Possible Workaround to Dropbox - Strawman & Call To Arms
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 7:46 pm
Hello,
This is a strawman. It is an idea that may seem outrageous, and as a strawman, it is designed to be battered and beaten up and discussed until either it is proven useless, or plausable and worth further reseacrh. I give you this definition because 1) I don't want anyone holding back, as a strawman is supposed to be torn apart so something constructive comes from it, if possible, and 2) I don't take it personally, because I admit that in certain aspects of MAC/OS I am a noob, and recognize that.
STRAWMAN: Alternative to Dropbox
We use dropbox for many reasons. Share code and objects (considered all binary filetypes); As storage for backups and large files; To transfer files that we cannot do via IDE. For example, source files can be cut/paste from anything from an email to even an open file in Dropbox, iCloud, or any app that allows it. However, this can be time consuming if a program is large, and like the way I program, I love LIBS. Which means you may need to copy 20 individual files instead of one large one.
But images, music, other binary type files cannot be cut/paste so easily. Here is my suggestion on something I have been specing out, and I know there are smarter minds out there who can contribute.
IMPORTANT: I don't accept "It can't be done" without a reason. So if you say that, please give a reason, otherwise I won't be so kind to you. Below I share my knowlege and ignorance, so this is not a time to be terse, as we are trying to salvage this great product. Yes, while I program in other languages, including TechBASIC, who Mike has told me his updates are going through (with some issues of arbitrary rules applied by Apple, I present the following:
As far as I know, we can still use cut/paste from our fourm to copy code. For most of our programs, this is how we do it, as the select all or select code feature does not work on my iPad.
My suggestion for a new, or modified approach to removing Dropbox is this.
1. Remove Dropbox completely from SmartBASIC as Apple requested.
2. CLIPBOARD is still valid according to Apple. I suggest we use it. My understanding, and this is where I want to hear differences of facts, not opinions, is that when you do a COPY, it goes into the CLIPBOARD.
3. Either by email or from the forum, with large files, mixed filetypes, and/or to preserve directory struture, the programmer, using SmartBASIC (from a utility yet to be written) can create a GUNZIP file. My understanding is that in a SmartBASIC program, you can copy that file TO and FROM the CLIPBOARD.
4. Either by email or a post on the forum, using a third party App, create a GUNZIP file (Program such as File Manager, or I think there is (or was) a GUNZIP specific utility to create these files, and it allows you to export them into other Apps.
5. Changes to the IDE can be made to allow for an IMPORT command. This can be a solution in and of itself. Unless we have not been given the entire picture of the situation with SmartBASIC, I must assume that Apple's main issue is that a running program can, since the product does not compile and run object code (I know it as linkedit binaries), any text file can become a program that is executable, hence the fear of a hack or jailbreak is driving this. The IMPORT command in the IDE will only be able to import Images, Music, Midi, or Video files, and can be restricted to specific filetypes if necessary.
6. Regardless of the function or if the IMPORT command as part of the IDE is something that can be done (to save a product, saying it will take a lot of time to write this is not an excuse, as I an many would gladly pay more to get this new version, as many have invested more than time, many are supplementing their incomes with Apps, either published on iTunes, distributed AD-HOC, or like I did, I had those who wanted me to write programs BUY the product so I can give them either the source code or .cod file and they can run it by copying all the elements from my emails.
7. Images can be downloaded using the ALBUM statements with SmartBASIC. However, to get this to work for others, I would need to investigate whether or not I can create a SHARE in PHOTOS. I do know that some 3rd party Apps allow creating a SHARED directory. More research into its feasiblity will be needed.
