webapp creator tutorial

dtarrant · 17 Jun 2018, 11:12

I would like to get started using webapp creator am seeking some guidance on how to proceed. I notice that there have been a couple of questions on this topic, but sadly there were no replies.

I have installed the app on my M10 HD and the pro-forma looks straightforward. However, how should I:

save my work?
run it and test it?
use it privately prior to publishing it?
publish it once it is working correctly?

I look forward to your suggestions.

advocatux · 17 Jun 2018, 15:30

@dtarrant do you know https://github.com/Jujuyeh/webapp-creator/wiki/libwebappcreator-(English) ?

If you want to have more control over your webapps, Clickable is way better http://clickable.bhdouglass.com/en/latest/

dtarrant · 18 Jun 2018, 03:24

@advocatux Thanks for your input. At first glance, clickable looks more difficult to use for a beginner wishing to create a simple web app. I still don't have a clue how to save/run/test a web app generated using a webapp creator template. Maybe I should contact the webapp creator development team. I had hoped that stimulating the discussion on this forum would be of interest to a wider audience than just me. If I could learn to use webapp creator, maybe I could write a tutorial.

advocatux · 18 Jun 2018, 06:50

@dtarrant I don't remember exactly because I just played around with webapp creator some time ago, but the webapp is created in your device so you have it there to install it manually.

The way to do that is using the terminal pkcon install-local --allow-untrusted path_to_your_package.click

Once you're happy enough with your webapp, you can upload it to https://open-store.io

You can login there using your GitHub, GitLab, or Ubuntu accounts.

dtarrant · 18 Jun 2018, 09:22

@advocatux
Many thanks for that information. I guess it's time to play and see what happens. I'm reassured that uploading to openstore is pretty well isolated from initial experimentation. Wish me luck!

advocatux · 18 Jun 2018, 09:36

@dtarrant good luck !!

jezek · 18 Jun 2018, 17:47

@dtarrant I played with clickable and webapps few weeks ago .... this is the result: memrise webapp

After looking to my history, these were my steps to init, build & deploy to phone:
on notebook with Ubuntu MATE 18.04

install & setup clickable & docker

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bhdouglass/clickable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install clickable docker

go to your project dir & create project via clickable (project folder will be created)
```
cd ~/projects/ubports/webapps/
clickable init
```
after app creation was successful, you should see an dir created in your current dir with the name of the project you typed in clickable initialization. Enter the project dir
try to run (I've figured out, you have to use sudo to run docker)
```
sudo clickable -e
```
edit files, play, debug, etc ...
to deploy to phone, there is a .click package (like appname.developername_1.0.0_all.click) in build folder in your project dir. If not use step 4. or build with
```
sudo clickable --output .
```
this produces a .click package in current dir & tries to copy it to your phone via adb.

on the Ubuntu Touch phone
0) upload .click package to your phone somehow, if not uploaded yet

install uploaded .click package via Ubuntu Twaek (or some other way)
have fun

dtarrant · 18 Jun 2018, 21:32

@jezek Thank you so much for taking the trouble to share your experience. That will be most helpful.

jezek · 18 Jun 2018, 22:46

@dtarrant you're welcome ... try it, have fun and share results & experiences ... maybe it will someday help someone

dtarrant · 19 Jun 2018, 12:34

@advocatux said in webapp creator tutorial:

@dtarrant I don't remember exactly because I just played around with webapp creator some time ago, but the webapp is created in your device so you have it there to install it manually.

The way to do that is using the terminal pkcon install-local --allow-untrusted path_to_your_package.click

Once you're happy enough with your webapp, you can upload it to https://open-store.io

You can login there using your GitHub, GitLab, or Ubuntu accounts.

I tried webapp creator on my M10 HD tablet and a click package was created. When I used the terminal to run the pkcon install-local command I had very uncomfortable time trying to enter/edit the path name. I was unable to move the cursor with the space bar as is possible with uwriter. It was very frustrating as I really wanted to avoid having to type a long path name again. I came to the conclusion that the way I was trying to use the terminal was very unsuitable and I wondered if you could suggest a better approach. Maybe that is why you originally suggested clickable running on a laptop?

advocatux · 19 Jun 2018, 14:43

@dtarrant the easier way is to type the commands using the terminal on your computer, with your device plugged (using adb shell).

On the other hand, keep in mind once you've typed something in the terminal, it's there for future use. Bash history and tab autocompletion are very handy

See here [*] the Terminal tutorials, there are 4 chapters, to learn the basics and some tricks also.

[*] https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-blog-1/tag/blogs-2

dtarrant · 19 Jun 2018, 15:32

@advocatux I was trying to use bash history on my tablet. It worked, but was very fiddly to use. I like the idea of using the terminal on my laptop, I've never had any problem with that. I've not come across adb shell before. I'll have to look that one up.

jezek · 19 Jun 2018, 16:33

@dtarrant you can also install the click package via UT Tweak Tool

also check some awesome tutorials

dtarrant · 19 Jun 2018, 19:39

@jezek That's useful information. I have UT Tweak already installed on my M10, but I didn't realise you could use it to install a click package. Many thanks for your input.

dtarrant · 19 Jun 2018, 22:56

@jezek I've just explored UT Tweak and found the install click utility. The next problem is that it doesn't let me access the click generated by webapp creator. My click was automatically created in:
/home/phablet/.cache/webapp-creator/jujuyeh/
and I can't seem to access it from UT Tweak. Do I need to move it elsewhere in order to install it?

Ellypsis · 19 Jun 2018, 23:31

@dtarrant I created some Web app with webapp creator, and saved the click to my documents, so I could install them with UT Tweak Tool.
Maybe if you move your click from the .cache to your documents, you will be able to install it

dtarrant · 19 Jun 2018, 23:53

@ellypsis Sounds like that's the way to go. I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

dtarrant · 20 Jun 2018, 00:22

@ellypsis Amazing!!! That did the trick. Now to finesse it to the point where I could upload it to OpenStore. I've just created my first webapp; how cool is that?

Bastos · 20 Jun 2018, 10:32

I have done all the steps to create a webapp with clickable described here http://clickable.bhdouglass.com/en/latest/getting-started.html#getting-started

Than, when I run 'clickable' it is downloading the image 'clickable/ubuntu-sdk:15.04-armhf' locally

So it seems to be only vivid compatible and not xenial compatible. Am I right?

dtarrant · 21 Jun 2018, 14:11

@bastos This topic is about webapp creator. Maybe you'd be better to start a new topic about clickable. I would be interested in that once I have got my head round webapp creator. Good luck.