B4J Question simplest way to have optional UI for non-UI app ?

peacemaker · Aug 20, 2022

Hi, All

If a server app is being developed, that must work 24\7 on server, without window-interface, but it needs some settings (periodical manual operations, adjusting...), setup by a user - how simpler\faster to implement the settings user interface ?

Web-app should have documented access, and needs to develop HTML forms code, and make the handlers and classes for them ... maybe is there more simple way for interface ?

EnriqueGonzalez · Aug 21, 2022

peacemaker said:
how simpler\faster to implement the settings user interface ?

Jserver allows you to have non ui handlers. What I mean is that a non ui doesn't need to receive and send html.

It can also receive json or even maps and list with b4xserializator.

I would suggest creating another app in any other b4x platform that sends instructions to the app via http.

peacemaker · Aug 21, 2022

EnriqueGonzalez said:
Jserver allows you to have non ui handlers

Did you mean 2 apps talk via Sockets (MQTT, for ex.) ?
How via JSON over HTTP ?

EnriqueGonzalez · Aug 21, 2022

peacemaker said:
Did you mean 2 apps talk via Sockets (MQTT, for ex.) ?

Jserver uses http protocol. You can send any instruction to it. (for example: A post request with httpjob with a json)

But now that you mention it. You can instantiate an mqtt on a background worker and send instructions too.

[server] Background Workers

jServer v2.70 adds support for background workers (https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/updates-to-internal-libaries.48274/#post-465493). A background worker is a class instance that is initialized by a background thread. You can keep the class instance running for as long as the server is...

www.b4x.com

The first idea is more elegant but any would be okey.

tchart · Aug 21, 2022

+1 jserver with a basic HTML UI. If you need to update config or send instructions to the app you can use a web socket.

jahswant · Aug 21, 2022

It will be like a WebApp with your embedded server for your tasks. Use the HTML forms to make your configuration

peacemaker · Aug 21, 2022

jahswant said:
WebApp with your embedded server for your tasks

Yes, exactly.

jahswant said:
HTML forms to make your configuration

So, is it simpler solution you think ?

Now i'm guessing about B4XSerializator passing a Map with settings parameters that are viewed and edited by a second B4J UI app...
Map with items with the type something like:

B4X:

Type MySetting (Name As String, strValue As String, boolValue As Boolean, numValue As Float, Image() As Byte)
'or even simpler:
Type MySetting (Name As String, Value As String, Image() As Byte)

And name like "boolFlag1" or "strURL1" may help to parse each such setting parameter inside the map...

jahswant · Aug 21, 2022

Yes this is the simplest solution. You will not need any desktop application for this no ! You will design your html forms and use websockets in your in your server to access data input from a browser

jahswant · Aug 21, 2022

Try this example.

https://www.b4x.com:51041/guessmynumber_ws/index.html

peacemaker · Aug 21, 2022

jahswant said:
Try this example.

https://www.b4x.com:51041/guessmynumber_ws/index.html

Yes, thanks, i saw this. I only know that i know almost nothing about JS and few about HTML. So, B4J UI may be simpler... just for me, but you are right - it's another extra UI app to be prepared, but ... what faster\simpler...

peacemaker · Aug 22, 2022

What about the idea to pass a new setting to a working non-UI app1 (in any OS - desktop or server) - by another non-UI app2 that is started with CLI-parameters (settings) and then app2 is sending them by Sockets to app1 ?
This looks like the universal solution - any OS can be used for settings.

EnriqueGonzalez · Aug 22, 2022

peacemaker said:
by another non-UI app2 that is started with CLI-parameters (settings) and then app2 is sending them by Sockets to app1 ?

that sound convoluted. if you make your app accept JSON or a simple text with instructions, you could use any terminal with CURL without having to install java.

peacemaker · Aug 22, 2022

EnriqueGonzalez said:
you could use any terminal with CURL without having to install java

yes, but for a system operator (that is to be a manager, not Linux user\admin) should be some readable interface, with settings choice and\or entering text...

EnriqueGonzalez · Aug 22, 2022

peacemaker said:
that is to be a manager,

okey, but then you can still do Http instead of the sockets in the admin app. you already have the tool: httpjob. if you want to do sockets look in the forum for websocketclient library.

aeric · Aug 22, 2022

Not very clear what you want to achieve but my understanding is something similar to my Web API Server and UI Client Apps.

[Project Template] Web API Server

Updates: Web API Server 2.0 is available. Check https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/project-template-web-api-server-2.143310/ Version: 1.16 Description: Create Web API Server with CRUD functionalities Sample application: [B4X] Todo List based on Web API Template: Web API Server...

www.b4x.com

peacemaker · Aug 22, 2022

aeric said:
what you want to achieve

Universal (from any OS, desktop or server one) and simplest (for the developer) and clear\readable (for system operator\user) way to read-write the settings of the console non-UI server B4J 24\7 app.

And, it seems, now to me, that it is ... a plane HTML POST-method form from user's web-browser (or extra non-UI CURL app from a server OS). Nothing new and special

Magma · Aug 23, 2022

..you can have a second app (b4j,b4a,b4i) that will create "ini" file - and the "main" app can just loading it very some seconds (can also check if the settings are same or different from previous load... just a whole-string check)...

Will be easier interface... but more for local app... not for internet apps...
internet apps and easy creating ....will go with html interface too... with html forms... reading writing an sqlite db...

But... if you want a complicated solution... you can use an MQTT Server (third company may be)... to transfer settings through it ... and have b4x UI... cloud rulez

peacemaker · Aug 23, 2022

Magma said:
but more for local app... not for internet apps...

Why ? For any webserver app:

Read the settings from ServletResponse to HTML form (pre-setting the current settings)
Writing HTML form fields (new settings) to ServletRequest

Magma said:
MQTT Server

Yes, it's even more universal solution, where any host can read and write settings to any.

aeric · Aug 23, 2022

peacemaker said:
Universal (from any OS, desktop or server one) and simplest (for the developer) and clear\readable (for system operator\user) way to read-write the settings of the console non-UI server B4J 24\7 app.

And, it seems, now to me, that it is ... a plane HTML POST-method form from user's web-browser (or extra non-UI CURL app from a server OS). Nothing new and special

Doesn't my solution fit?

Magma · Aug 23, 2022

peacemaker said:
Why ? For any webserver app:

Read the settings from ServletResponse to HTML form (pre-setting the current settings)

Writing HTML form fields (new settings) to ServletRequest

this also complicated but yes is a solution too..

B4J Question simplest way to have optional UI for non-UI app ?

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