Difference between revisions of "Application:Preware"

From WebOS Internals
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(0.7.5 release)
(better doco)
Line 59: Line 59:
 
=== Limitations ===
 
=== Limitations ===
  
The Package Management Service does not yet fully handle postinst and prerm files (initial support is in alpha testing, but dependency handling for postinst and prerm still has to be added), so you will need to continue to use the [http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html WebOS Quick Install] tool to install advanced webos-internals packages that require commands to be run as the root user upon installation and removalThis limitation will be removed before the 1.0.0 release, and Preware will then be able to install any webOS application - even those that previously required root access.
+
Preware does not individually sequence dependencies during installation, and ipkgservice only runs the postinst and prerm scripts for the requested app, so if you have a depedency for the app that you're installing, and that dependency needs a postinst or prerm script to be run, then it will fail to run themPlease install the dependency first, and then install the app that you want.
  
 
=== Known bugs ===
 
=== Known bugs ===
Line 71: Line 71:
 
Note that you *must* use version 2.01 or later of WebOS Quick Install.  Verision 2.0 had a bug which causes the installation of the Package Management Service to fail, and Preware then hangs on the initial "Updating" screen.  A reinstallation with version 2.01 should fix that.
 
Note that you *must* use version 2.01 or later of WebOS Quick Install.  Verision 2.0 had a bug which causes the installation of the Package Management Service to fail, and Preware then hangs on the initial "Updating" screen.  A reinstallation with version 2.01 should fix that.
  
Please use the [http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html WebOS Quick Install] tool to install the Package Manager Service and the Preware application.  You can find both of these in the WebOS Internals feed.  Make sure you install the Package Manager Service first and the Preware application second, otherwise you will need to reboot your Pre after installation. Do *NOT* install anything else at the same time as the service.
+
Please use the [http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html WebOS Quick Install] tool to install the Package Manager Service and the Preware application.  You can find both of these in the WebOS Internals feed.  
  
No other application installer tool is sophisticated enough to install the custom Package Manager Service that Preware requires.
+
No other application installer tool is sophisticated enough to install the custom Package Manager Service that Preware requires.  Preware can install it, but you need a way to bootstrap Preware first, so you need to use WebOS Quick Install for the very first installation of Preware.
  
 
Note that Preware works just as well on the Emulator as it does on a real device, and is installed in exactly the same way.
 
Note that Preware works just as well on the Emulator as it does on a real device, and is installed in exactly the same way.
Line 79: Line 79:
 
=== Updating ===
 
=== Updating ===
  
Follow the removal instructions below, then repeat the installation instructions above.  Preware will be able to update itself after the 1.0.0 version is released.
+
Just use Preware to update itself.  Make sure you update the Package Manager Service first, and the Preware application second. When you update the Package Manager Service, it will fail to tell you that it has completed the installation, but it will have installed fine.  When you update the Preware application, the Preware application will immediately close after installation.  Just restart Preware and you will be using the new version you just installed.
  
 
=== Removal ===
 
=== Removal ===
  
Please use the [http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html WebOS Quick Install] tool to remove Preware and the Package Manager Service (in that order).
+
Why would you ever want to remove Preware?
 +
 
 +
To remove Preware, make sure you remove the Preware application first, and then immediately without closing the running Preware application, remove the Package Manager Service.
  
 
== Repository ==
 
== Repository ==
  
Preware is housed in the Applications section of the WebOS Internals git repository at http://gitorious.org/webos-internals/applications
+
Preware and the Package Manager Service are housed in the applications/preware and services/ipkservice git repositories at http://git.webos-internals.org/
  
Source code for the Mojo app can be browsed at http://gitorious.org/webos-internals/applications/trees/master/preware
+
For commit permission to the project, contact rwhitby on #webos-internals or email [[mailto:support@webos-internals.org support@webos-internals.org]]
  
Source code for the service can be browsed at http://gitorious.org/webos-internals/applications/trees/master/ipkgservice
+
== Alternative Installation (ADVANCED/CLI Method)==
 
 
For commit permission to the project, contact rwhitby on #webos-internals or email [[mailto:support@webos-internals.org support@webos-internals.org]]
 
  
 +
Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the WebOS Quick Install installation instructions above.
  
== Alternative Installation (ADVANCED/CLI Method)==
 
 
This method is for '''LINUX EXPERTS ONLY''' and depends on the ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals repository.  '''If you've already install [[Application:Terminal]] then please SKIP the first steps.'''
 
This method is for '''LINUX EXPERTS ONLY''' and depends on the ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals repository.  '''If you've already install [[Application:Terminal]] then please SKIP the first steps.'''
  
Line 110: Line 110:
  
 
=== Installing via IPKG ===
 
=== Installing via IPKG ===
 +
 +
Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the WebOS Quick Install installation instructions above.
  
 
<source lang="text">
 
<source lang="text">
Line 123: Line 125:
  
 
=== Updating via IPKG ===
 
=== Updating via IPKG ===
 +
 +
Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the Preware update instructions above.
  
 
<source lang="text">
 
<source lang="text">

Revision as of 00:35, 28 August 2009

« Go Back to the Utilities application list
Application Preware List.png

Preware - Version: Alpha 0.7.5
(26 Aug 2009)

Summary

Icon Preware.png

Preware is a package management application for the Palm Pre. Preware allows the user to install any package from any of the open standard package repositories on preware.org (or any other location that hosts an open standard package repository). Preware relies on a custom written service developed from community research which allows the mojo app to talk to the built-in ipkg tool.

