Move a few things to CONTRIBUTING.md

This commit is contained in:
Kelson 2019-12-07 09:50:41 +01:00
parent b626836555
commit d2a95ea4fb
2 changed files with 156 additions and 92 deletions

96
CONTRIBUTING.md Normal file
View File

@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
This files gives guidelines for developers wanting to further develop
Kiwix custom apps.
## Prerequisites
Python 3 for the scripts in Python. On Debian based GNU/Linux you can
install it with:
```bash
apt-get install python3
```
[Imagemagick](https://imagemagick.org/) is needed by
`gen-std-icon.py`. On Debian based GNU/Linux you can
install it with:
```bash
apt-get install imagemagick
```
Android studio is required to generate icon sets and can be downloaded
from [here](https://developer.android.com/studio/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAiNnuBRD3ARIsAM8KmlvCImKxWu_AGECa8YM5pM7Nr_algyHXSkfbPRTio3WEeKTaEfFiFeIaAs81EALw_wcB).
On macOS, [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) allows to install the packages
`python3` and `imagemagick`.
## Badges
Custom apps use to have icon with two small badges to help user
understanding what the app is about:
* One reprsenting the language of the content
* One representing the stricked WiFi logo to emphasis its offline nature
The script `gen-std-icon.py` allows to add these two badges easily on
a master icon. You can use it that way:
```bash
python3 gen-std-icon.py [custom_app_directory]/icon_master.png [optional language code]
```
The `custom_app_directory` needs to be one of the listed sub-folders
e.g. `phet`. If this is a new custom app, you will have to create it.
The `optional language code` parameter for english would be `en`, if
you omit this parameter then no language badge is added, this is
desired in a few cases where the language is already clearly
indicated by the master icon e.g. `wikimedde`.
## Building Locally
First of all the Kiwix Android needs to be cloned locally:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android.git
```
Copy then a custom app directory to `kiwix-android/custom/src`. If
using Android Studio this will add the build variant and you can
install as you would any app.
Alternatively - if you are more export - you can run `./gradlew
install[CustomAppNameWithFirstLetterCapitalised]Debug` eg `./gradlew
installPhetDebug` from the kiwix-android folder
## Testing locally
The custom app, as built and installed by the Gradle script currently
_does not include the ZIM file_ but it does prompt you to download
the file if it doesn't find an `.obb` (this is the extension for ZIM
files in custom app). So unless you need to test obb file reading
you can stop here.
To test reading an `.obb` file you need the file to be on the device.
Here's an overview of the steps involved. You may need to tweak these
for your app, environment and device, etc.
Download first the ZIM file to your computer e.g. for PhET download
the ZIM file specified in
https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/blob/master/phet/info.json
by the json key `zim_url`.
The Android obb dedicated directory is not always at the exact same
place on the Android device, usually it can be found at
`/sdcard/Android/obb/`. One time you will have found it, you will have
to create a directory for your custom app based on its Android id, for
example `org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet` (`org.kiwix.kiwixcustom` + name of
the app directory).
You have then to get the ZIM file onto the device custom app obb
folder using the Android `adb push` command-line utility or more
simply by using Device File Exlporer in Android Studio. The obb
filename should be `main.4.` + app id + `.obb`. Here's an example:
```bash
adb push ~/Downloads/kiwix/phet_mul_2019-06.zim /sdcard/
adb shell
cd /sdcard/Android/obb/
mkdir org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet
cd org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet
mv /sdcard/phet_mul_2019-06.zim main.4.org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet.obb
```

150
README.md
View File

@ -11,53 +11,61 @@ This project contains data and scripts needed to create specific
done separately by running the relevant Gradle command to build one
or more custom apps.
## Prerequisites
[![License: GPL v3](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-GPLv3-blue.svg)](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0)
Python 3 for the scripts in Python. On Debian based GNU/Linux you can
install it with:
```bash
apt-get install python3
```
## Disclaimer
[Imagemagick](https://imagemagick.org/) is needed by
`gen-std-icon.py`. On Debian based GNU/Linux you can
install it with:
```bash
apt-get install imagemagick
```
This document is for end-users who are the publisher of new custom
apps. If you are a developer and want to have an in-depth
understanding about the custom apps, please read
[CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).
Android studio is required to generate icon sets and can be downloaded
from [here](https://developer.android.com/studio/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAiNnuBRD3ARIsAM8KmlvCImKxWu_AGECa8YM5pM7Nr_algyHXSkfbPRTio3WEeKTaEfFiFeIaAs81EALw_wcB).
## Custom app folder
On macOS, [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) allows to install the packages
`python3` and `imagemagick`.
[In the repository](https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom),
each custom configuration is isolated in a so called custom app
folder. If you need to create a new one for a new custom app, you can
do that easily using Github UI. Go to
https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/new/master, put the name
of your app (no space, lowercase only) and add a slash at the end.
## Badges
## Description json file
Custom apps use to have icon with two small badges to help user
understanding what the app is about:
* One reprsenting the language of the content
* One representing the stricked WiFi logo to emphasis its offline nature
