Open Source • Background Tasks: Itoo 🚀

[err_invalid_name]

Oh, I didn't realize that's what that meant. Thanks for the information!

[iSPANKzombiez]

Hi Taifun.
First off, thank you so much for the work you have done on this project.

Secondly, I hope you might steer me in the right direction.
I seem to be starting the foreground service correctly, as the notification is showing in my top bar.
However, what i'm having trouble with specifically is the "web got text".
when i run the "get" block manually it works fine. But when I run it from the foreground service I can't seem to update anything on my firebase db.

Again thank you for your time

[Taifun]

Remove that block

The clock already is running to call FarmDataUpdate regularly

It looks like you think, that your event Web1.GotText event will get triggered also in the background, this is not the case

In Update_Timer you have to register additionally the Web1.GotText event and do what you want to do in the corresppnding event handler

To debug use the Notifier.LogTextInfo method and use logcat to read the log

Capturing Device Logs using adb logcat

ADB is a command-line utility that that can be used to control your device over USB from a computer. It will allow you to install / uninstall and or view logs on your device. This could be very handy when there are issues with a specific app and you like to view the logs for information that may lead to identify the cause of error. In this post, we’ll discuss how to install and use ADB. Installation: ADB comes with Android SDK. However, you can download ONLY the ADB files from HERE . EDIT: …

Taifun

[iSPANKzombiez]

thank you so much for that info my friend
here is my updated blocks. (let me know if you need to see anything else)
but ignore the broadcast event one.

does this look right to you?
i still am not seeing any updates in the firebase db

[Taifun]

This looks ok
Now use the Notifier.LogInfo method for debugging together with logcat
For example to display the response content from the Web event handler

Taifun

[iSPANKzombiez]

ok. as far as i can tell i have adb running. and im succesffully getting stuff from my device.

however. I'm not seeing the response from the web.get.
here is the block snip, does that look right? i saw you previously mentioned "logText", but i didn't see that method in the list. Feeling confused, cause i thought the Notifier didn't work when the app wasn't open?
I am also filtering the logcat like this: adb logcat *:E | grep actualPackageName

Edit:

i changed the "LogError" to "LogInfo". and Changed my filter from *E to *I.
But same result. Cannot seem to see my responseContent in the log viewer.

i also added a "logerror" and a "loginfo" with the dummy text "this is a test", to see if the issue was the responseContent being blank. But i got the same result

And to clarify. My firebase DB is still not clearing or updating the value. But i have confirmed that the correct values are being stored into the itoo properties.

im sorry for my ignorance, and thank you so much for your replies. You are honestly getting me really really close to a working project

[Taifun]

@iSPANKzombiez

you previously mentioned "logText", but i didn't see that method

Yes, sorry, it is called LogInfo
Remove the 2 Firebase blocks and test again

Check also the log for itoo errors

Taifun

[iSPANKzombiez]

You the Goat my friend!
Thank you so much for helping
I've got it working now

[Taifun]

@iSPANKzombiez

I've got it working now

Please let us know what the issue was and provide a screenshot of the working solution

Taifun

[iSPANKzombiez]

sure thing

the block has changed quite a bit, because i've been working on it since that last post.

but here is the current block:

I pretty much just did what you said. However, I never saw anything inside the adb console.
Instead, i pushed a few notifications with "MelonNotification" to see the output content as well as just "the fact that the timer was working" more or less

I hope this is explanation enough xD I'm a beginner as far as using the App Inventor. So I'm not sure that I documented really all the changes.

[fraisquet]

Hi everyone,
I'm working on an app that connects my Android (Android 13) to an Arduino using an HM10 BLE module. Right now, the app works as expected while it's open, but I'm trying to improve it by keeping certain features running in the foreground (and maybe even in the background later).
What I ened help with:First, keeping Auto-Reconnect working in the foreground
I tried making it work in the foreground, but it doesn't. As I said, it works when the app is on the screen. I’m not sure which blocks I should be using, or if that is even possible. Second, I also want the app to display a notification with the received string when data is sent from the Arduino. Do I need another extension for this?

Thanks in advance!

[Taifun]

@fraisquet

What I ened help with:First, keeping Auto-Reconnect working in the foreground
I tried making it work in the foreground, but it doesn't. As I said, it works when the app is on the screen.

So you said, auto reconnect works when the app is open. Isn't that identical to foreground or do you have another definition for foreground?

