Using server hosted BlazorAppPackage

soend commented 5 years ago

Hello, this is create project and i really like the idea but i was wondering if it would be possible to make the webview to show blazor app package downloaded from a server. That way if i make changes in the blazor app i would not have to push out new apk every time.

Daddoon commented 5 years ago

Well this is a very interesting idea. I already though about this scenario, but never added it to the issues list.

In my opinion, you should be able to offer this behavior by modifying your code logic in the WebApplicationFactory.RegisterAppStreamResolver given delegate.

If my memory is good, the current delegate implementation is in the AppPackage project, but feel free to register it from somewhere more convenient for you.

The idea to achieve your goal would be:

Having a "base" version of your app, already shipped in your app for the first launch (or not if you have another idea of mecanism)
Having a webserver that can deliver an updated BlazorMobile app package.
The idea is that when you have an update available (fetched from your server) you would only have to download it (the BlazorMobile app package zip) and stock it on the user device, in a private storage area of your app.
Then when your app load a second time (or if you reload the WebView by yourself), just adjust the RegisterAppStreamResolver code to open the app stream from your downloaded and cached zip, instead of the embedded version. Actually, you may only have to write a code that manage loading the app if there is any other version downloaded or not, and it will work transparently.

The only thing you cannot do with this scenario, is if you need to update the Xamarin.Forms abstraction layer, like adding new interop services and behavior to native.

But if you only updated the Web app (Blazor), there will be no problem at all.

Daddoon commented 5 years ago

Btw, i think it would be nice to have a sample / little guide about this type of feature in the README.

I keep this issue open for tracking, as i will try to add some example guide for this request.

soend commented 5 years ago

Thanks, you described exactly the idea what i had. Would be nice to get some pointers where to start when one would like to implement this.

Daddoon commented 5 years ago

If you are patient, i will try to post a guide during this week.

Daddoon commented 5 years ago

Sorry, i had a lot of works.

I still have to write documentation about this, and i think i will take this into the form of a tutorial, here or on my future website.

Stay tuned!