[Feature Request/Discussion] App Links for automatically adding transactions to Cashew

[HenryWu01]

Thanks you for developing such an nice budget management application. I would like to request an API for adding bills, enabling “Cashew” to bypass the need for in-app support for automatic bill recording. Third-party applications can take on the responsibility of implementing methods to extract bill information from payment apps, either through reading program data or OCR, and subsequently calling the “Cashew” API to add the extracted information to the bills. This approach would facilitate “automated” bill recording.

I believe the most suitable method for this purpose would be to implement a URI scheme. Since this feature is exclusively for adding records, there are no significant concerns regarding data leakage. “Cashew” can enhance security and control by implementing measures such as “API keys”, “rate limiting”, and an “application allow list” to thwart any potential malicious software or behaviors.

A popular app in China named “钱迹” (Qianji) already offers a feature like this.

Below is a sample URI scheme:

cashew://addbill?type=0&amount=123.4&account=Account&category=Category&subcategory=Subcategory&time=2023-10-29T00:00:00Z&remark=Sample

Name	Description
type	Type of transaction (e.g., expense, income, transfer, etc.)
amount	Transaction amount
account	Account book
category	Transaction category
subcategory	Transaction subcategory
time	Transaction time
remark	Transaction remark

[jameskokoska]

Somewhat duplicate of https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/issues/99

Since Cashew is a server less application and all data is stored on device, there is no API connection that can be created. Cashew does not connect to any application specific server for getting user data and therefore cannot receive requests.

[HenryWu01]

I'm sorry I did not clearly explain this feature. This feature propose an URI scheme that allows third-party applications to add bill into Cashew. It's not about editing or exporting, just inserting bills using URI Scheme

[jameskokoska]

As I mentioned, Cashew does not have any backend server to connect to. It's a server-less application.

Edit: After looking into it more, it seems like a server-less solution is possible with deep linking (not app linking). I can look into adding this in the future, however I'm going to keep this issue closed as I have no immediate plans as of now. I find this is a really niche feature.

[HenryWu01]

Thank you for considering this feature. Yes, it is possible with the serverless app through deep-linking (URI scheme). That's what I am saying about the feature. Provice some kind of URI scheme or deep linking so other application can call it to add bill into Cashew. Sorry for the unclear description of the feature

[jameskokoska]

Added in 5.2.3+328 Documentation here: https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#app-links

[HenryWu01]

Added in 5.2.3+328 Documentation here: https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#app-links

Thank you so much! With this feature implemented, Cashew can be so powerful to use. Thank you for taking consideration of this feature and implementing it!

[ngocanhtve]

Added in 5.2.3+328 Documentation here: https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#app-links

Thank you so much! With this feature implemented, Cashew can be so powerful to use. Thank you for taking consideration of this feature and implementing it!

How to use this feature?

[jameskokoska]

Added in 5.2.3+328 Documentation here: https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#app-links

Thank you so much! With this feature implemented, Cashew can be so powerful to use. Thank you for taking consideration of this feature and implementing it!

How to use this feature?

The documentation has some examples of its usage! Please see the README

[ngocanhtve]

The documentation has some examples

Read it but don't understand how it works. Can't imagine how it would work. Can @HenryWu01 illustrate?

[tiniwings]

The documentation has some examples

Read it but don't understand how it works. Can't imagine how it would work. Can @HenryWu01 illustrate?

Hi, I am using this applink feature with Tasker integration to automate my credit card transactions.

Below are some sreps at high level, implementation is more customized based on individual usage.

1. In Tasker you can read the incoming sms notification from bank/credit card and split the information into multiple parts like Amount, Category..
2. In Tasker there is an option to trigger custom URL with specified app.
3. Using the split information we create the custom Cashew applink with amount, category information and trigger that link from Tasker whenever we receive transaction sms/notification.
4. The URL will automatically opens cashew app creates a transaction.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank @HenryWu01 and @jameskokoska for this feature, as this is the biggest reason I have moved to Cashew app for budgeting. 🙏

[jameskokoska]

@tiniwings I'm glad you made good use out of this feature :)

Similar to Tasker, a free alternative - Automate (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.llamalab.automate) can do a similar workflow. Here's a proof of concept flow for those interested:

[HappyBear-btc]

so are you considering opening TG group?

[jameskokoska]

so are you considering opening TG group?

Please see https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/issues/154

[HappyBear-btc]

right. thanks.

[jameskokoska]

Just thought I would throw this in here for fun. Linking Cashew's App Link API with Google Gemini AI has a lot of potential!

https://github.com/jameskokoska/Cashew/assets/50821962/c66581c5-482c-49da-8eb3-ce1175778753

[Akv2021]

@jameskokoska Didn't get the part how you're proposing to use Google Gemini AI above. Also, Would you mind sharing the automator script which can act as a reference since the current documentation doesn't talk about any sample script which extracts the data from incoming message & posts to cashew URI.

[RoshanJ20]

@Akv2021 @jameskokoska So, i tried making a flow for this feature on Automate. I can link it up here. The app package can be changed according to your required banking app. You may also need to change the regex pattern (I used https://regex101.com/ ). I have also defaulted to Shopping coz why not. Have Fun!

Download here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aPjvzjKtXM-ng0p1j_4x5KCyjsxSqdVi/view?usp=sharing

[MaazAhmad360]

@jameskokoska can we get an App Link for transfer between accounts? Apart from that really love the already added app links!

[pietroMonta42]

I really like the app, can you implement a multiple account feature where i can have multiple google accounts and i can change between them with a tap Thaks