Other B4A v8.00 BETA has been released!

[Erel]

I'm very happy to release B4A v8.00 BETA. This update includes many important improvements and makes it simpler to target the latest versions of Android.

(image source: android.com)

As explained in this tutorial, all apps will soon need to target sdk version 26 (Android 8). This is a new policy of Google and it has many consequences for app developers. Many of the improvements in B4A v8.0 help developers with this task.

Improvements:

• The process of starting the app from the background was rewritten to comply with targetSdkVersion 26 requirements.
• Push notifications and other features that cause apps to start from the background should be more reliable due to changes in the way services are started. A wake lock is automatically held when a receiver receives an intent. The wake lock is released when the service starts.
• Automatic foreground mode: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/automatic-foreground-mode.90546/
  
• Notification object rewritten to work with targetSdkVersion 26. In most cases you don't need to change anything. Notification.SetInfo or Notification.SetInfo2 should be the last calls before you show the notification.
• Notification.SetInfo / SetInfo2 accept CharSequences so it can work with CSBuilder.
• StartServiceAt / StartServiceAtExact rewritten to work with targetSdkVersion 26 and they are now more reliable.
• Notification.Initialize2 - Allows to set the notification channel importance level.
  
• Better support for AAR libraries: jni folders (native libraries) are handled properly, assets and resources from internal jars are added to the project.
• Signing key size is explicitly set to avoid issues with newer versions of Java.
• B4A Sdk Manager v3.22 - Bug fixes and support for Google based AVDs.
• Screenshot tool modified to work with latest versions of Android SDK.
• MediaPlayer.IsInitialzied method.
• Manifest editor macros - Macros can be added to libraries or zip files. For example to set a light theme based on Android version:
  
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, Themes.LightTheme)
  Unless you are setting a custom theme then it is recommended to use either Themes.LightTheme or Themes.DarkTheme.
  
  Firebase push notifications:
  
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseAnalytics.GooglePlayBase)
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseAnalytics.Firebase)
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseNotifications.FirebaseNotifications)
  https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/new-feature-manifest-macros.90398/#content
  
  
• Custom class templates - Class templates can be added to libraries.
  For example if you add the XUI library to your project then you will have an option to add a custom view based on XUI:
  
  
  
  
  
  Libraries can include multiple templates and any library can include templates.
  
• #SignKeyAlias attribute - Allows overriding the default signing key alias.
• Firebase and xCustomListView are internal libraries.
• Libraries deprecation messages in the IDE:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Fix for a very long standing issue where the activity code could have been executed while the activity is paused which leads to a hard to reproduce NullPointerException.
• BADoclet (tool to generate libraries XML) v1.07 - adds support for custom class templates.
  
• Other bug fixes and minor improvements.

Backward compatibility notes

• Notification.SetInfo or SetInfo2 should be the last calls before you use the notification. Note that standard notifications created with previous versions of B4A will not work at all on Android 8+ when targetSdkVersion is 26+.
• Adding a service, other than the Starter service, will add the WAKE_LOCK permission. This is a non-dangerous permission.
  As mentioned above a wake lock is held automatically when a service is started from the background and until Service_Start is called. You can remove this permission with:
  
  RemovePermission(android.permission.WAKE_LOCK)
  Everything will still work, however the service might fail to start from the background in some cases.

Developers eligible for a free upgrade should receive an email with upgrade instructions.
I remind you that this is a beta version.

 

[Jmu5667]

Awesome !

 

[Star-Dust]

Many thanks, we felt the need.

 

[RonSens]

Great Erel, thank you!
This is really a fantastic tool and we are using it a lot right now for all different kind of apps.

 

[Cableguy]

Would it be too difficult to allow for a custom template? (Personal template).

 

[Peter Simpson]

Thank you @Erel

 

[tufanv]

Thanks ! It will be very easy to switch to new requirements

 

[Multiverse app]

Sooo much excited to try it!

 

[DonManfred]

Sooo much excited to try it!

Agree. Especially i want to try the new Drone Lib and adapt my DroneUI-Lib

 

[Erel]

Would it be too difficult to allow for a custom template? (Personal template).

You can create a "stub" library that holds your templates. Start a new thread and I'll explain it. It is quite simple.

 

[Addo]

Thank you Erel waiting for upgrade email I am excited to experience all of this improvements

Edit I just received the email thank you alot will test it soon

 

[Star-Dust]

I have already tried and it seems like a Interesting upgrade. Will there be tutorial for the news?
For example, Custom class templates

 

[Erel]

Will there be tutorial for the news?

Yes.

 

[Germán Arduino]

Thanks for the new version!

I should install it in a different directory, to maintain my current "stable" version?

Thanks.

 

[lemonisdead]

I should install it in a different directory, to maintain my current "stable" version?

At least for the beta ; just change the destination directory. When the stable version will be published you'd choose or not to put it in your main directory.

 

[DonManfred]

As it is a BETA Version i would install it in another path.

 

[Germán Arduino]

Thanks @lemonisdead and @DonManfred.

In the future, when 8.0 will get stable the upgrade process is simply install over my current directory? Or I should uninstall the current version first?

Thanks.

 

[DonManfred]

is simply install over my current directory?

yes. I always do it this way.

 

[lemonisdead]

Or I should uninstall the current version first?

Just install the stable over the previous stable (but it is not necessary and you can keep both if you wish ; that's your choice). Only the shortcut in Windows start menu is updated.

 

[Germán Arduino]

Thanks guys!