Future of Tasker app?

[Ritesh Suratwala]

For years, Tasker had been legendary app. In fact, Tasker was the first my dream app when I started using android.

I am still using Tasker, but started loosing trust on app and development.

During last couple of years, I have found that many features, which shall be part of Tasker app, being developed by 3rd party plug-ins, which itself are payable.

Few examples are, Autonotification, snackbar, autotools, secure setting, clocktask etc.

I am not even able to do basic task such as mobile data on-off with core functionality of Tasker.

There could only be two possoble reason for this,
1. Capability of Tasker developer is reached to limit and they don't have more capability to include all these basic features in Tasker itself.
2. They have capabilities, but they don't want to include updated feature in Tasker app, where they won't get any monetory benifits. Itstead, they will start asking others to develop features as plug-in and they earn royalty.

Somebody may come out, if any further reason possible.

In both cases, it indicates Tasker is dying and time to switch to other apps like automagic, macrodroid etc, which are under heavy development.

Since, Tasker had been my favourite app, it's hard to switch to other apps. Hence, want's public opinion and voice from developer on future prospects of this app.

[Abdullah Alahdal]

Honestly, above is just RUDE! You can shift if you feel shifting is a good option for  you.

What I feel that what Pent (The only Tasker Developer) is doing is right, there is no need for him to compete with other developers (the plugin developers) and add options which are already available through plugins. In fact, every day we find  new amazing apps (plugin) for Tasker and that is because Tasker's developers is giving the space for other developers to contribute and create new plugins/idea.

[Pent]

During last couple of years, I have found that many features, which shall be part of Tasker app, being developed by 3rd party plug-ins, which itself are payable.

I'm a sole developer with a long-term health problem, if someone else wants to make features available
to Tasker users via a plugin, it makes sense for me to focus on something else.

I am not even able to do basic task such as mobile data on-off with core functionality of Tasker.

You can't do that with any app without root. With Tasker, you can do it with root without a plugin.

Pent

[Ritesh Suratwala]

First of all, thanks for your reply.

Ok, I do trust your word.

Only thing hurts, you find new things being developed as 3rd party plug-ins and you have to pay extra for that.

Anyway, I just wanted to put my frustration to open forum and happy to get response from you, which i trust.

[technogeezer]

Just want to add my $.02.

I have used Tasker every day for years now.  In fact, one set of Tasker instructions is very important to my work!

However, I too have found that Tasker is not always trustworthy.

Now before the fanboys start thrashing me let me explain that I think Pent has done a SUPERHUMAN job with Tasker.  I am IN AWE of his work!

The fault, in my view, lies less with Tasker and more with Android.  Being a programmer of some experience, I have written Android apps and found that the exact same code will not always work the same way on different platforms.  Sony Xperia, AFAICT, is a perfect example of a non-standard implementation of the Android OS.  Tasker, Android Studio - nothing seems to work completely correctly on that platform.

OTOH, Tasker and my custom Android apps run perfectly on all of my Android phones.

So no, Tasker is not the answer to all of life's problems but it IS one hell of an app.  I am thankful that Pent feels Tasker important enough to consider spending his time on it so that we can have more control over our devices.

Thank you Pent!

[Scott]

Or you can think of it this way, Pent has given Tasker an, IMHO, a very reasonable price considering the functionality you get and the work he must have to put into it.  Assuming he has the capability to put more features in (which sound like that isn't even true), he's probably have to charge more for the extra functionality.  So you're either paying for everything, even the stuff you don't use.  With the plug-in method you can get functionality a la carte, so you're only paying for what you need.  So really it's a way for Tasker to gain much more developer time while allowing you to only pay for the functionality you need.  Personally, I think it's a win-win situation.

[Pent]

> Assuming he has the capability to put more features in (which sound like that isn't even true)

I am working every day on Tasker to some extent, and have never charged for
updates since publication in 2010.

Pnet

[John Doe]

First of all there are always free alternatives. On Play Store there are at least 200 Tasker plugins, you just need to find them and try them. I agree with you, Tasker development has slow down in the latest period but we know why (health problems). Pent is a great developer and I'm with him. The real power of Tasker is that it can grow even without high development, just because other devlopers can add other functionality. If you say that Tasker is "dead" to be honest it makes me laugh. I work with Tasker every day, the community is really great and new features are always supported. Maybe in a minimal way but always supported. In addition, ss other other users pointed out, with plugins you can use just what you need without to use a single app of 100MB.

[hollywoodfrodo]

I understand the frustration - it would be nice to have one app that just had everything covered.  But there are no perfect apps! Instead what Pent has done is create an app that allows anyone to add to it!  This is quite frankly awesome.  Yes, it kind of sucks to have to pay for some of the plugins but those too are developed by sole developers.  Tasker is cheaper now than it was when I first bought it about 5 years ago or so.  And the AutoApps that you mentioned are worth every penny of their cost.  You can buy Tasker and all the plugins you'd ever need for less than a dinner out - and this is an app (+ plugins) that significantly adds to the functionality of the one device you probably use more than any other.

Of course, there are other options out there and for some, depending on what they want to accomplish, some of those might even be better.  But overall, for me, nothing compares to Tasker and what Pent has accomplished with this app.  And the fact that this app has been around since Android was in its infancy is quite amazing!

PS - Also don't blame Tasker for Google's choices.  There are several things Tasker can't do that it once could simply because Google removed privileges from Android. That's not Tasker's fault... 

[Pent]

OP: you can get a similar effect to Mobile Data without root with the new Network Access action.

Pent

[Chris P]

You and the app Tasker are a major reason Android itself is as good as it is. Keep up the good work and I'm happy to keep giving you my money. Amazing things possible with Tasker. Thank you.

[Ritesh Suratwala]

Thanks Pent for great App. I have been over aggressive in first post. But I am happy to know that I was wrong and nothing can beat Tasker and it's developer.