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Comet: Mobile Lua IDE for Numerical Computing on Android

Comet (formerly SigmaScript) is a compact, mobile-first Lua development environment focused on numerical computing, data analysis and visualization on Android. Developed by Prof. Sidi Hamady, the app combines a built-in Lua interpreter with scientific modules for linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, optimization, plotting and SQLite access, plus a syntax-highlighting editor and example scripts to speed prototyping on phones and tablets.

Core strengths

• Numerical toolset: native modules for linear algebra, ODE solvers and optimization let you run science/engineering code directly on Android.
• Integrated editor + engine: syntax highlighting, code templates and an output console enable easy edit-run-debug cycles without leaving the app.
• Visualization and data analysis: in-app plotting and simple data analysis tools make it practical to inspect results and iterate quickly.
• Lightweight and portable: designed for phones and tablets with modest resource use; also available as legacy Comet N desktop builds and superseded on desktop by Solis.
• Privacy-oriented: recent updates minimize runtime permissions and documentation notes removal of vibration permission; developer declares no data collection or sharing.

Notable features

• Built-in Lua interpreter with full language support and numerous scientific extensions.
• Plotting module for quick charts and visualization on small screens.
• SQLite integration for lightweight local storage and scripted data workflows.
• File I/O supporting internal and external storage, portable text files and example projects.
• Foreground service option to keep long-running scripts active under Android task management.
• Documentation and samples including a downloadable Comet PDF manual and example scripts provided by the author.

Platforms, licensing and ecosystem

Comet is distributed on Google Play (listed as Comet, previously SigmaScript) with a Play Store rating around 3.8 and over 50,000 installs. Desktop Comet for Windows/Linux has been largely replaced by Solis, which extends functionality for numerical computing and visualization. Comet N is a stripped, open-source MIT-licensed legacy editor available as portable Windows/Linux builds and source on GitHub. Related tools from the same author include SigmaCalculator and SigmaGraph for desktop plotting and expression-based calculations.

Performance, usability and limitations

Comet performs well for interactive prototyping and small-to-moderate datasets, but very large arrays, heavy numerical loops or obfuscated scripts can slow execution relative to a desktop. Users report occasional issues when exiting scripts (for example using os.exit()) that may require restarting the app. The editor is full-featured for mobile use, yet operations like clearing large scripts or processing huge print loops can feel sluggish on lower-end devices.

Who should use Comet

1. Students and educators seeking a portable Lua environment to learn scripting and numerical methods.
2. Researchers and engineers who want to prototype algorithms, test solvers and visualize small datasets on Android hardware.
3. Developers who need a compact, offline-capable Lua editor with scientific modules and simple database support.

Why choose Comet

• Mobile-first numerical IDE that brings Lua scripting and scientific modules to Android devices.
• Integrated stack—editor, interpreter, plotting and data storage—in one app for fast prototyping.
• Portable legacy options and open-source components for users who want desktop or offline portability via Comet N and Solis.
• Clear developer support with documentation, example PDFs and ongoing maintenance by the author.