Are you using Bluetooth Classic?
To try something with itoo follow the description in the first post of this thread. Try some examples to get familiar with the extension and if you have specific questions show us a screenshot of your relevant blocks

@fraisquet

Second, I also want the app to display a notification with the received string when data is sent from the Arduino. Do I need another extension for this?

Yes, let me recommend

MelonNotification • Various styled notifications + Itoo

Melon Notification A rich library of various notification styles along with the combined power of Itoo Documentation Image resource Any image resource provided to this extension may be a full file path an asset name an URL starting with prefix url: an icon from the default Android Drawable collections it must start with the : prefix, for e.g. :ic_media_play only resources starting with ic_ are supported. If you intend to your custom icon, then please ensure the image is atleas…

See also some examples there

Taifun

[fraisquet]

I think I missunderstood the definition in the extension description. What I mean, is for example, if I lock my Andorid screen, after 10mins max, the device disconnects, or that if I go away of the device, it disconnects, and I would like it to reconnect automatically. I then understand that what I need is the reconnect blocks to be working also in background? I am using a HM10 BLE module, so not Bluetooth classic.

Thanks for the recommendation. WIth the Melon extension, I can receive push notifications, as long as my device is still connected, right? So, for example my Android is locked, and a string is received, so I can show in the lockscreen a notification that the device has sent data.

Thanks for your help

[Taifun]

I'm not a BLE specialist, but here in this thread there are already a few BLE itoo projects

Open Source • Background Tasks: Itoo

INCREDIBLE! Amazing work @Kumaraswamy thank you so much for the guidance. Paying it forward by sharing what I have working here. I was able to offload BLE to a background process. Next step: figure out how to exchange data between background and foreground process. [image]

Open Source • Background Tasks: Itoo

Hello everyone! I bring to your attention a working project for periodically listening to temperature measured remotely. And most importantly, the application has been tested and works in the BACKGROUND!!! We receive the temperature from a command sent via BLE. In this project, the polling frequency is set to 1 minute - 60000 ms. command sent from the application to the receiving side: "i". You can ask yours! Please also figure out where to enter the Bluetooth ID. A text-to-speech module is…

Open Source • Background Tasks: Itoo

Hello! Improved application stability and commented out some blocks. And, most importantly, after requesting and receiving data via BLE, we turn it off. And before receiving a new timer, turn it on again! That is, BLE does not waste energy, which corresponds to its purpose! I saw threads where someone wanted to do this! The polling frequency in the application is set to 30 seconds. You can change it as you wish. BLE_WEATHER_V1.2.aia (268.0 KB) [BLE_WEATHER_V1.2]

Open Source • Background Tasks: Itoo

Kumaraswamy, Taifun tks for your work ! I added Bluetooth Low Energy to the example of Battery Checker with ESP32 Arduino Not is finished but working very good. Tks Fabian R.C. batterychecker_5_BLE_V9_15.aia (357.7 KB)

@fraisquet

WIth the Melon extension, I can receive push notifications, as long as my device is still connected, right? So, for example my Android is locked, and a string is received, so I can show in the lockscreen a notification that the device has sent data.

Yes you can

Taifun

[iSPANKzombiez]

Hey Taifun,

Me again.
I'm having an issue where, when my process is running in the foreground. I will close my app, and then attempt to reopen it; this causes the app to more or less just crash before fully opening, until i force close it.

Any idea off hand what could cause that? I can ofc provide ss of the blocks upon your request.

Thanks again,

ispankzombiez

[Taifun]

@iSPANKzombiez

this causes the app to more or less just crash before fully opening, until i force close it.

Please elaborate

It would really help if you provided a screenshot of your relevant blocks, so we can see what you are trying to do, and where the problem may be.

To get an image of your blocks, right click in the Blocks Editor and select "Download Blocks as Image". You might want to use an image editor to crop etc. if required. Then post it here in the community.

Taifun

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Trying to push the limits! Snippets, Tutorials and Extensions from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.

[iSPANKzombiez]

yup.

here is a ss of it.

hopefully its not to much
i've been at it for a minute now.

[iSPANKzombiez]

here is the blocks for the related processes

this is where the foreground process is being started

[iSPANKzombiez]

the logic of the app is like this.

1. hits login screen (screen 1)
2. checks for profile (login info / remember me info)
3. if present, logs in, moves to "main" screen (this screen)
4. else, asks for register/login

[Taifun]

your large screenshot is of bad quality, unfortunately I can't read it
waht I can see here is you could simplify a bit... also I would use the same tags for TinyDB and itoo to avoid errors...

use logcat to find out what's going on as mentioned earlier

Taifun