[Sugar-devel] Meeting #2 of the project Setting up activity server.

[Tony Anderson]

I read the log and didn't see any discussion of either an activity 
server or a WikiPort. Most of the discussion seems to focus on 
'activity.info'.

I interpret https://github.com/sugar-activities as an attempt to provide 
a separate place for Sugar activity repositories based on 
download.sugarlabs.org/activities. The number of activities mentioned is 
consistent with the current content of ASLO. (see 
http://activities.sugarlabs.org/activities/)

A simple python script can process the activity.info in activity bundles 
very quickly. Simply download every activity bundle and then use import 
zipfile to read the activity.info file and check it for whatever is 
interesting. I generally use ls -1 *.xo > list to create a file. The 
python script can easily form a list of activities from this file.

Our primary goal must be to provide information and support for our 
users and prospective users. There is no reason for a user ever to know 
that there is an activity.info file or indeed an Activities folder. The 
original design provides the information needed for Sugar to register 
and execute the activity within the activity.py framework. In this 
spirit, the repository link should join the website link on ASLO where 
it is visible to the user.

In the spirit of view source, wouldn't it be helpful to have 
documentation giving the  user a map of Sugar and the role of the 
various modules? This could start with the information in activity.py. 
(/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/sugar3/activity/activity.py). This 
could lead in to James Simmons description of how to make a Sugar 
activity. The Hello World activity could be used as intended - as the 
simplest example. The problem with the wiki pages is not the mark up 
method but the organization and content.

Our priority task is to clean up ASLO. The activity version in ASLO 
needs to be released from the github repository with a meaningful 
version number (an integer not a real number). The activities need to be 
tested to see that they work in the Ubuntu 18.04 environment as well as 
in 13.2.9. We need to have a clear picture of the activities which are 
not working and the cause. It may be necessary to have different 
versions for Ubuntu and for 13.2.9. As well there may have to be 
different versions for the Intel processors and the Arm processors. ASLO 
needs to be modified to accommodate that need. There are activities 
which probably should be dropped. The Java activity works well but is 
not an activity. It installs Java - a one-time execution.

We also need to remember that the XO has very limited storage. It is 
essential that the installed activity not be git enabled. Currently the 
Browse activity not only downloads and installs an activity, it leaves a 
copy of the bundle in the Journal. This doubles the storage cost of an 
activity. It burdens our user with the need to switch to the Journal and 
erase the bundle. As developers we need to ask what is the effect a 
proposed change have on the size of the installed activity. Currently 
13.2.9 installed on an XO-1 or on a 2GB XO-1.5 gives the user about 
300MB of available storage.

Tony



On Monday, 07 May, 2018 02:42 AM, Vipul Gupta wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> We are just done with our second meeting, of the project Setting up 
> the activity server and WikiPort. Do refer to the logs for the 
> updates, all comments and suggestions are appreciated. The blog with 
> the updates is going to be uploaded soon on my blog Mixster.
>
> *Logs are here* - 
> http://meeting.sugarlabs.org/sugar-meeting/meetings/2018-05-06T16:43:50
> *Tracker (updated)* - 
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VdzjA-DnEBh0ntHY17ktXlp7c2pIofq8458gSCTwiSM/edit?usp=sharing
>
> Happy Contributing !!
>
> Cordially,
> Vipul Gupta
> Mixster <https://mixstersite.wordpress.com/> | Github 
> <https://github.com/vipulgupta2048>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sugar-devel mailing list
> Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel

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