Homebrew: Go For It! 51
For many new Pre users, the current limited offerings in the App Catalog are a bit disappointing. If they're lucky, though, they may hear about something called "homebrew" apps, which calls to mind amateurs cooking up software in their basements. It also sounds a little like the "jailbreaking" they've heard about for the iPhone, which may be illegal (or at least unauthorized), especially when people talk about "rooting their Pre." A large number of users are just afraid to install any homebrew apps, for fear of breaching their warranty or ruining their Pres somehow. If you know (or are) someone like that, this blog has one message for homebrew-shy users: Go For It (Here's How).
Read on to see why.
First, unlike Apple, Palm neither prohibits nor prevents "sideloading" (installing apps other than through the official App Catalog). While Palm gives preferential treatment to the App Catalog apps (for example, they are included in the Updates app), the operating system has no barriers to installing other programs. There is no jailbreaking/OS-update-that-breaks-jailbreaking/figure-out-how-to-jailbreak-again cycle on the Pre as there is on the iPhone. Homebrew apps are just Pre programs that don't happen to come from the App Catalog; they work exactly the same way as those that do.
Second, the developers of the homebrew apps are often professionals who have already published apps for the iPhone, PalmOS and other platforms. They have turned to homebrew sites like PreCentral's to distribute their WebOS apps, both as a mechanism for beta testing and because there has been somewhat of a delay in the full rollout of the App Catalog. For its part, instead of penalizing homebrew app developers, Palm is inviting many of them to submit their homebrew apps for inclusion in the App Catalog; Janni Covacs' Translator app was the first of many likely PreCentral app "graduates" when it debuted on the App Catalog on September 3, 2009. Section 4.3 of the license agreement for Palm's official software development kit makes it clear that there can be other ways besides the App Catalog to distribute applications:
Developer acknowledges and agrees, that absent a separate written agreement with Palm, Developer may not distribute any Application except as allowed by Palm's formal approved distribution process and channel (the "Application Catalog")
Not the most encouraging language, true, but it does *acknowledge* the possibility of authorized distribution outside of the App Catalog. Again, the fact that Palm has welcomed homebrew apps into the App Catalog suggests encouragement rather than suppression of homebrew, as does the number of threads about homebrew software that Palm has let remain on its own forum.
Homebrew apps, at least from the major hosting sites, are also safe. While some have "rooted" their Pres (gotten developer-level access to the Pre's operating system) for various purposes, there's no need to do so just to install homebrew apps. Desktop programs like Jason Robitaille's WebOS Quick Install, and Pre-based apps like Preware and PreLoad, allow easy point-and-click downloading and installing of homebrew apps not only from PreCentral but from other sources, without any user need to root or hack the operating system. Additionally, the Pre's Mojo development environment places a layer of security between the program and the Pre's already-secure Linux operating system, making malicious programs very difficult to create, and the number of users installing and testing the homebrew apps (over 1,000,000 separate downloads from the PreCentral homebrew repository from August 5th through September 4) means that any attempted malicious software would have been quickly spotted and removed.
Users needn't worry about breaching any warranty by installing homebrew apps either. Palm's limited warranty for the Pre contains no general exclusions arising out of 3rd party software (although Palm won't itself promise anything about how 3rd party programs will work, nor will it cover damage caused by any third party product).
In short, there is no downside, and a huge upside, in installing homebrew apps to one's Pre. The only things that new homebrew users need to worry about is being overwhelmed by the selection of apps available through homebrew sites...and finding it even harder to put down their Pres once they start installing all the cool new apps.
51 Comments
I was initially weary of homebrew but after a month of owning the phone and watching the official app catalog grow at a glacial pace, I turned to precentral.net where I found hundreds of people who had installed homebrew without any untoward effects. I never rooted my pre but software like WebOSquickinstall allows me enable hidden palm functionality (e.g. touchscreen keyboard) by checking boxes and without writing a single line of code. I have never had any problems with homebrew and would recommend to any pre user that they take advantage of this. I almost feel sorry for users who don't use homebrew and are limited by the official app catalog selection.
Come in, the water is warm!
I have had Homebrew for a couple of weeks and love it. No complaints. One question - You mention the touchscreen keyboard - how would I go about accessing that?
take a look to the right of your thread, for featured content. It talks about the onscreen keyboard, and the specific details about installing it. it's not perfect, but I still consider it to be a good tweak.
what if you get cold feet at some point and want to uninstall everything? is it possible to get your pre back to the "pre-homebrew state?" (no pun intended)
Apps can be uninstalled just like on your PC.
There is. You can either delete the app you don't want the same way as any other app, holding the orange key then tapping the app icon. Or by completely erasing every app you have by doing a partial erase by going to devise info, reset options, then partial erase.
