Editor Basics
The Deskless editor is built on Runestone, a high-performance framework with Tree-sitter parsing—giving you accurate syntax highlighting and smooth performance even on large files.
Opening Files
There are several ways to start editing:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| File Browser | Tap any file in the sidebar to open it |
| Open Folder | Select a folder from the Files app to create a project |
| Recent Files | Quick access to files you’ve recently edited |
| Clone Repository | Pull down a Git repo directly (Pro) |
File Management
Manage your files directly in the file browser:
| Action | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Open file | Tap the filename |
| Create file | Tap the + button in the toolbar |
| Rename | Long-press → Rename |
| Delete | Long-press → Delete, or swipe left |
| Duplicate | Long-press → Duplicate |
| Move | Drag and drop to a new location |
Tip: Swipe left on any file for quick delete access without opening the context menu.
Interface Layout
Deskless adapts to your device:
- On iPhone — A focused single-pane editor with NavigationStack
- On iPad — Split view with file browser sidebar using NavigationSplitView
Touch Gestures
The editor is designed for touch-first interaction:
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe up/down | Scroll through code |
| Pinch | Adjust font size on the fly |
| Long press | Place cursor precisely, or open context menu on files |
| Drag | Select text, or move files in the browser |
| Swipe left | Quick actions (delete file, close tab, delete branch) |
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
With an external keyboard, Deskless feels like a desktop editor:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌘ + S | Save file |
⌘ + Z | Undo |
⌘ + ⇧ + Z | Redo |
⌘ + L | Go to line |
⌘ + F | Find in file (Pro) |
⌘ + G | Find next (Pro) |
See the full list in Keyboard Shortcuts →
Syntax Highlighting
Deskless recognizes 40+ languages automatically based on file extension:
Popular languages: Swift, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Rust, Go, Ruby, PHP, Java, Kotlin, C#
Config & data: YAML, TOML, JSON, XML, Markdown
And more: HTML, CSS, Shell, SQL, Lua, Elixir, Haskell, Zig…
Files with unrecognized extensions open as plain text.
Multi-Tab Editing (Pro)
Work on multiple files simultaneously:
| Action | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Switch files | Tap a tab |
| Close file | Swipe the tab left |
| See all tabs | Scroll horizontally through the tab bar |
| Spot unsaved changes | Look for the dot indicator on the tab |
Free tier: Edit one file at a time, plus the Scratchpad for notes.
Customize Your Editor
Fine-tune your experience in Settings → General:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Font Size | Adjust text size for readability |
| Line Spacing | Control space between lines |
| Line Numbers | Show or hide line numbers |
| Auto-Save | Never lose work (Pro) |
Themes (Pro)
Switch between color schemes optimized for mobile screens:
- Go to Settings → Appearance → Theme
- Choose a light or dark theme
- Changes apply immediately