This application was the result of extensive community-based design in IPKG Service and Preware Design.

For application management, Preware can access more applications, and has more features, than any other on-device package installer.

And since it is open source, and has a completely open development process supported by a team of world-class WebOS Internals developers, it will continue to get better much faster than any other package management application.

Preware is the open application installer that has been written specifically to support a homebrew ecosystem where any developer can upload any application to any submission site, and that application can then be installed by any user. Developers no longer need to upload their applications to multiple submission sites, and users are no longer excluded from accessing applications from any open standard package repository.

Status

This is alpha software. Even so, it is at least as useful for managing applications as any of the other application installer utilities.

License

Please be aware that org.webosinternals.preware and org.webosinternals.ipkgservice are licensed under the GPLv2.

They cannot be used by a closed source application. If you want to use them in a non-GPLv2 but otherwise open source application, please contact the authors.

Operating notes

Recent enhancements

0.7.5: Fixed update subscription oddity.

0.7.4: Fixed remounting of root filesystem for post-install and pre-remove scripts on the Pre.

0.7.1: Fixed buttons and title on script view screen.

0.7.0: Initial support for post-install and pre-remove scripts, including secure informed user consent. Does not work properly with dependencies yet, so please install dependencies one at a time.

0.6.7: Fixed bug in category drop-down list.

0.6.6: Fixed bug in package size reporting.

0.6.5: Updated icon and other graphical annotations.

0.6.4: Categories drop-down bug fixed. Preware category updated.

0.6.2: Categories now work to some extent. Still a bug in the dropdown box.

0.6.1: Sorting by name or date is now available. Application details screen is much more organised.

0.6.0: No user visible changes. Preparation for the secure informed user consent functionality.

0.5.1: Filtering is now available on the list screens. Just start typing ...

Limitations

Preware does not individually sequence dependencies during installation, and ipkgservice only runs the postinst and prerm scripts for the requested app, so if you have a depedency for the app that you're installing, and that dependency needs a postinst or prerm script to be run, then it will fail to run them. Please install the dependency first, and then install the app that you want.

Known bugs

No known bugs.

Installation

You do not need to access the Linux command line or "root your Pre" to install or use Preware.

Note that you *must* use version 2.01 or later of WebOS Quick Install. Verision 2.0 had a bug which causes the installation of the Package Management Service to fail, and Preware then hangs on the initial "Updating" screen. A reinstallation with version 2.01 should fix that.

Please use the WebOS Quick Install tool to install the Package Manager Service and the Preware application. You can find both of these in the WebOS Internals feed.

No other application installer tool is sophisticated enough to install the custom Package Manager Service that Preware requires. Preware can install it, but you need a way to bootstrap Preware first, so you need to use WebOS Quick Install for the very first installation of Preware.

Note that Preware works just as well on the Emulator as it does on a real device, and is installed in exactly the same way.

Updating

Just use Preware to update itself. Make sure you update the Package Manager Service first, and the Preware application second. When you update the Package Manager Service, it will fail to tell you that it has completed the installation, but it will have installed fine. When you update the Preware application, the Preware application will immediately close after installation. Just restart Preware and you will be using the new version you just installed.

Removal

Why would you ever want to remove Preware?

To remove Preware, make sure you remove the Preware application first, and then immediately without closing the running Preware application, remove the Package Manager Service.

Repository

Preware and the Package Manager Service are housed in the applications/preware and services/ipkservice git repositories at http://git.webos-internals.org/

For commit permission to the project, contact rwhitby on #webos-internals or email [support@webos-internals.org]

Alternative Installation (ADVANCED/CLI Method)

Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the WebOS Quick Install installation instructions above.

This method is for LINUX EXPERTS ONLY and depends on the ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals repository. If you've already install Application:Terminal then please SKIP the first steps.

Setting up the repository

<source lang="text"> sudo su mount -o remount,rw / mkdir -p /var/etc/ipkg/ ln -s /etc/ipkg/arch.conf /var/etc/ipkg/ echo "src/gz all http://ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals/all" > /var/etc/ipkg/preware.conf echo "src/gz armv7 http://ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals/armv7" >> /var/etc/ipkg/preware.conf </source>

Installing via IPKG

Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the WebOS Quick Install installation instructions above.

<source lang="text"> /usr/bin/ipkg -o /var update /usr/bin/ipkg -o /var install org.webosinternals.ipkgservice /usr/bin/ipkg -o /var install org.webosinternals.preware sh /var/usr/lib/ipkg/info/org.webosinternals.ipkgservice.postinst luna-send -n 1 palm://com.palm.applicationManager/rescan {}

mount -o remount,ro / exit </source>

Updating via IPKG

Really, unless you *really* know what you are doing, you should use the Preware update instructions above.

<source lang="text"> /usr/bin/ipkg -o /var update /usr/bin/ipkg -o /var upgrade sh /var/usr/lib/ipkg/info/org.webosinternals.ipkgservice.postinst luna-send -n 1 palm://com.palm.applicationManager/rescan {}

mount -o remount,ro / exit </source>