You can remove homebrew Apps the same way you remove "Official" programs. Orange+Tap the program.
In terms of the "advanced" homebrew/modifying of code. IE. Virtual Keyboard, Launcher pages, etc... You can remove those the same way you implemented them. Using the checkboxes in WebOSinstall.
There really hasn't been any downside to the homebrew additions/use.
The only real issue is Palm's limiting of the number of Apps one can have installed.
I suggest your first App should be FileCoaster.
Hope that helps!
Also note, Preware ignores the application memory limit and has a pretty cool interface as well. I have way more apps than palm seems to want to allow with no adverse effects that I can see.
I prefer it over Filecoaster for those reasons, but think both has a lot to add (I sometimes browse filecoaster anyway...)
I did not know that, so, just how many applications can one install onto the pre?
If you want to undo any changes you made to your Pre and return it to an unmodified state, download WebOS Doctor, available on the Palm website (or google). It's simple and will restore your Pre to default settings.
Don't forget about filecoaster.
When Palm releases the next update, should I remove Filecoaster and the Homebrewed apps before updating?
unless you are doing hacks via preware, you shouldny have to remove anything.
I just got my Pre. I've been waiting to Homebrew until the new update arrived b/c I thought I would just have to remove everything in a few days (hopefully). What is the difference b/w "using hacks via preware" and using homebrew apps? E.g. would I have to do anything before the update if I installed the virtual keyboard?
I've been here since day one with d flipflap app, homebrew is huge in the WebOS community
I've been here since day one with d flipflap app, homebrew is huge in the WebOS community
I've been here since day one with d flipflap app, homebrew is huge in the WebOS community
I have been watching PreCentral since I got my Pre on Launch Day and this place has been a wonderous site. My questions and everyone elses have been quickly answered and I've learned all about installing the Homebrew Apps. In the beginning a few were kind of buggy, but they get refined so quickly that I have trouble just keeping up with them! Thanks for everything, guys! I've sent a lot of Pre owners this way, too, my wife included.
I would love to try homebrew apps. Unfortunately none of the "easy" installation methods have worked for me. I don't think any of the installers, even the java-based one, are compatible with 64-bit Linux. I know that Palm has only released a 32bit SDK for the Pre on Linux and that may be part of it...
If you're on Ubuntu 64bit there's a way to install the SDK. See here: http://vranix.com/howtos/palm-sdk-x86_64-howto.php
Thanks, I'll give that a shot and see if it works!
I use Ubuntu 64 (9.04) and it works fine. You have to override dependencies when installing the SDK (it complains about 32bit on 64bit) - but it installs and runs just fine. Even 64-bit Virtual box (I'm using 3.x) handles the Palm WebOS virtual machine fine as well.
WebOSQuickInstall works fine with the openJDK provided with the distro. Once you have that installed, my recommendation is install Preware - it makes everything else easy and you can install everything directly to your Pre. Most timing consuming part is switching in/out of developer mode (use the developer mode app for the Konami code) with the requisite WebOS restarts.
It's a pity not everything is in PreWare - it's the easiest way to go.
Worst case, borrow a buddies PC and us WebOSQuickInstall to put FileCoaster or Preware on your Pre. Other than Java, no installations are required and you can just delete the WebOSDoctor and WebOSQuickInstall .jar files afterwards.
Once you have Preware/Filecoaster you don't need a computer for homebrew apps.
Doesn't matter if you are 32 bit or 64 bit Linux. And you *DON'T* have to use Ubuntu. I am using 64bit Mandriva and used plain 'ol "palm-install" to install filecoaster and then from there you can install all the Precentral homebrew apps.
I have a ton of homebrew on my Pre now, although most of it is "fun" and not really "useful." The things that I *really* need to make the phone more useful haven't been delivered. These are things like full CANT syncing from Outlook -- without spyware (aka Google) -- or improvements to the core apps: search and sort email, invite people to a calendar appointment, un-synergize (that is, make all my sources *the same* instead of separate), full syncing with Yahoo!, especially IM but calendar and contacts, too, and a PalmOS style sync that, after a rebuild, puts everything (well, almost) back *exactly* the way it was.
Are these things not possible because Palm hasn't opened up the APIs? They seem like things someone would do right away if they're easy, so I'm guessing they're hard.
I have had my Pre for 3 days now and have only installed a few official Apps. What is the most apps you can have installed on a Pre? Is it just a space / ram issue? Will the Pre start to slow down if I install a lot of apps?
thanks
as I understand it, It's a partitioning issue. I have used Preware to blow past the limit, and haven't noted any negative effects.
Hi all, first I would like to thank everyone who have created all these great apps. Second, I would like to point out that my pre does not allow me to install so many apps. After only a few apps installed, there's a message saying that there's not enough memory. Does anyone know how to circumvent this problem? Thanks again.
