Help test nb202

News/Announcements
1

Hello everyone,

ai2-test has been updated with a subset of proposed changes for our next release: nb202.

This update includes the SDK 35 version bump for those looking to test their apps prior to the Google deadline on Aug 31.

Change log

New Features:

  • Implement a console UI for Notifier Log messages
  • Add a popup to show where to change UI theme but otherwise not show the theme picker at startup
  • Implement a permission registry for better min/max SDK handling of permissions
  • Add SimpleChatbot app as a starter template for new users
  • Implement dark mode for the web interface
  • Add image creation block to Chatbot (uses Google Gemini)

Bug fixes/improvements:

  • Make Google Voice SMS permissions included in compiled apps only when the corresponding property is checked
  • Bump minimum SDK to 14 and target SDK to 35
  • Remove READ_MEDIA_IMAGE and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO permissions from the companion app to comply with Google Play policy
  • Fix sorting of projects in nested folders
  • Fix lexvar flydown field background color in exported PNGs
  • Fix a bug where projects containing projects would lead to incorrect capabilities in APKs
  • Fix a bug where malformed keystores could hang builds
  • Fix for warning counter being incorrect in blocks editor
  • Fix an issue in index.jsp that would not respect query parameters like autoload=false

Internal changes:

  • Implement server side support for iOS app caching
  • Add password protection to the buildserver
  • Refactor editor hierarchy to support new editor types in the future
  • Remove an unused remote procedure call
  • Remove an unused message of the day service
  • Fix an issue where the read-only project message would occlude menus

Changes for 7/14 update

  • Fix an issue where internal function names like back would collide with component names preventing app compilation
  • Add UsesCamera and UsesMicrophone properties for the WebViewer component
  • Change semantics of Shared file scope to not add READ_MEDIA_* by default. The Permission blocks, if present in the project, will add the permissions to the manifest
  • Add AAR support for the buildserver

Changes for 8/8 update

  • Implement a new color choice picker and project colors (@iamwsumit)
  • Fix edge-to-edge appearance on Android 15 cause status bar to be white text on white background (it will use the project's PrimaryColor instead)
  • Fix Google Voice permissions always added when Texting component in use (even if UseGoogleVoice was false)
  • Fix an issue where the project list was sorted incorrect order
  • Fix error counts in block workspace
  • Refactor the editor hierarchy (internal change to support more editors like Alexa)
  • Last opened file will be opened with project (not necessarily Screen1)
  • Enable iOS build support under a "beta" label

Please reply to this post with any new errors you encounter. We intend to release this version next Sunday, August 17th unless critical issues are encountered.

Cheers,
Evan W. Patton, PhD
Lead Software Engineer, MIT App Inventor

4 Likes
2

Same settings, Android 16

Stable version

Screenshot_20250710-165016
Screenshot_20250710-1650161080×2400 34.6 KB

Test version

Screenshot_20250710-165056
Screenshot_20250710-1650561080×2400 33.3 KB

3

These permissions are still available in the non-Play-Store version of the Companion app (test server).

grafik
grafik929×1205 154 KB

4

I notice changing between light and dark modes in Classic results in the Projects being sorted alphabetically, even though not requested.
sample run

5

Android 15 sets apps to full screen by default.

6

Left: built on the main server --- right built on test server:

grafik
grafik995×985 36 KB

Tested on Android 16 (APK).

7

Make searchBox Sticky

image
image1924×1084 386 KB

Add some padding & increase text size

image
image1924×1084 413 KB

Add export screen
image

8

Direct access to media files (except audio files) using READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and/or READ_MEDIA_VIDEO (on Android 13+) will no longer be permitted for apps in the Play Store starting May 28, 2025 (at least not without an explicit review of the app and its core functionality by Google).

This issue, which should be another nail in Google's coffin, can only be circumvented with the help of SAF.

BTW, if your app contains this block somewhere
grafik, all storage permissions are declared in the Manifest. @ewpatton

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_AUDIO"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:maxSdkVersion="29" android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

At least READ_MEDIA_VIDEO and READ_MEDIA_IMAGES should not be declared automatically in the Manifest, but only when they are explicitly requested.

Note: If you use this block instead
grafik only these storage permissions are declared:

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:maxSdkVersion="29" android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

I would of course prefer the latter and then request special storage permissions individually if necessary.

I will also add this part to my guide Some basics on Android storage system in due course.

2 Likes
9

My understanding is that the sort order has never been saved. When you change the theme, the page refreshes. If you refresh the page on the production server are you seeing the sort order saved?

10

Yes this was an oversight on my part. It will be fixed in the next update of the test server.

1 Like
11

This bug seems to have finally been fixed on the test server: :pray:

12

I am guessing that the choice of sort column and sort direction is saved across sessions on the production server, and also persists during a switch between Classic and Neo.
Sample run:
sample run production server
The projects are sorted here according to the sort controls at the top of each column. The column with the up/down arrow wins.

On t ai2-test, the sort controls get out of sync with the choice of sort column, when switching between light and dark.
Sample run:
sample run ai2-test server

P.S. This is a harmless bug, easily worked around by resorting, that would rarely pop up. I doubt it's worth more than 5 minutes of time.

13

I am not seeing this on ai2. I sorted by Date Created ▼ and when I refreshed it switched back to Date Modified ▼ (Which I believe is the default).

14

I am using the Brave browser on Windows 10, for what it's worth.

15

This should be the case as of yesterday's update of ai2-test.

1 Like
16

Just tested...

grafik
grafik1715×532 73 KB

Blocks

grafik
grafik945×664 44.1 KB

See also here:

grafik
grafik474×982 15.4 KB

FilePermission_bug2.aia (2.4 KB)

As I said, the permission bug seems to be fixed on the test server.

17

When I move an item from join, the place is gone. When I try to place it back it vanished.
Trying to insert a place the number of places is not in track.
Animatie
Schermafbeelding 2025-07-15 191456

18

This looks to be because the newly spawned socket in the JOIN block is slow to wake up and highlight itself in yellow as the available docking target.

When that yellow indicator does not appear, the moving block gets dropped behind the JOIN somewhere.

My attempts:
sample run

19

Oke but it doesn't drop behind. It is gone...

20

I'll try again