Hi Ken,
I just came across your app earlier this week. It's very slick - nice work!
Although I am a fan of the responsive catalog we have, I also know many
libraries would love to have an app for their catalog as well. I don't
think it's an either/or question, but a matter of providing several
options for users who are accessing our services from their mobile devices.
Would you be willing to post something to Launchpad about your app where
you can add a link your branch in the working repo?
https://bugs.launchpad.net/evergreen.
Launchpad is the place where Evergreen developers post their code for
new features. If you eventually don't have the tuits to work on a
generic app, somebody else may be able to work off the code that's there
to build one. Posting the information to Launchpad will make it easier
for developers to find the branch and to possibly collaborate on making
something that can be easily implemented by any Evergreen site.
Thanks so much for working on this and for sharing your code. It is a
wonderful thing when a user takes so much of an interest in our
libraries that they contribute their time and skills to improve access
to our resources.
Kathy Lussier
On 10/07/2015 10:18 AM, Ken Cox wrote:
A year or so ago, with some coaching from Dan Wells, I revived and
improved the Evergreen android app. Some of you might be interested
it in and others might have questions about it, so here are answers to
the questions I thought of so far.
*Q: I used the Evergreen android app created long ago. What did you
change?
A: *Quite a lot. This one is simpler, it tries to do less, and it
crashes less. It uses the ActionBar interface to navigate between
activities. It stores credentials using the native AccountManager,
which is more secure and robust.
*
*
*Q: Can I use this app with my C/W MARS library?
A: *Yes you can! In fact, this app works with *only *C/W MARS
libraries. The old app required the OSRF URL. Nobody I asked knew that
URL, they navigated to the OPAC through other sites. So I built the
URL into the app, so patrons can get started quickly without help.
*Q: Where can I get the C/W MARS app?
A: *At the play store,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.cwmars
*Q: Can I build a custom app for my Evergreen library system?
A: *Sure! It takes very little coding (really resource editing) to
customize the app for another library URL. If you can supply the
artwork, I can help with the packaging and publishing. Or, you can do
it yourself; the code is in the Evergreen git repo on the branch
user/kenstir/android-action-bar
*Q: Why isn't there a generic app that works with any Evergreen library?
A: *Dan told me there should be. He's right, of course. I postponed
sending this email for a long time thinking I would get around to
doing it. I still mean to.
*Q: Don't you know you can access the OPAC with the web client on your
android phone, and your tablet, and your iPhone? That people have too
many apps already?
A: *Yes, I know. I didn't like using the OPAC with the web client on
my phone. I waited for a year, I have a bigger phone, and I still
don't like it. Sorry. I am sure in the end it will probably be
better to have a responsive web app that works well across all
devices. In the meantime, I use this app just about every day. It
serves a need, I like it.
Regards,
Ken
--
Kathy Lussier
Project Coordinator
Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative
(508) 343-0128
[email protected]
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier
