B-Hackers Store suggestion

[ProgrammAbel]

Look at the stores we currently have on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and the plethora of Linux stores too. They all have one thing in common - they can install, uninstall and update apps. Currently, the B-Hackers store can't do any of them, all it does is host and categorize the apps. The KaiUS store on the other hand can install apps, but are you even still working on that Sylvain? (If you are, sorry for not noticing - I just don't see any changes.)

So, what I'm thinking is that we could change the B-Hackers store into an offline app that is navigated via the softkeys and D-Pad. The categories and links to the apps could be stored in a categories.xml file or something, and we could implement the mgmt.import() for installing apps. For uninstalling, we can find out the function for that, and for updating we can easily add that into the xml file. We could totally do it!

Obviously if we are going to do this we need to work together. Maybe host it on Github or something. I dunno, this is just an idea in my head, could be a stupid idea. What do you think?

[speeduploop]

Yes... but the big problem here is that for you would need a webspace / server for it to work as it should...

--> the store now is based on 'free' google-pages.

So yeah, to do it 'right' we wouldn't only need a nice app (which is quite doable) -- but also a way to handle those monthly payments.

[ProgrammAbel]

The app is offline, though. The only thing that needs to be retrieved from a web server is the actual packages, and these can be easily hosted on a public Google Drive.

[speeduploop]

That might be - but to do it right you need 'real' webspace...

--> the way the app works now - even if offline - means you have to reinstall the store-app whenever an app is added to the store...

(that's the worst possible case...)

-- you need a webspace for the app-packages

-- a mostly auto-generated website which updates whenever you add an app-package
-- an app which only loads the auto-generated app-list from the store so you can install it easily

--> app stays the same - only the loaded app-list is updated from the server

[ProgrammAbel]

Yeah, I know that, which is why I talked about an XML file for it, something like:

<categories>
  <category name="Social">
    <app name="App1" link="drive.google.com/programmabel/app1.zip" />
    <app name="App2" link="drive.google.com/programmabel/app2.zip"/>
  </category>
  <category name="Internet">
    <app name="App1" link="drive.google.com/programmabel/app1.zip" />
    <app name="App2" link="drive.google.com/programmabel/app2.zip"/>

as an example. Then we make the code interpret this XML file and spit out that data in a nice formatted way.

[ProgrammAbel]

This categories.xml is updated from the webserver whenever you click the Update button.

[speeduploop]

The problem stays the same: you need a real webspace for at least part of it...

-- and you don't want to maintain this list and the 'normal' store-website manually - they need to be created dynamically from the same data or they will get out of sync quite soon...

So yes: possible and not even hard to do - but not easily to do for free.

--> that's the whole point. If someone has webspace with cgi/node/whatever laying around he can easily do that.

(I could even do it in Ada - but that would need at least a vserver...)

Another approach: use a different extension than '.zip' for app-packages - than you could probably install an app with a filter for this extension...

--> clicking link on store-website would install the app ;)

--> this way the store-website only need to be adjusted for phone's browser.

Another approach: create a 'specialized browser app' which loads the website and intercepts the clicks on links for an app - so it can install it...

There are many ways to do it - not all of them are as good as others... :D

[ProgrammAbel]

This "real webspace" problem is fixed by hosting the apps in free cloud hosting services like Google Drive, Onedrive or Dropbox. Alternatively I could create my own homeserver, but that would be less practical as downloads would take forever to reach, for example, India from here in the UK.

[ProgrammAbel]

Plus, if you hadn't realised, I meant for this to be a replacement for the online store, not a supplement. So the whole maintenance of both stores problem doesn't matter. Sorry for not making that clearer earlier :D

[speeduploop]

NO.

Part of this would need to be 'dynamic' -- at least to be really usefull...

And that you can't do with cloud drives.

(yes you could create new static files everytime you add something to the store - but that's not how it should be)

And additional NO: a replacement of the 'web-version' would be a really bad idea... this would prevent people from just sideloading with WebIDE.

Selfhosting from home depends on region: I myself have 40+40Mbit/s dual-channel uptream... which would be enough to do this (at least for quite a while until the community growth to much...)

[ProgrammAbel]

NO.

Part of this would need to be 'dynamic' -- at least to be really usefull...

And that you can't do with cloud drives.

OneDrive does this already - if you replace the file with the new version it keeps the same link while updating the contents.

And additional NO: a replacement of the 'web-version' would be a really bad idea... this would prevent people from just sideloading with WebIDE.

I guess so... but most people sideload via OmniSD anyways.

Selfhosting from home depends on region: I myself have 40+40Mbit/s dual-channel uptream... which would be enough to do this (at least for quite a while until the community growth to much...)

Yeah, same with me. The thing is, I'm hesitant to set up a web server since I don't want to open up a hole into my home network by port forwarding :P 

[speeduploop]

- keeping the links isn't being 'dynamic'... but yeah seems you don't really (want) to understand that.

- OmniSD itself have to be sideloaded anyway - and there are other situations where sideloading with WebIDE makes sense - for example rooting-apps.

(and you should let the users decide how they want to install their stuff)

- with a halfway decent router running a server at home isn't a problem - just don't do it on your normal workstation but a dedicated system

(even a RasPi can do that)

[Ivan Alex HC]

We are working on devices with proprietary software, whose Store is precisely the owner.

To load / update applications you have to do it manually.

We are not Mozilla nor do we have the organization to be able to manage our software totally compatible with Nokia 8110 (which is also unfair, because before thinking about a real and complete store of everything you say we should instead think of all those users who have KaiOS devices other than Jio and 8110 and who still can't enjoy all the features we've been able to get).

And last but not least: as I already specified in the main page of my so-called "Store" I wanted users to be able to see and touch the content of what they are installing. This can help you find new people who can help and protect everyone from malfunctions.

So, before replacing the B-Hackers store ... think about replacing the useless apps I made (because I know they are useless web links, and the B-Hackers app is my first rudimentary offline creation, just to be clear, because I am not a developer or a programmer, and I never hid it ... I have only so much passion for the community of poor wretches like me who in summer 2018 expected something more and were disappointed by 8110 ... and therefore began to think of basic things, not necessarily articulated how to take Google Play on a phone to call and send text messages).

That's all.

[speeduploop]

+1

And I wouldn't even think about installing an app from a third-party store without being able to look at the code...
--> just too dangerous.

[ProgrammAbel]

I totally agree. I was just suggesting an idea, not trying to force it on ;)

[ProgrammAbel]

Yeah, I learnt that many years ago after installing a third party APK and ruining my old Android :P