The configuration of the custom app is handled using the `info.json`
file which is in the custom app folder. Take example on an already
existing one if you need to create a new custom app. The most
important fields are:
- `app_name`, the title of the app
- `zim_url`, the ZIM online URL (to download to create the app)
- `enforced_lang`, the language code of the content (and the app UI)
The script `gen-std-icon.py` allows to add these two badges easily on
a master icon. You can use it that way:
```bash
python3 gen-std-icon.py [custom_app_directory]/icon_master.png [optional language code]
```
You can also create this new file using Github IO. Go to
https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/new/master and type
`info.json`.
The `custom_app_directory` needs to be one of the listed sub-folders
e.g. `phet`. If this is a new custom app, you will have to create it.
Remark: If you make a simple update, just replace the `zim_url` with
the latest available zim from
[download.kiwix.org/zim](https://download.kiwix.org/zim). Then comment
your commit (e.g. "updated to YYYY-MM zim") and commit directly to
`master` branch. You won't have to change anything more than this
(just tagging the release, see below).
The `optional language code` parameter for english would be `en`, if
you omit this parameter then no language badge is added, this is
desired in a few cases where the language is already clearly
indicated by the master icon e.g. `wikimedde`.
## Icon master
The Icon master is file `icon.png` you find (or have to create) in the
custom app folder. It is a square PNG file which is used as master to
create the Icon set (see section below). This master has to match many
constraints and you might even have to create an `icon_foreground.png`
and `icon_baground.png` to achieve to do certain things. Look at the
[Android documentation about adaptive
icons](https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design_adaptive)
to know more.
## Icon set
The Android custom app needs an _Icon set_ to build properly. This
Icon set is a list of bitmap pictures which are derivatives of the
Icon master from the section above.
Icon set is needed to properly show the app icon on user devices and
is a list of bitmap pictures which are derivatives of an icon master.
To create this Icon set, follow these steps:
@ -110,65 +118,25 @@ from the ZIM file name. If the file - specified in `zim_url` - is
## Releasing
Simply tag the repo in git with the name of a custom app eg
`wikimed`. This triggers a Github action that will build an app using
kiwix-android master branch and the icon set/json defined in this
repository and then upload it to the Play Console in draft to alpha
with an expansion file attached.
`wikimed`. Go to the [release
tab](https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/releases) and
click on "Draft a new release". As "tag version" use the custom app
folder name (e.g. `wikimedar`). Publish without adding a release
title or description (not needed).
This will only work with app updates. To create a new custom app an
app must be built manually and submit to the Google Play store
This triggers a [Github
action](https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/actions) that
will build an app using kiwix-android master branch and the icon
set/json defined in this repository and then upload it to the Play
Console in draft to alpha with an expansion file attached. Therefore,
go to the [Google Play Store Admin
dashboard](https://play.google.com/apps/publish) for the
corresponding app and go to menu "Publication management" > "App version":
under "Alpha", you can click on "Modify version". After a couple of hours
the new version of the app should be listed in the public Play Store.
## Building Locally
First of all the Kiwix Android needs to be cloned locally:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android.git
```
Copy then a custom app directory to `kiwix-android/custom/src`. If
using Android Studio this will add the build variant and you can
install as you would any app.
Alternatively - if you are more export - you can run `./gradlew
install[CustomAppNameWithFirstLetterCapitalised]Debug` eg `./gradlew
installPhetDebug` from the kiwix-android folder
## Testing locally
The custom app, as built and installed by the Gradle script currently
_does not include the ZIM file_ but it does prompt you to download
the file if it doesn't find an `.obb` (this is the extension for ZIM
files in custom app). So unless you need to test obb file reading
you can stop here.
To test reading an `.obb` file you need the file to be on the device.
Here's an overview of the steps involved. You may need to tweak these
for your app, environment and device, etc.
Download first the ZIM file to your computer e.g. for PhET download
the ZIM file specified in
https://github.com/kiwix/kiwix-android-custom/blob/master/phet/info.json
by the json key `zim_url`.
The Android obb dedicated directory is not always at the exact same
place on the Android device, usually it can be found at
`/sdcard/Android/obb/`. One time you will have found it, you will have
to create a directory for your custom app based on its Android id, for
example `org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet` (`org.kiwix.kiwixcustom` + name of
the app directory).
You have then to get the ZIM file onto the device custom app obb
folder using the Android `adb push` command-line utility or more
simply by using Device File Exlporer in Android Studio. The obb
filename should be `main.4.` + app id + `.obb`. Here's an example:
```bash
adb push ~/Downloads/kiwix/phet_mul_2019-06.zim /sdcard/
adb shell
cd /sdcard/Android/obb/
mkdir org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet
cd org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet
mv /sdcard/phet_mul_2019-06.zim main.4.org.kiwix.kiwixcustomphet.obb
```
Remark: This will only work with app updates. To create a new custom
app an app must be built manually and submit to the Google Play store
License
-------