Add app links to Nextcloud Android Dev similar to external pages

[e-alfred]

Hello,

additional apps installed into Nextcloud should be shown as items in the menu of the mobile app just like the external pages it shows now. As it already shows web pages, this would be handy to show additional Nextcloud apps that are already shown in the browser on mobile/desktop.

This would remove the requirement to switch to a browser from the Nextcloud app instead of listing and displaying them directly inside the official Nextcloud app.

Additionally, a new handler could be created that allows dedicated companion apps for Android that interface directly with certain Nextcloud apps (like for example a Bookmarks app or Notes app) so an Android menu shows up which app to use/start (either the web app inside the Nextcloud app or the dedicated one).

[tobiasKaminsky]

I am unsure about this. While it is technically possible, it is no nice UI/UX as it is a whole different view. @jancborchardt

[e-alfred]

Well, if I add an external page to Nextcloud that is not responsive, the same usability problem arises. But most Nextcloud apps are already designed to be responsive and work well in most mobile browsers. So this would just integrate them better into the development version of the Nextcloud Android app at least.

Currently it is a bit strange to have all those external pages there but not the apps installed into Nextcloud. To use these, one has to switch to a mobile browser or use a companion app, if available.

[jancborchardt]

Good point actually. So there's three cases:

1. Apps where there is a native app on the phone like Contacts and Calendar
2. Apps where there are community-developed Android apps for like Tasks, News, Bookmarks and Notes
3. Apps where as of now there's no phone app available, like Video calls or Deck.

So all apps should show up in the sidebar as they do in the apps bar on the server. In case 1 and 2, clicking the app name (e.g. Calendar) should launch the relevant app. If there are multiple ones, a preference could be asked for (like Androids "Open with" dialog maybe?) In case 3, a webview to show the app would be great, with an icon on the top right to open it in the browser.

Is that possible, or can we move there step by step? :)

[tobiasKaminsky]

For contacts and calendar: to not clutter the UI/sidebar I would just ommit them. I do not see a real benefit as they are both native integrated and I doubt an user woud open nc app to open up contacts ;-)

For 2: launch the app or offer fdroid/play store if app is not included For 3: yes, this is possible, but what is the benefit from opening it in the browser? You then would have to login again (and it is the same behaviour we have now).

[jancborchardt]

Ok, agree with your assessments @tobiasKaminsky :)

[tobiasKaminsky]

I discussed this with @rullzer security-wise and ux-wise: open any app in an internal website would be possible, but then the server/apps need to be somehow restructured

• no menu/top bar shown
• do not allow to navigate outside of the app
• have an app whitelisted as "suitable for mobile"

So this needs first to be tackled on server.

[e-alfred]

no menu/top bar shown

Just for reference, the Onlyoffice Desktop Editor that now supports connecting to Nextcloud does basically just that with the files app.

[jakobroehrl]

@jancborchardt and @tobiasKaminsky Are there any news or progress on this topic?

[jancborchardt]

If there’s any news, this will be the first place to have them. :) So no, not at the moment.

[UserXH726]

I'm not a web developer and certainly not an app developer, so please forgive me if I do not quite understand the development backgrounds.

* no menu/top bar shown

Is it not possible, to load just the page which is loaded by the iframe (which contains/shows the apps, in the native browser view.) So there are no menu/top bar.

* do not allow to navigate outside of the app

Would that be a real problem?

* have an app whitelisted as "suitable for mobile"

Would that be a real problem? So the user have to try it. You can also implement that feature as experimental which has to be activated in the settings.

For 3: yes, this is possible, but what is the benefit from opening it in the browser? You then would have to login again (and it is the same behaviour we have now).

Is there no possibility, that the app is logging me in automatically?

[Eisteed]

Hi, is there anything new about this ? I'm also really interested in that, currently using external site links for easy access in app for users (using sogo, dolibarr, ..), I'm currently creating a custom nextcloud app to interact with nextcloud directly but I was surprised to see that there's no way to enable it in nextcloud for android/iphone.

[Albonycal]

Ant updates?

[joshtrichards]

I'm failing to understand why this would be specific to Dev editions of the client? What am I missing?