cordova-app-loader

cordova-app-loader

Remote update your Cordova App

Based on cordova-promise-fs and cordova-file-cache.

Getting started

  # fetch code using bower
  bower install cordova-app-loader cordova-promise-fs
  # ...or npm...
  npm install cordova-app-loader cordova-promise-fs
  
  # install Cordova and plugins
  cordova platform add ios@3.7.0
  cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file
  cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file-transfer

IMPORTANT: For iOS, use Cordova 3.7.0 or higher (due to a bug that affects requestFileSystem).

Or just download and include CordovaPromiseFS.js and CordovaAppLoader.js

Demo

Check out Cordova App Loader in Chrome for a demo! (Chrome only!)

git clone [e-mail]:markmarijnissen/cordova-app-loader.git
cd cordova-app-loader
cordova platform add ios@3.7.0
cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file
cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file-transfer
cordova run ios

Want to run your own server? Modify serverRoot in www/test/test.js!

Usage

Step 1: Write a manifest.json

{
  "files":{ // Files to download. Only newer versions will be downloaded!
    "lib/jquery.min.js": { "version": 0 },
    "lib/bluebird.js": { "version": 0 },
    "lib/CordovaPromiseFS.js": { "version": 0 },
    "lib/CordovaAppLoader.js": { "version": 0 },
    "test/template.html": {"version": 0},
    "test/test.js": { "version": 0 },
    "update2/index.js": { "version": 2 },
    "update2/style2.css": { "version": 2 }
  }, 

  "load":[ // Files to insert when bootstrapping app.
    "lib/jquery.min.js",
    "lib/bluebird.js",
    "lib/CordovaPromiseFS.js",
    "lib/CordovaAppLoader.js",
    "test/test.js",
    "update2/index.js",
    "update2/style2.css"
  ]
}

You can automatically create a version based on the checksum of the file:

bin/update-manifest www www/manifest.json

Step 2: Add bootstrap.js to your index.html

  <script type="text/javascript" timeout="5000" manifest="update1/manifest.json" src="bootstrap.js"></script>

1. The manifest.json is downloaded once. Second time it is retrieved from localStorage.
2. Javascript and CSS is inserted on the page.
3. Your javascript codes calls window.BOOTSTRAP_OK = true to indicate bootstrap was a success.
4. If the manifest is updated and fails to bootstrap the app after timeout milliseconds, the manifest in localStorage is deleted and the app reloads the original manifest (and application).

Notes:

• The manifest attribute should point to a local manifest (i.e. bundled with the app) to guarantee the app can bootstrap even without internet connection.
• Don't forget to set BOOTSTRAP_OK to true!

Step 3: Use CordovaAppLoader to check, download and update your app.

// Step 3a: Initialize
var fs = new CordovaPromiseFS({});
var loader = window.loader = new CordovaAppLoader({
  fs: fs,
  localRoot: 'app',
  mode: 'mirror'
});

// Step 3b: Check for updates
loader.check().then( ... )  // used `serverRoot` in your `manifest.json`
loader.check('http://yourserver.com/manifest.json').then( ... ) // custom `manifest.json` url
loader.check({ files: { ... } }).then( ... ) // or just check an actual Manifest object.

// Step 3c: Download
loader.download(onprogress).then(function(manifest){},function(failedDownloadUrlArray){ ... });

// Step 4d: Update
loader.update() // reloads page to bootstrap new manifest. Returns true if app will be updated.

Note: When downloading and updating, the new manifest is written to localStorage. The manifest.root is set to the location of the downloaded files. (Default is "" - i.e. it loads files relative to your index.html)

Changelog

0.3.0 (13/11/2014)

• Chrome support!

0.2.0 (09/11/2014)

• Improved app layout
• Added test-cases to the app (slow, broken app, broken download)
• Several bugfixes

0.1.0 (07/11/2014)

• First release

Contribute

Convert CommonJS to a browser-version:

npm install webpack -g
npm run-script prepublish

Feel free to contribute to this project in any way. The easiest way to support this project is by giving it a star.

Contact

• @markmarijnissen
• http://www.madebymark.nl
• [e-mail]

© 2014 - Mark Marijnissen