Make it work on (managed) iPads

[zu]

Managed iPads (as we use them in prison, where restrictions apply, obviously) are an interesting scenario. As a WordPress teacher and teacher in prison I want to teach participants how to create a website so they can prepare a website for the time after their imprisonment.

Managed iPads are ordinary iPads but are integrated with a device management system which allows to set restrictions, remote control certain features etc. In our case and as a common scenario that means:

• the device can only connect to a certain hotspot (in the classroom) and has no connection to the internet via any other means
• acceptable websites are whitelisted (and need to be approved concerning usefulness, security etc. in a lengthy process)
• the App store is deactivated, and Apps can only be installed via a self-service platform. To become listed here, apps need to be approved by the same or a similar approval process as websites
• Sharing (e.g via AirDrop) is not possible from student to student but only via classroom management app through the teacher.

In my case that means:

• it might become possible to get a selfhosted playground platform whitelisted, but I see no chance for this in the next few years.
• it seems unrealistic to get a public playground platform whitelisted when installs and updates come from other "public" sites as the risk of smuggled-in code and/or information will hinder approval (even if the danger wouldn't be real)

In my understanding a realistic scenario could be a selfcontained app. Not a pwa that needs to load external sources but an app that runs in a webview or safari on iPad. To make it persisitent a zip file should contain everything or be able to get everything from within the app (even on another device) and there should be no need to load anything from outside the app.

I hope, I could describe the requirements comprehensible. I also understand that it's a special case but I'm sure it would be a great step to "democratize publishing" that will be usable in other contexts as prison as well.

Let me know if you need further information. Also, thanks to @adamziel for encouraging me to open this issue.

[adamziel]

Such an interesting use-case @zu! I would love to find a way to make it work. I have a few questions:

1. How can you deliver a zip file (or any file) onto that device? You've mentioned Airdrop – I understand you can send a file over wifi from another device? Is there any other option, or is that it?
2. Once a zip file is on the device, will you able to unzip it?
3. If you can unzip it, would Safari be able to load it from a local directory?

My assumption is that the app would actually be an HTML file. @ellatrix explored a self-contained version of Playground loaded from a local HTML file with no service workers. Every resource was loaded via data URLs. The same approach could work here. Or were you thinking about another way of delivering an app?

[zu]

Hi Adam

1. There is an App called Classroom that is commonly used to distribute files to students. it's also possible to use a memory stick to deliver files.
2. Yes, a zip can be unzipped
3. I think, it's not possible to open a local file in Safari. I can open a html file in the file viewer, but this seems to not support local / relativ urls.

It might only be possible via an app (that needs to go through the approval process. :-( ) There is an app called worldwideweb that makes it possible to browse local files.

Anyway playground and blocknotes look very promising and it seems we're not far from a native WordPress app running on iPad. Looking forward to it and of course I'm ready to test and try out whatever comes my way.

Thank you so much for playground! Even when I'm not yet able to use it exactly how I dream, it's almost unbelievable that I'm even dreaming that far.