8. GUNZIP. SmartBASIC as the ability to uncompress this filetype. What follows here can make all the other parts of this STRAWMAN a mute point. First, create outside of SmartBASIC a GUNZIP file that can be copied into SmartBASIC's IDE. I suggest that an App be written in SmartBASIC to run outside of it and create this GUNZIP file. With an application-extension, allow this app to email this file to the programmer. The programmer can then copy/paste this file from his email into the forum, or setup a website (I believe, but may be mis-speaking, but the forum code used by us can run on your own server. I can supply the server, as I have two of them). The following 8's are options, and can be mutually exclusive (or combined, but I am writing them so that maybe one can work).
8a. The SmartBASIC IDE must be able to allow cut/paste of entire files, not cut/paste into an already open file. Whole files must be allowed to be cut/pasted into the IDE. This way, the GUNZIP file can be copied/pasted whole.
8b. If COPY does put the file into the CLIPBOARD, then regardless of where the file is (email, forum or website), the programmer does a COPY of the file, then a SmartBASIC utility is written to create the file from the CLIPBOARD. Then either the ultity that PASTED it into the IDE can also uncompress it, or a separate utility can be written to do this. There are obvious advantages to both. (The program that loads the GUNZIP file can copy to the CLIPBOARD the location and then RUN the separate utility, this way they can be both run as one, or separately as needed. This option will then unload all the assets including source code. And since this is done outside of Apple's control, and it not part of the OFFICIAL product release, there should be no issue approving the App. The utilities should reside on the Forum only, and COPY/PASTE into the product once its needed.
This is just the start of a document that many of us can help mold into something that can work and accomplish what Dropbox does for us today. As a career Computer Scientist, who developed processes when none existed, I know this can be accomplished. I know programmers here so talented, that if I was still managing software development, I'd hire you on the spot. I've seen your work and we have some very impressive minds and talent here.
I also want to say to Mr. K that we need you to be part of helping us solve this issue instead of dismissing outright anything because of whatever reasons. I know we've butted heads from time to time, but you are the ultimate expert on this product, and your customers are asking for your help, contributions, and guidance, not your outright "can't be done," at least not without a why.
I learned very early on in my career as a systems programmer, that anything can be done. We had a "will do" or "nothing is impossible" attitude. If Operations or the Applications department came to us with a request, we accomplished it. When at Bankers Trust, General Motors wanted to allow their employees access to their 401K's from computers in the lunch and breakrooms. I heard one after another say "it cannot be done," and I said BS. I can do it. I was the first to allow a Visual BASIC program to interface with a Mainframe CICS system, and we got GM as a client, and I was the first to code an interface allowing PC's to talk to MF's. And I did it for GSM later on. I, and not Apple, developed the first program on a SIM card that allowed you Europeans to use your phone to buy groceries, gas, even items from vending machines back in the 1990's. That was a first in the industry too.
So if we are going to solve this, we do need more than a one-liner answer. I am hoping we all take this seriously, for I'd hate to have to solve this issue on my own. It will take longer without your help. As you all know me, I am not afraid to code the tough stuff (Henko, I have the division for long numbers working, I am just not finished testing all the test cases I have set up – which right now stands at 100 cases), and I am willing to do my part in solving this issue.
I hope that this is taken seriously, for so far there has been nothing on how to replace Dropbox except for those of us, including me, who refuses to upgrade to iOS 11. I want this product to continue, even if I have to offer to buy it myself and make the changes. Many of us have too much at stake here, expending time and money developing with this App.
We have some GREAT programs written by very talented programmers. Programs that are not even found on the App store! So I know we can collectively come up with a solution to this issue.
On another note, I know we have also issues with changes to ' to forward/backward qoutation marks that my keyboard does not have, as well as changes to the CHR$ in other areas as well. This needs to be solved by changes directly to SmartBASIC itself. We can use Rbytes Substitution program, but it needs to be changed so it keeps track of when to apply a starting quote from an ending quote.
Hopefully, when someone puts a quote within a quote, they used the single-quote character, an no quotes within a quote within a quote, otherwise they will have to fix that by hand! (I haven't forgotten about you Rbytes, but I wanted to address the elephant in the room, the removal of Dropbox and solutions to replace it that are no within Apple's perview.
