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Please add: Gesture / swipe typing #94
Description
Checklist
- I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
- I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
- I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
- I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
- This issue contains only one feature request.
- I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
- I optionally donated to support the Fossify mission.
Feature description
Gesture typing by swiping is what some other keyboards do. Not calling names in order NOT to advertise, but I'm pretty sure, that you know what I mean.
I miss that feature in Fossify Keyboard.
Please, add the feature.
Why do you want this feature?
Makes typing lot faster.
Additional information
No response
Activity
luciph0r commentedon Oct 30, 2024
It's the one reason I'm sticking with the original Swype. Was disappointed to see this doesn't have it yet.
rafnov commentedon Nov 5, 2024
@luciph0r which one is the original Swype?
luciph0r commentedon Nov 5, 2024
It was made by Nuance Communications, Microsoft bought them out. I saved the apk since it's long gone from the play store. I've not seen any other keyboard offer as flawless gesture typing as this.
rafnov commentedon Nov 5, 2024
Oh, now is clear what happened to Swype...
I didn't want to advertise here, but if we are speaking names ...
You can say anything about Google spying us, but some of their apps work flawlessly, like GBoard.
HeliBoard is worthy trying, but for swiping requires installing non-foss library, as there is no foss alternative. I think this is the reason of implementing swiping being difficult.
user4andre commentedon Nov 25, 2024
Please don't make the app unnecessarily bloated (more powerful than needed). In my opinion, simplicity is the strongest argument in favor of this keyboard.
I don't need gestures.
They wouldn't bother me if they could be switched off.
Gestures that cannot be switched off would be a reason for me not to use the app.
luciph0r commentedon Nov 25, 2024
@user4andre why would you assume that it wouldn't be configurable? Have you ever seen any keyboard that doesn't let you disable it? This obsession with simplicity at the expense of features and customizability across the software world has led to dumbing down everything to the lowest common denominator.
user4andre commentedon Nov 25, 2024
I have a strange attitude: I like it simple.
I classify everything that I don't need and is implemented as a potential source of error.
Sometimes I am the source of the error. I sometimes accidentally change the settings.
luciph0r commentedon Nov 25, 2024
Then you need to pay more attention to what you're doing. Bottom line is configurable features cater to more users, not less. There are tons of open source keyboards but none with swiping gestures.
user4andre commentedon Nov 25, 2024
May I refer you to my previous comment:
They wouldn't bother me if they could be switched off.
luciph0r commentedon Nov 25, 2024
And like I asked, why on earth would you assume that they couldn't be switched off?
rafnov commentedon Nov 25, 2024
Of course there are.
Heliboard can use swiping if you install additional library.
AOSP keyboard can swipe too.
luciph0r commentedon Nov 25, 2024
I should clarify, there's nothing that comes close to Swype, open source or otherwise.
rafnov commentedon Nov 25, 2024
Of course there is. Google keyboard for example is mostly flawless for me.
And Swype doesn't exist anymore like it was before. At least in Google store. So you can clarify just your humble opinion.
You said before that M$ bought Swype. Now when you search Swype in GS the Microsoft Swiftkey appears. What's that? I remember using Swiftkey years ago, when it wasn't Microsofts. What they did? Bought both Swype and Swiftkey and made them combination of their own?
luciph0r commentedon Nov 25, 2024
They bought Swiftkey, not Swype; my mistake. At any rate Swype was removed from play store long ago.
tensor5g commentedon Nov 25, 2024
Heliboard is open source, but the swipe library is not
luciph0r commentedon Nov 26, 2024
That's what I meant, there needs to be a native foss swiping ability without such external dependencies.
rafnov commentedon Nov 26, 2024
AFAIK there is no such thing like FOSS swipe library, CMIIW, but on Heliboard their advise was to install that non-FOSS library to get swipe working.
I got 2 devices with custom ROM (trebledroid/lineageos) with AOSP keyboard where swiping works. I don't know how to check how swiping is done there.
AEleven-GitHub commentedon Jan 28, 2025
I would love it if you could supply swipe typing support to this app. I have no clue how you would do it though. Certainly not by yourself I don't think.
I've tried Heliboard's swipe typing and even though presumably it is the same as GBoard's swipe typing, I really don't think it is. They're definitely not the same and I do 100% mess up what I am swipe typing much more using that keyboard's swipe typing feature. Maybe because it's meant for such a small keyboard and I customized it.
Spell check and typing suggestions would be neat too since there seems to be none of it, especially the former because there seems to be none of it. I bring that up because maybe the best course of action would be to implement FOSS "libraries" for these features rather than building them from scratch. What do I know though I'm not programmer.
👍 If you agree.
foolishgrunt commentedon Apr 26, 2025
There is no FOSS, independently maintained swipe library that I'm aware of - at least none that are worth using. As mentioned, the Heliboard devs recommend installing the proprietary Google library.
Anysoftkeyboard supports "gesture typing," but IMO it's not very good (yet) - the developer acknowledges this. Florisboard is working on glide typing, but it's not yet released. FUTO keyboard is probably the most polished option currently, and it's what I currently use, but it's... not really FOSS?
Most relevant to my point, of the three options I listed above, all are developed as part of a larger project - none are designed to be portable libraries. So I rather doubt they hold much utility for a project like Fossify keyboard.
AEleven-GitHub commentedon Apr 28, 2025
I've also tried FUTO keyboard's and it also has me messing up every couple of words.
rafnov commentedon Sep 24, 2025
FUTO is the very young bird it there... Configuration of keyboard and voice typing is a complete mess, mix of languages making it even worse... ALPHA stage, they say...
Anyway - to all who wrote here:
I don't get why not give people the choice? "OK, we make very simple, basic and purist in FOSS app - like we speak keyboard here - but if you like, you can extend it by means whatever you need. After all Heliboard devs just did it! They've said: you want glide typing - you can install proprietary lib. And Heliboard is in F-droid. I can't imagine writing this comment without swiping. You can even voice type with Heliboard, thanks to Whisper (+). Not that effective not efficient as Google's voice recognition but it works.
I don't think we should ever lock up in rules jail instead of going towards functionality...
Oettinger77 commentedon Mar 6, 2026
I would also love so see this feature. I'm a swipe guy since it first came out :)
Regards
jasper-scelsi commentedon Oct 16, 2026
I would also like this feature.