Talk:Homebrew Browser

great start ;) well, i dunno if it's planned, but you should add things like repositories, which can be added via the program, maybe in XML format, but, keep on working

I took the easy way and have to create a new image for each homebrew application -Teknecal 17:24, 29 June 2008 (CEST)

This is great good work Teknecal. Will you release the source after you get the app finished? --vader347 20:19, 29 June 2008 (CEST)

Maybe in the future or only certain parts of the code. -Teknecal 04:31, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

How it works

1. The Homebrew Browser (HBB) contacts main server to receive a listing of the current homebrew applications. The list contains the different homebrew application names, image file sizes, boot file sizes and whether it is a dol or elf file.

2. HBB checks to see if the user has the latest image files (stored in /temp)for all homebrew listed. If the image is out of date or missing, it downloads the image file.

4. Once in HBB and when selecting a game to install, it downloads the icon.png, meta.xml and boot.dol/elf files from the server.

Should the list in step 1 include the release date? Felix 08:29, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

At the moment it doesn't because that's all written on the image files you download. Kind of a bad development idea, always having to change images when it gets updated, but for the end user they won't notice. --Teknecal 09:52, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

Why not put this and the notes for the devs right on the article? --Blooper4912 23:36, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

Well, I went ahead and copied them. --Blooper4912 23:43, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

Notes for Homebrew Developers

How icons for HBB are selected

If there is no icon.png file in a homebrew application then an icon is included if one can be found.

If there is no name on the icon and if the picture doesn't represent very clearly what the application does then it is replaced with an icon that has a name.

Homebrew Application folder naming

I will stick to the folder names used when you extract each homebrew application. Folders with spaces will be replaced with underscores. If your files don't come in a folder, then a folder name will be created. If your homebrew application used a folder name before HBB and you've updated your application, the user will notice that there is an update to your application.

An example is MAsteroids. The game was developed before HBB. Lets say that the game gets updated. Since they are using a folder name, I can simple place the new boot.dol/elf on the server, change the file size and when the user loads HBB it will notice that they have an existing install of MAsteroids and then the user can update to the latest version.

To make my life easier...

• Include an icon.png and meta.xml file with your homebrew application.
• Try to follow the meta.xml standard and test your meta.xml file in HBC.
• Include a date and version number with your homebrew release, otherwise I will use the timestamp from the boot.dol/elf file and name it v0.1.
• Put your homebrew application files into a folder and then zip up that folder. Try to keep using that folder name for the homebrew applications life.

Hosting

Are you hosting the homebrew on your own server? FallenAngelUK is also making a Homebrew Library and a Homebrew Manager. It would be great if these tools work with each other. Felix 06:52, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

Currently hosting on my own server --Teknecal 16:31, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

Stats

Awesome App! But i think maybe you should add some stats (most downloaded) to get some competition going in Homebrew Development :)—Preceding unsigned comment added by Mjbauer95 (talk • contribs) 07:37, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

Statistics sound good. Where should these statistics be available? Should it be in HBB or just on a webpage? --Teknecal 18:52, 3 July 2008 (CEST)

I was thinking more in the HB --Mjbauer95 21:22, 3 July 2008 (CEST)

Name

When I first saw the name "Homebrew Browser", I thought it was a web browser. Maybe "Homebrew Downloader" would be more appropriate? Felix 10:09, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

(agree)x1 otto888

Background downloading

It would be nice if we could keep on browsing while it is downloading. Felix 10:09, 30 June 2008 (CEST)

Need Help?/Suggestions

I have a suggestion as to make it look more like the shop channel so it is divided into categories. Other than that, GREAT JOB!!! Also, do you need help adding more content into the lists? I noticed that you don't have things like any utilities, media things, etc. I know most need other folders but if you put up a warning message that in order for it to work it must include XXX installed then it should work. Pinball wizard 16:29, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

At the moment I'm working with LowLines to get some better graphics. I'm thinking that some background sound to the HBB would be nice as well (can anyone recommend some calm background music like the shop channel). In a future version of HBB I plan to include those applications that don't run off a single boot file or need to create directories, both of these would be done by HBB. Good suggestion about the categories. I might need help with the content list in the future. If you'd like to help straight away, link me to some homebrew games that use a single boot file or homebrew applications that would likely be run more than once (like WiiPaint, ftpii, etc). Thanks. --Teknecal 17:15, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

Here are the ones I didn't see yet added. I included TItle lister since it can be quite useful but it is YOUR project so don't let my ideas change yours unless you agree. Pinball wizard 17:00, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Image:JQuest_Wiimote.zip

http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_apps/MissileCommand

http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_apps/Title_Lister

The problem with the first two is, they load up files from the SD card and HBB doesn't support downloading those files yet. --Teknecal 17:15, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

They do? I installed at least Missile Command with only the elf I thought. Sorry my mistake. EDIT: I see, you cannot have more than the .elf/.dol the meta.xml, and the icon.png in anywhere. I thought it was that it couldn't link to anywhere else in the card other than the folder. Pinball wizard 18:23, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

Amazing

This is just awesome. Very well made, and easy to use ;) Just one little detail: the screen is pushed down a bit. Anyway, that's just a little thing compared to the rest of the app. --PaRaDoX 22:08, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

I agree with PaRaDoX. It's completly awesome, it works really good and is really usefull. Continue the good job, I know it could lead to something even more powerfull =D. Keep updates on. --LaPatateInc 22:12, 1 July 2008 (CEST)

Other icons

This isn't really a big issue, but it would be a good idea for later on in development. After picking an application to install, it would be nice to get a popup asking which Icon you wanted to use for it. Many applications still do not have "official" icons, and people like Lowlines have created some very nice icons that people enjoy, too. --ProdigySim 19:21, 2 July 2008 (CEST)

Yeah I actually had this idea as well and so did LowLines, sometime in the future I guess. --Teknecal 02:36, 3 July 2008 (CEST)