George.
This is a strawman. It is an idea that may seem outrageous, and as a strawman, it is designed to be battered and beaten up and discussed until either it is proven useless, or plausable and worth further reseacrh. I give you this definition because 1) I don't want anyone holding back, as a strawman is supposed to be torn apart so something constructive comes from it, if possible, and 2) I don't take it personally, because I admit that in certain aspects of MAC/OS I am a noob, and recognize that.
STRAWMAN: Alternative to Dropbox
We use dropbox for many reasons. Share code and objects (considered all binary filetypes); As storage for backups and large files; To transfer files that we cannot do via IDE. For example, source files can be cut/paste from anything from an email to even an open file in Dropbox, iCloud, or any app that allows it. However, this can be time consuming if a program is large, and like the way I program, I love LIBS. Which means you may need to copy 20 individual files instead of one large one.
But images, music, other binary type files cannot be cut/paste so easily. Here is my suggestion on something I have been specing out, and I know there are smarter minds out there who can contribute.
IMPORTANT: I don't accept "It can't be done" without a reason. So if you say that, please give a reason, otherwise I won't be so kind to you. Below I share my knowlege and ignorance, so this is not a time to be terse, as we are trying to salvage this great product. Yes, while I program in other languages, including TechBASIC, who Mike has told me his updates are going through (with some issues of arbitrary rules applied by Apple, I present the following:
As far as I know, we can still use cut/paste from our fourm to copy code. For most of our programs, this is how we do it, as the select all or select code feature does not work on my iPad.
My suggestion for a new, or modified approach to removing Dropbox is this.
1. Remove Dropbox completely from SmartBASIC as Apple requested.
2. CLIPBOARD is still valid according to Apple. I suggest we use it. My understanding, and this is where I want to hear differences of facts, not opinions, is that when you do a COPY, it goes into the CLIPBOARD.
3. Either by email or from the forum, with large files, mixed filetypes, and/or to preserve directory struture, the programmer, using SmartBASIC (from a utility yet to be written) can create a GUNZIP file. My understanding is that in a SmartBASIC program, you can copy that file TO and FROM the CLIPBOARD.
4. Either by email or a post on the forum, using a third party App, create a GUNZIP file (Program such as File Manager, or I think there is (or was) a GUNZIP specific utility to create these files, and it allows you to export them into other Apps.
5. Changes to the IDE can be made to allow for an IMPORT command. This can be a solution in and of itself. Unless we have not been given the entire picture of the situation with SmartBASIC, I must assume that Apple's main issue is that a running program can, since the product does not compile and run object code (I know it as linkedit binaries), any text file can become a program that is executable, hence the fear of a hack or jailbreak is driving this. The IMPORT command in the IDE will only be able to import Images, Music, Midi, or Video files, and can be restricted to specific filetypes if necessary.
6. Regardless of the function or if the IMPORT command as part of the IDE is something that can be done (to save a product, saying it will take a lot of time to write this is not an excuse, as I an many would gladly pay more to get this new version, as many have invested more than time, many are supplementing their incomes with Apps, either published on iTunes, distributed AD-HOC, or like I did, I had those who wanted me to write programs BUY the product so I can give them either the source code or .cod file and they can run it by copying all the elements from my emails.
7. Images can be downloaded using the ALBUM statements with SmartBASIC. However, to get this to work for others, I would need to investigate whether or not I can create a SHARE in PHOTOS. I do know that some 3rd party Apps allow creating a SHARED directory. More research into its feasiblity will be needed.
8. GUNZIP. SmartBASIC as the ability to uncompress this filetype. What follows here can make all the other parts of this STRAWMAN a mute point. First, create outside of SmartBASIC a GUNZIP file that can be copied into SmartBASIC's IDE. I suggest that an App be written in SmartBASIC to run outside of it and create this GUNZIP file. With an application-extension, allow this app to email this file to the programmer. The programmer can then copy/paste this file from his email into the forum, or setup a website (I believe, but may be mis-speaking, but the forum code used by us can run on your own server. I can supply the server, as I have two of them). The following 8's are options, and can be mutually exclusive (or combined, but I am writing them so that maybe one can work).