Use Preware.
sorry, how do you use Preware?
i mean really. i've had my pre(s) since day one and found this site shortly after and been using homebrew apps since simplyflipflops(well that wasn't actually an app but you get the idea) and haven't had any problems with them and it's going to become a much needed world when palm starts charging for apps
I don't read that section the same as you do:
4.3 Applications Can Only Be Distributed Through the Palm Application Catalog. Developer acknowledges and agrees, that absent a separate written agreement with Palm, Developer may not distribute any Application except as allowed by Palm's formal approved distribution process and channel (the "Application Catalog").
I interpret that language as preventing distribution outside of the Application Catalog for developers who agree to the terms of use in the SDK. Palm has tacitly waived this section by its continued encouragement of homebrew apps, but if you sign up with the Mojo SDK, you are bound by this section and would be required to only provide your apps through the app store, once approved.
Just my opinion.
Yep, that's my reading of it too. You can't distribute your app unless you have special, written permission from Palm.
I salute Palm for not trying to stop the homebrew scene, but they need to remove this clause and support side loading. It shouldn't require installing software on your PC; you should just be able to copy the app into a directory on the phone.
As it is now, it's not a "feature", just a hack that a small group of users are willing to do. The majority don't know about it and would be afraid to attempt it. Having side loading fixes a lot of the controversy that Apple has right now as far as which apps they approve and which apps they don't.
I also agree. I read it as being *very* restrictive, dogmatic, and distasteful.
They use an open source Linux and tons of open source tools, release a development kit using more open source tools and VMware (which is open source), and then tell you that you can only release apps through their own store?
And then we have this long blog/post saying how wonderful Palm is and how open they are and how much they support and don't hate homebrew??
Something isn't right here.
Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I'm not troubled by that language. It doesn't flat-out prohibit homebrew, which Apple does, nor does it demand a full negotiated contract. Instead, it only requires written agreement, which can be as simple as an e-mail from the developer saying "May I?", and one back from Palm saying, "Yes."
Would an open OS be more free? Sure, but Palm at the moment controls the development environment, and wants some quality oversight, especially in the early days. Taken with Palm's other statements and actions, though, it seems clear that Palm wants to encourage homebrew apps. {Jonathan}
And how many homebrew app writers have written to Palm for permission and received permission? Of course I don't know, but I suspect zero.
I know *why* Palm is doing it, but I still disagree with it; and I think people are in denial of what that phrase in the agreement says (and it really is very clear- "no homebrew distribution of any type without our express written permission").
I've been interested in homebrew for a while, but I took the plunge for one articular reason: Go To Lite. It's a full-featured geocaching app for the Pre. and it's awesome!
I think that the homebrew community is great and I have awaited for this for a long time. I was wondering if I could learn how to write a program for the pre. Let me know if there is a section on creating your own apps. And can someone find a work around for JAVA.
I've been installing homebrew for yrs without any problems with warranty or malicious software....starting with my psp which got me hooked on homebrew,root, and hacks...been through it with iphone, g1 and now pre...don't cheat urself treat urself! These guys know what they are doin...learned basic linux too in the process...without homebre I would have been dissapointed with all stated devices!
Great article, Jonathan.
Thank you!
Thank you!
thank u
Oh, and read THIS description on the homebrew "Quick Contacts" program:
"Palm requires all releases on PreCentral to now be beta versions for testing! This version will expire 14 days after you first use it unless you have donated at least $5"
Coupled with the CLEAR wording in the SDK saying you can't release outside of the official app store, this repeating mantra of "Palm likes homebrew" and "Palm supports homebrew" does not jive with reality. It just looks like they haven't taken any action against it yet.
That may be for apps submitted to the App Catalog. Any other devs want to weigh in on that? {Jonathan}
Again, how can anybody misread this:
"Developer may not distribute any Application except as allowed by Palm's formal approved distribution process and channel (the "Application Catalog")"
You cannot distribute any type of app except through Palm's App Catalog without express written permission. Period!
Now, there might be some other writing somewhere in the agreement that modifies that statement, I don't know. But that statement is crystal clear: Palm claims controls *all* software to be run on the Pre.
Don't get me wrong- I *love* homebrew, and I am not saying it should be stopped. But people claiming that Palm supports or encourages the ability of people to load and use software in ways that do not use Palm's application catalog are living in some fantasy world that is not at all based in fact.
what about mytether?
When enabling Developer Mode, will clicking on the "Reset The Device" button erase all the info on my Pre?.... contacts, pictures, etc.?
I just posted a tutorial on my website on installing preware using quick install. check it out!
[url=http://themxweb.com/how-to-add-homebrew-applications/]How to Add Homebrew Applications | The Mx Web[/url]
Does anyone know an easy way to add a jar file to the Pre?
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this information.
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