[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] C/W MARS Evergreen android app FAQ

[Kathy Lussier]

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
klussier at masslnc.org
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier

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