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nextcloud / android

📱 Nextcloud Android app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nextcloud.client
GNU General Public License v2.0
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More integrated Calendar & Contacts sync? #4691

Open jancborchardt opened 5 years ago

jancborchardt commented 5 years ago

Calendar and Contacts sync is possible through DAVx5, which we try to make as simple as possible, but it does remain a bit nerdy simply for the fact that you have to install another app too.

There’s currently also a lively thread about it on the forum: https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-is-contact-syncing-so-convoluted/61757/19

Would it be possible to have something like a "headless" version of DAVx5 integrated in the Android app which makes the UX much more seamless?

What do you think @tobiasKaminsky @AndyScherzinger? and cc @rfc2822 @devvv4ever of DAVx5

tobiasKaminsky commented 5 years ago

We have multiple options, but all have in common that we do not include davx5 library in our app, as of

So ideas to enhance this are

jancborchardt commented 5 years ago

Right, ok. Some possible improvements then:

Since many people probably don’t have DAVx5 installed yet, the first click on "Sync calendar & contacts" will lead to the Play Store for installation. Then you basically have to know to click on "Sync calendar & contacts" again to take over your data.

tobiasKaminsky commented 5 years ago 
* One thing that people mentioned in the thread is that they are confused by being asked about if they want to install OpenTasks or not. Why is it necessary to choose this _before_ setting up DAVx5, do you know?

No idea and this is totally unrelated to this thread. Please ask this the davX5 crew.

devvv4ever commented 5 years ago 
* One thing that people mentioned in the thread is that they are confused by being asked about if they want to install OpenTasks or not. Why is it necessary to choose this _before_ setting up DAVx5, do you know?

AFAIR this was necessary for older Android versions where the permissions system was different to the one which is present now.

We've now implemented Nextcloud login flow (can be called from Nextcloud app) in DAVx⁵ 2.6 – which is currently in beta and will be released next week hopefully! So in newer versions of the NC app and DAVx⁵ the login process can be a lot easier for Nextcloud users :)

rfc2822 commented 5 years ago

On SDK level <23, you have to install OpenTasks before apps which access OpenTasks because of the permissions system.

DAVx⁵ shows an additional message on API level <23, see https://gitlab.com/bitfireAT/davx5-ose/blob/cd9518c6194752d172d06f2bb12e2ec802419f2a/app/src/main/java/at/bitfire/davdroid/ui/StartupDialogFragment.kt#L127

On >= 23, there's only a hint to users that they can install OpenTasks when they want to synchronize tasks.

tobiasKaminsky commented 5 years ago

@jancborchardt Ricki integrated use of login flow in DavX5 and I enabled to use it on our side. So if you no click on "set up davx5" and have 2.6 installed you can login directly via login flow.

Thank you @rfc2822 for the integration :tada: :tada: :tada: :tada: :tada: I think this is as close to perfect/easy as possible :tada: (I keep this open to not forget the idea about "auto generate app token".)

ghost commented 5 years ago

Well done everyone! ☺

There was another main topic in the forum thread. They want to be able to sync contacts from other android accounts to import them in a more real time manner. The only way today is to export a vcf and then import that in the webui. Of course not practical if you want to pick up new or changed contacts. Nextcloud app does seem to be able to export vcf contacts, but I'm not what I'd they are from all local android accounts.

Thank you.

raphaeljolivet commented 4 years ago

I totally agree with this feature request. This is mainly the reason why non-nerds don't go to FOSS : usability. Calendar & Contact sync should be integrated by default and easy to configure (2 checkboxes for enabling / disabling it).

""stealing" their work somehow" This is an invalid argument. That the exactly the spirit of FOSS : enhance, reuse

The recent integration of login flow is a great improvement (thanks for that) but still a useless step from a user point of view. You may consider to embed DAVx completely.

Thanks for your work and for this great app !

sunjam commented 3 years ago

It would be useful to clarify how to login to davx5 from the Nextcloud app. That would make the process more friendly.

The layout is confusing

Login with email address
Login with URL and user name
Advanced Login (special use cases)
devvv4ever commented 3 years ago

Simply click the DAVx5 button in your NC app and it will guide you through the setup easily. No need for the standard login methods. But you can also use the login with URL method, alternatively. Click the small question mark in that screen to see details if you want to make the setup manually.

julianfairfax commented 2 years ago

I totally agree with this feature request. This is mainly the reason why non-nerds don't go to FOSS : usability. Calendar & Contact sync should be integrated by default and easy to configure (2 checkboxes for enabling / disabling it).

""stealing" their work somehow" This is an invalid argument. That the exactly the spirit of FOSS : enhance, reuse

The recent integration of login flow is a great improvement (thanks for that) but still a useless step from a user point of view. You may consider to embed DAVx completely.

Thanks for your work and for this great app !

I don't see how this is off-topic. It's basically the entire issue: the Nextcloud should handle all of Nextcloud's syncing itself. If this is not something you want to ever do, then this issue should be closed, because this is why it was opened.

Iwios commented 1 year ago

Hello, in 2023 this features is on discuss?4

I have some diffculties to make acceptable Nextcloud and this features (Agenda, Contact, Task) because users need to paid for install Davx5 from play store, or install f-droid, accept install from no signed sources, install Davx5.

For mainstream users, is a no go :/

sunjam commented 1 year ago

For mainstream users, is a no go :/

Actually, this is the way. You have every option possible on Android for Davx5. Install from:

This covers basically every option on Android imaginable for free or paid.

*Perhaps these comments can be removed from this discussion since they are off-topic. Cheers.

raphaeljolivet commented 1 year ago

This covers basically every option on Android imaginable for free or paid.

I still don't get it : I agree with @Iwios : this is still a no go / too complex for most people. Having a single app and consistent experience is what makes the difference between GAFAMs and FOSS solutions. There is no way we can convince non-geek to transition to better privacy with complex and poorly designed solutions.

DavX5 is open source with GPL license it is 100% complatible with the license of Nextcloud and could seamlessly be integrated into a single app. This is exactly the purpose of open source licenses.

Iwios commented 1 year ago

For mainstream users, is a no go :/

Actually, this is the way. You have every option possible on Android for Davx5. Install from:

* F-Droid for free

* pay one time $5.99 from Google Play store (because Play costs the developer and they cannot exist without making money to pay their devs somehow)

* Amazon store

* Galaxy store

* App Gallery store

This covers basically every option on Android imaginable for free or paid.

*Perhaps these comments can be removed from this discussion since they are off-topic. Cheers.

Thank for your answer and discuss about this point.

But for me, Yes actually this is the way, but another way was possible, discuss about it for a futur developement is a godd thing in my opinion :)

tobiasKaminsky commented 1 year ago

We still have no enough dev capacities to include entire davx5 within files app. So right now unfortunately still the only possible "solution" is to use DavX5 as a standalone app.