[tw5] Bob and BobEXE version 1.5.2, Scruffy, the Janitor - ui updates, fixing bugs and the file server

[Jed Carty]

I updated the control panel interface for Bob to add a lot more context help. Hopefully it is more obvious where things are and the new help is actually useful.

Based on some feedback I found some bugs that have probably been around a while. Converting a wiki from an html file to a Node wiki should work correctly now, listing existing node wikis so they can be used with bob should work now. I found a weird edge case that could save empty settings files.

The file server now has what is hopefully a better ui and something closer to enough documentation to use.

The plugin version of Bob is on GitHub here: https://github.com/OokTech/TW5-Bob

The newest version of BobEXE is available here: https://github.com/OokTech/TW5-BobEXE/releases 

If you want to support the development OokTech has a patreon page here https://www.patreon.com/OokTech
or if you prefer there is a link for PayPal here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZG94CTLHTKYRE

!! Version 1.5.2 Scruffy, the Janitor

• Made a change to saving settings that may prevent a rare bug
• The file server now tries to determine the mimetype of served files
• Many updates to the control panel tab layout and documentation
• Making a wiki from an html file should work again
• the action-updatesetting widget got an update so it can properly remove settings
• Big reorganisation of the $:/ControlPanel tab for Bob, added a lot of context help
• Fixed a problem automatic backups caused with serving Bob to child wikis
• Fixed adding exising node wikis to the Bob server

[Joshua Fontany]

Sweet, sweet updates. I like the new look for the $:/ControlPanel tab! Poking around now....

Best,
Joshua F

[Birthe C]

Jed,

Took Bob for a quick spin. Like the look and explanations and most importantly, I have none of my usual complains. It just works. Will have to wait till tomorrow for further testing.

Thank you so much,

Birthe

[Sylvain Naudin]

Great! Thanks for the update Jed.

With some help, I managed yesterday to install Bob on an online Node.js instance at my host. It was my first real test, and I noticed some bugs (so before this update). I could take a closer look and give you feedback now.

Sylvain

[Jed Carty]

I am switching from using pkg to nexe to make the executable in the next release, this shouldn't affect anyone other than I will be able to make 32 bit binaries again if there is anyone who wants them.

[TonyM]

Jed,

Nice work, I certainly find it easier to explore and configure the great features contained in Bob.

Bobexe was a simple download and replace.

I will try and write for myself and share a document on the differences between single file wikis and Bob/Node.

A small note:

Control Panel > Bob > Server settings

Checking this box will keep BobEXE from opening the index wiki in the browser automatically each time it is started.

 DO NOT Automatically open browser when BobEXE starts 

Great work thanks Jed

Tony

[Jed Carty]

Tony,

While I appreciate constructive feedback, I have absolutely no idea what information that note is supposed to convey other than formatted text that I find more difficult to read.

[Mohammad]

Jed,

Installed on Windows 10 + Chrome 81 works great.

I noted to memory consumption. Opening three wikis at the same time Bob consume 178MB 

 Thank you

[Jed Carty]

Mohammad,

I am glad to hear it is working on windows, I am always a bit worried because I can't test with windows.

Thank you for noting the memory, I had wondered. In my experience Bob with no wikis takes up about 80-100 mb (node is responsible for most of that from what I understand), then each open wiki adds approximately 20mb, so your observation fits with what I have seen on linux. I assume that very large wikis require more memory, but I haven't tested that.

[Mohammad]

Jed,

 I will update with memory consumption as I make more experiments with Bob!

 Some findings on Windows 10 + Chrome 81

 - A nice icon is seen on the task bar when Bob is running

 - When wikis are idle seems memory consumption is lower

 - Bob on double click starts, opens a terminal to run and log 

 - One can call it from a previously opened terminal and Bob will use it (see below)

Fig 1: Bob on taskbar (Windows 10)

Fig 2. Bob memory consumption (three wikis one of them is 6MB + Bob)

Fig 4. Bob opens a dedicated terminal on double click

Fig 5: Bob can be called from an opened terminal (below ConEmu running Powershell 7

[Jed Carty]

It looks like I forgot to put it in the changelog, but you can add persistent usernames now. There is an option to save the username as a cookie so when you use the same browser it will automatically set the username to what it was the last time you used the wiki.

This is a per-wiki setting, but it should save the username similarly to how browsers save input to forms on webpages.

The option to turn it on is under the `Setup this wiki` section in the Bob tab of the control panel, there is a bug where if you don't have a name entered yet the first character you type into the username field will make it go out of edit mode, just click on the edit icon next to it and enter the name after that happens. I will fix this bug at some point.

N.B.

This is not a login. It in no way adds any security to the wikis. It is just a way to persistently have your name set in the wiki so you don't have to enter it every time and to help in multi-user situations.

[Sylvain Naudin]

Hello Jed,

When you write at the end of more details :

"under consideration Security and authentication to limit access and editing"

Do you think you'll be able to improve the subject soon?

As I said, I'm starting to experiment Bob to meet the multi-user need (not so much for multiple creation). So far it hasn't been a big success, for example he loses my plugins on the way, and when that happens he keeps showing me 'please save and reload'. I tried to update Bob but the plugin number hadn't changed. I will try again with a fresh install.

But back to security, I couldn't get the credentials=users.csv option to work with --wsserver. Do you know if it's possible? If not, it will be maybe dangerous to use Bob on an online server. Thanks for your feedback.

Sylvain

[Jed Carty]

Sylvain,

After I get federation on the local network set up correctly (I have been very close for about 2 months now, I just need to do it) the next thing I am going to work on is security and authentication.

It should be able to be packaged into BobEXE without any trouble, if you use the plugin version you will have to install some separate npm modules, but I am hoping it won't be anything too bad.

I can't guarantee it will happen in a reasonable amount of time, but it will happen.

The credentials options available on the --listen command aren't included in Bob, if I don't get to the more secure versions soon I will dig into whatever I need to add to use what the normal node server uses as a temporary measure.

[Sylvain Naudin]

Thank you Jed for your feedback.

Having BobExe locally doesn't really answer my need for a wiki on my hosting, since it offers Node.js and all the advantage of an online shared hosting (backup, https, etc...).