8a. The SmartBASIC IDE must be able to allow cut/paste of entire files, not cut/paste into an already open file. Whole files must be allowed to be cut/pasted into the IDE. This way, the GUNZIP file can be copied/pasted whole.
8b. If COPY does put the file into the CLIPBOARD, then regardless of where the file is (email, forum or website), the programmer does a COPY of the file, then a SmartBASIC utility is written to create the file from the CLIPBOARD. Then either the ultity that PASTED it into the IDE can also uncompress it, or a separate utility can be written to do this. There are obvious advantages to both. (The program that loads the GUNZIP file can copy to the CLIPBOARD the location and then RUN the separate utility, this way they can be both run as one, or separately as needed. This option will then unload all the assets including source code. And since this is done outside of Apple's control, and it not part of the OFFICIAL product release, there should be no issue approving the App. The utilities should reside on the Forum only, and COPY/PASTE into the product once its needed.
This is just the start of a document that many of us can help mold into something that can work and accomplish what Dropbox does for us today. As a career Computer Scientist, who developed processes when none existed, I know this can be accomplished. I know programmers here so talented, that if I was still managing software development, I'd hire you on the spot. I've seen your work and we have some very impressive minds and talent here.
I also want to say to Mr. K that we need you to be part of helping us solve this issue instead of dismissing outright anything because of whatever reasons. I know we've butted heads from time to time, but you are the ultimate expert on this product, and your customers are asking for your help, contributions, and guidance, not your outright "can't be done," at least not without a why.
I learned very early on in my career as a systems programmer, that anything can be done. We had a "will do" or "nothing is impossible" attitude. If Operations or the Applications department came to us with a request, we accomplished it. When at Bankers Trust, General Motors wanted to allow their employees access to their 401K's from computers in the lunch and breakrooms. I heard one after another say "it cannot be done," and I said BS. I can do it. I was the first to allow a Visual BASIC program to interface with a Mainframe CICS system, and we got GM as a client, and I was the first to code an interface allowing PC's to talk to MF's. And I did it for GSM later on. I, and not Apple, developed the first program on a SIM card that allowed you Europeans to use your phone to buy groceries, gas, even items from vending machines back in the 1990's. That was a first in the industry too.
So if we are going to solve this, we do need more than a one-liner answer. I am hoping we all take this seriously, for I'd hate to have to solve this issue on my own. It will take longer without your help. As you all know me, I am not afraid to code the tough stuff (Henko, I have the division for long numbers working, I am just not finished testing all the test cases I have set up – which right now stands at 100 cases), and I am willing to do my part in solving this issue.
I hope that this is taken seriously, for so far there has been nothing on how to replace Dropbox except for those of us, including me, who refuses to upgrade to iOS 11. I want this product to continue, even if I have to offer to buy it myself and make the changes. Many of us have too much at stake here, expending time and money developing with this App.
We have some GREAT programs written by very talented programmers. Programs that are not even found on the App store! So I know we can collectively come up with a solution to this issue.
On another note, I know we have also issues with changes to ' to forward/backward qoutation marks that my keyboard does not have, as well as changes to the CHR$ in other areas as well. This needs to be solved by changes directly to SmartBASIC itself. We can use Rbytes Substitution program, but it needs to be changed so it keeps track of when to apply a starting quote from an ending quote.
Hopefully, when someone puts a quote within a quote, they used the single-quote character, an no quotes within a quote within a quote, otherwise they will have to fix that by hand! (I haven't forgotten about you Rbytes, but I wanted to address the elephant in the room, the removal of Dropbox and solutions to replace it that are no within Apple's perview.
George.
)