Import/Export browser configuration

[foxjaw]

Preliminary checklist

• [X] I have read the README
• [X] I have read the FAQs.
• [X] I have searched existing issues for my feature request. This is a new issue (NOT a duplicate) and is not related to another issue.
• [X] I have searched wont fix issues and this request is not among them
• [X] This is a feature request for the Cromite browser; not the website nor F-Droid nor anything else.

Is your feature request related to privacy?

No

Is there a patch available for this feature somewhere?

No

Describe the solution you would like

Give interface for backing up / restoring site settings & config on a fresh install.

Describe alternatives you have considered

Not sure

[foxjaw]

Being a root user, one can backup the appdata to achieve this anyways.

[uazo]

no, sync is better, just be patient, I will do it.

https://github.com/uazo/cromite/issues/408

[foxjaw]

I mean, syncing is a different concept. Where do we get to store the configuration then ?

[uazo]

Where do we get to store the configuration then ?

do you mean in the case of sync? ah, I don't know yet.

[foxjaw]

@uazo I can understand what you've understood mate. Syncing does help storing & retrieving the browser configuration. But it's a very broad term. Syncing in a server ? syncing device to device like Brave's sync chain ? or syncing through a custom proxy of a user's self hosted server ?

Which is why a locally backing up / restoring model is a very convenient, time saving & affordable way.

[uazo]

Syncing in a server ? syncing device to device like Brave's sync chain ? or syncing through a custom proxy of a user's self hosted server ?

I do not have an answer to give you, when I do I will consider every possibility, for now I am not thinking about it.

Which is why a locally backing up / restoring model is a very convenient, time saving & affordable way.

but it takes time and between developing this and sync I prefer to spend time on sync. of course, I prefer it, but I will gladly accept a patch that does what you ask.

[foxjaw]

I do not have an answer to give you, when I do I will consider every possibility, for now I am not thinking about it.

That sums it up. But remember that I didn't bring up sync discussion into the table.

I will gladly accept a patch that does what you ask.

Tq mate. I ain't a dev so I hope the project future goes well.

[drogga]

This can be super useful when there's sudden power loss (improper shutdown) because Chromium based browsers tend to loose 98% of the preferences I made, except the bookmarks, so I usually have to set up everything again in such cases. This has to include everything, including the flags, because I don't use Google or other accounts signed-in my devices, so an online sync will most probably have to be tied to an account that uses diff. settings for diff. instances, because I use diff. preferences for different devices and I will have to rely on yet another account that I will have to sign into Cromite in order to sync and this probably won't be reliable. The backup/restore most likely has to be a manual process to the storage, which potentially will be user's task from time to time and might not contain the latest changes when a sudden data loss happens, but still it's better than nothing...

I currently keep the custom flags changes in a .txt file and the Site settings + other ones I tend to remember. I've lost preferences so many times now, that it now with training takes me ~30 min. to setup everything all over again.

BTW, this is on Android, non-Rooted system and it happens with the Bromite & Kiwi, the only 2 Chromium based ones I use on daily basis. I haven't experienced this with Cromite yet, simply because it's installed on another system, which has a working battery and thankfully doesn't suddenly power-off, plus I don't use Cromite much, because of the annoyances I'm waiting to be finally addressed, which are a big problem for me (the text selection context options, which are third-party listed first)

[foxjaw]

@drogga Dev said he'll prefer syncing methodology over config backups. Although he's okay to merge if a patch exist. Btw you can always backup appdata if you're rooted anyways. I use Neo Backup, which is forked from OsmBackup.

[uazo]

I currently keep the custom flags changes in a .txt file

since it has become an OT, never change the flags! is too dangerous if you don't know what you are changing. I am available if you want a developer's opinion on any flags you want, put them in a discussion.

[foxjaw]

Do flags come under configuration btw ? The issue trackers did not seem to mention backing up of any sort of configuration. I'll change this feature request from site config to overall config then...

[drogga]

IDK what's "OT", but I'm a power user with a little experience in reversing engineering android packages, so I think I'm well aware of the flags I change, which are not many (17 in Kiwi, way less in Bromite) and only the ones I want, not just to test things. Thank You for the kind help offer tho. ;)

I don't think it's currently necessary to create yet another issue ticket or a discussion topic regarding this at the moment. I will just say that I tried to add an additional button from the flags in Cromite and it didn't show (there are ~3/4 related ones). I hope this isn't too much of a off-topic.

[uazo]

so I think I'm well aware of the flags I change

@drogga as you prefer, you know where to find me :) and I would still like to have a discussion on modified flags.

[inson1]

@uazo imo sync and import/export are 2 different features, sync isnt backup

[uazo]

imo sync and import/export are 2 different features, sync isnt backup

it's true, but in the chromium code there is a mode called "local sync" which I don't know what exactly it is (yet :) but it could be exploited as a backup.

[inson1]

@uazo idk about "local sync", but backup with sync isnt backup, backup should be snapshot in one point in time and should not be changing after that imo the best would be reopen this and if thanks to future change/s or feature/s it wouldnt be needed, then it could be closed then :)

[komprimiert]

Syncing in a server ? syncing device to device like Brave's sync chain ? or syncing through a custom proxy of a user's self hosted server ?

I do not have an answer to give you, when I do I will consider every possibility, for now I am not thinking about it.

Which is why a locally backing up / restoring model is a very convenient, time saving & affordable way.

but it takes time and between developing this and sync I prefer to spend time on sync. of course, I prefer it, but I will gladly accept a patch that does what you ask.

is there a estimated time for sync?

[foxjaw]

It's basically storing these files in an xml like backup file.

/@APPDATA-DIR@/shared_prefs/*.xml

And restoring it.

[uazo]

@foxjaw no, it is not enough, the entire 'Default' (profile) folder must be backed up.

[uazo]

is there a estimated time for sync?

@komprimiert no, all issues are at the same priority, apart from bugs.

[foxjaw]

@foxjaw no, it is not enough, the entire 'Default' (profile) folder must be backed up.

No no it's dangerous. There'll be cookies, sessions, webdata, history, etc. Browser configuration & Profile configurations are separate.

[uazo]

Browser configuration & Profile configurations are separate.

is correct, but the backup is of the folder while the restore is to be assumed configurable