744273 - Implement Apps in the Cloud client for WebRT on Android

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Web Apps Graveyard :: AppsInTheCloud, defect)

Description

[Anant Narayanan [:anant]]

This bug is to track implementation of the AITC client on Android. This work is likely to reuse a lot of code from bug #744257 once it lands on mozilla-central, and will primarily entail writing UI that hooks to core AITC functionality that will be in Gecko.

Comment 1

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Jen - Should this bug be tracked here or in Fennec Native -> Web Apps?

Comment 2

[Jennifer Arguello :ticachica]

@Jason no. Since this is part of a service.

Comment 3

[Jennifer Arguello :ticachica]

The first time you open marketplace user has to log into PersonID.  This also logs you into the dashboard


If you go directly to the dashboard you will have to login

Install should not fail if AitC fails to be written to. We should keep retrying until we can sync.

The dashboard will live on apps.persona.org

How to get to the dashboard on the desktop:
* Direct URL - apps.persona.org
* about:apps - redirects to apps.persona.org
* link from Marketplace - From the Purchased App section have a link to about:apps

Operations of the dashboard:
* Install new apps
* Re-install "installed" apps (per device)
* View all apps in the cloud
** nice-to have is to distinguish on device from cloud 

Non-goal:
* Launching an app from the dashboard

Comment 4

[Jennifer Arguello :ticachica]

After talking with Finkle we do not think there is an API to "install a shortcut" to the home screen from the AitC dashboard. 

Is this true?

Comment 5

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Mark, given that this April 12th, is there still time to implement this feature for fennec native 14? Or is too late?

Comment 6

[:Harald Kirschner :digitarald]

(In reply to Jennifer Arguello :ticachica from comment #4)
> After talking with Finkle we do not think there is an API to "install a
> shortcut" to the home screen from the AitC dashboard. 
> 
> Is this true?

Solution for creating a shortcut: Just call install() again for an app, which triggers "Re-install", see attachment on bug 738546: https://bug738546.bugzilla.mozilla.org/attachment.cgi?id=614065

I also guess Fennec will still use about:apps for a while, as there is no mobile-enabled dashboard for Phase 1.

The mozApps API still has to evolve if we want more options on the dashboard (push to device, see which apps are installed on which devices, list of all synced devices per sync account)

Comment 7

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Is bug 744457 a dependency (like what I just did) to this bug? Or is it a duplicate?

Comment 8

[:Harald Kirschner :digitarald]

rnewman's meeting notes:

 * BrowserID client library [digitarald]
   * Built on top of Sync libraries: existing, tested crypto + utilities, unit test framework, etc
   * Integration tests FTW
   * Can be built and tested independently of Android system integration: Account not needed yet.
 * Android account class and integration [big collaborative ball of mud]
   * Multiple version support: depends on research that Nick and Chenxia are doing
   * Android token access for AITC's, Sync's, and third-party app's needs.
 * Content Provider for Fennec app storage [digitarald, rnewman can review]
 * SyncAdapter instance [rnewman, nalexander, whoever]
   * Should allow for selection of Sync and/or apps sync; UX questions about delayed Sync setup — requires correct setup of Persona account for storage of credentials beyond just Sync key.
 * AITC client library [nalexander, gps, anant, digitarald…]
   * Again, built on top of Sync libraries: should be relatively straightforward, at least for first draft.
 * Fennec build and manifest integration [rnewman]
 * Future: port Sync to use Persona account

Comment 11

[Richard Newman [:rnewman]]

No concrete plans to ship AITC, so marking this as WONTFIX. We can reopen if that decision changes.