/pelya/android-keyboard-gadget) require a custom driver (and root on phone) which implements/adds /dev/hid device to work as keyboard.

Another option would be to have a desktop "companion" app that would work with KeePassDX but that wouldn't satisfy the requirements of not installing software on the Desktop.

You could also use an Arduino (or similar tiny maker board) powered by and connected to the phone as a keyboard device and connect phone -> arduino -> pc and VIOLA! :) This sounds like an awesome project and if I ever find the time I'd love to work on something like this.

[PacoBell]

You shouldn't need custom drivers or root to accomplish this on Android. You just need to implement the Android Open Accessory Protocol 2.0.

Normally, the HID device is a peripheral connected to a USB host (i.e. a personal computer), but in AOA the USB host can act as one or more input devices to a USB peripheral.

[justintime4tea]

@PacoBell, what you linked to is for controlling an Android device via a device connected to the Android (such as Bluetooth speakers, gamepad, etc...) It allows a device connected to the Android to act as a mouse, keyboard,is or other HID device. What poster was suggesting was to turn Android into a keyboard for use with a computer (the reverse of what you linked).

[zeekoe]

Did you start work on it yet? I just started using keepass and figured it might be relatively easy to hook up DotDash keyboard source code to KeepassDX. DotDash already has about the right number of keys ;)

[J-Jamet]

Not started yet, nice if you have an easy way to implement the code. I don't know dotdash, do you have a link for the code and to contact the owner of the code?

[konkav-js]

This sounds interesting. Is there a possibility, to emulate bluetooth HID with android phone? If the USB HID is impossible without root and custom driver, the BT may be an option.
As for the hardware route: raspberry pi zero w could be used. I think it is relatively easy to have the rpi USB to emulate a HID device, and a phone then could connect to the rpi over BT or WIFI. Or, a maple mini clone paired with HM-10 BLE (clone). Maple has an STM32F103, its USB could simulate the keyboard, and the HM-10 BLE, connected over serial port, could be used to connect to phone.

[konkav-js]

I found an Arduino library for STM32 for USB HID here . And it could be even connected with NFC reader too :)

[zeekoe]

DotDash Keyboard (Morse code keyboard) is on FDroid - https://f-droid.org/app/net.iowaline.dotdash

Source is here: https://github.com/agwells/dotdash-keyboard-android/blob/master/README.md