Author Topic: NANY PRE-RELEASE: Dedicated Windows client for Slack (Read 57085 times)

KynloStephen66515 · « **on:** October 17, 2014, 10:23 PM »

NANY 2015 Entry Information

Application Name	SlackyApp
Version	0.3.0.0 (Pre-Alpha)
Short Description	Dedicated Windows client for Slack, with the ability to be minimized to the tray.
Supported OSes	Any Windows OS With .NET4.5
Download (Primary)	Portable Version Download
Mirror (MediaFire.com)	Portable Version Download (MediaFire)
Mirror (Mega.co.nz)	Portable Version Download (Mega)
System Requirements	.NET 4.5
Version History	v0.3.0.0 - Added Cookie, Cache and Sessions Support
Author	Me
Donations	Donate To Me

Description
This is a Dedicated Windows client for Slack, with the ability to be minimized to the tray. Inspired by DC User app103. Slack lacked a dedicated Windows application, so I was asked to build one. After fighting with Gecko and WebKit for Visual Studio and failing, I found a way to get it working (Slack does not work with IE).

Currently in Pre-Alpha so may contain bugs/errors and missing features.

Features
• Easily connect directly to your Slack Domain.
• Minimize To System Tray (To keep it out of the way).
• Links within the app open in your default browser so the app is NEVER directed away from Slack.com
• Status Bar: See what links you are about to visit when you hover the mouse over them.
• Show/Hide Balloon Tip on Minimize.
• Remember the last Slack domain used, in the text box.
• Stores Cookies/Web-Sessions/Cache Locally Within The SlackyApp folder.

Planned Features
• Progress Bar: Gives you an indication that things are actually loading.
• Click Here To Submit Feature Requests

Screenshots
Ugly UI:

Main Window.png

Context Menu:

Context Menu.png

Downloading
Sometimes you may face an issue when downloading the installer and see the following:
SlackyApp Download Issue.png

Simply press the "Keep" button (Chrome) - Other browser may also have a complain about it, but there will always be a way to install it anyway!

Usage
Installation
Run the installer and follow instructions. (Follow the video below for help if you need it):

Updating
SlackyApp uses a lightweight version of DCUpdater to check for file version changes. Simply right click the notification icon (Near your clock) and click "Update" or run Update.exe within the application folder.

Windows 8/8.1 users may get moaned at by the Operating System by a means of a large green bar across your screen telling you that I am an evil evil person that wants to steal your children and eat your pets and because I didn't pay Microsoft to recognize me as a real developer...then the Software I have made is probably completely messed up and will do stupid things to your computer. Putting it simply...it lies...this Software will do NOTHING bad...I install NO extras into the software...no bundled toolbars, no adware, no malware, no spyware, no viruses, no keyloggers, no homepage changes, no changes to your search provider, no nag screens....the ONLY thing you will get, it SlackyApp...which does ONLY what it says on the feature list here.

I am fully open and transparent about everything I do and if you have any problems, then let me know ASAP.

Using the Application
Open and use - very simple interface.

Uninstallation
Run the Uninstaller

Known Issues
• If large amounts of data are passing through Slack at any one time (IE: Oeruse of the Giphy Integration), Window will go blank due to a possible memory leak - Bug has not been identified fully but I am aware of this happening.
• Cache and Memory not being cleared properly. - Resolution for this has been (hopefully) identified and will be resolved in the next build.

Please report any by Clicking Here.

Be Safe
SHA256:   514ffba157e812d86fc40da8ce4e9852223d9af5428b35c4111de60230bafb1e
File name:   SlackyAppInstall.exe
Detection ratio:   1 / 52 (Hit is a False Positive)
Analysis date:   2014-10-24 21:21:48 UTC

https://www.virustot...analysis/1414185708/

In the interest of being fair and open, the 2 that have flagged, and what they flagged this as, are listed below (Both have now been resolved):

CMC: Trojan.Win32.Inject!O - (Report sent to: [email protected]) - Resolution Pending
DrWeb: BackDoor.Bladabindi.2072 - (Reported False Positive via their Web Form) - Resolution Pending - Resolved

File Identification

File identification
MD5 a257b71dd437345da5aef47d55699ef9
SHA1 78610df5ecdbb76931ab47b713a522c592bfa533
SHA256 514ffba157e812d86fc40da8ce4e9852223d9af5428b35c4111de60230bafb1e
ssdeep
authentihash 853624ae37f42d669f9a68eff8c44627a1a88de94c942d8fd07b8795d4a2841f
imphash e45db0faa2d6ea8117244b8eeec66f7d
File size 31.6 Мб ( 33180454 bytes )
File type Win32 EXE
Magic literalPE32 executable for MS Windows (GUI) Intel 80386 32-bit
TrID InstallShield setup (48.1%)
Win32 Executable MS Visual C++ (generic) (34.9%)
Win32 Dynamic Link Library (generic) (7.3%)
Win32 Executable (generic) (5.0%)
Generic Win/DOS Executable (2.2%)

app103 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2014, 09:49 PM »

Testing out the pre-alpha, I'd have to say it's coming along quite nicely.

Deozaan · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2014, 10:58 PM »

Slack looks interesting, but I don't really know what I'd use it for. I was going to sign up so I could try it out, but it asks for a company name.

I don't want to sign up as a company. I want to sign up as an individual.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2014, 11:22 PM »

Slack looks interesting, but I don't really know what I'd use it for. I was going to sign up so I could try it out, but it asks for a company name.

I don't want to sign up as a company. I want to sign up as an individual.
-Deozaan (October 18, 2014, 10:58 PM)

Personally I had never heard of Slack before making this...and the only real reason I have an account there is for the purposes of this Software...for company name I just put my own, it worked fine @Deo

Deozaan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2014, 11:24 PM »

Personally I had never heard of Slack before making this...
-Stephen66515 (October 18, 2014, 11:22 PM)

Ditto. I hadn't heard of it until you started making this.

app103 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2014, 05:40 PM »

Slack used by companies for internal communications, sort of a cross between Twitter and IRC, but more private. It's actually kind of cool.

One of the companies I work for has a paid Slack account and uses it a lot. There is kind of a need for me to keep this open at all times, but for Windows users, the only options available are in your browser, or via using the IRC or XMPP gateways (which both leave something to be desired).

Having to have yet another browser tab open at all times is something I'd like to avoid. Mac users, which would describe most of my co-workers, have an official dedicated Slack app they can use (very much like what Stephen has built), as do mobile users. The best they can offer for Windows & Linux users is instructions for how to create a desktop shortcut that will open Slack in Chrome. I wouldn't call that a good substitute for a dedicated app.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2014, 03:28 AM »

The only problem I'm having atm is how to store cookies so you can store your logins...difficult to work with a little known browser engine that is under-documented

strochkov · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2014, 04:54 AM »

+1
I like Slack! It will be really nice to have "native" app, with abililty to minimize it to tray

strochkov · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2014, 05:41 AM »

The only problem I'm having atm is how to store cookies so you can store your logins...difficult to work with a little known browser engine that is under-documented
-Stephen66515 (October 20, 2014, 03:28 AM)

Are you using cef?

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2014, 07:04 AM »

The only problem I'm having atm is how to store cookies so you can store your logins...difficult to work with a little known browser engine that is under-documented
[/quote

Are you using cef?
-Stephen66515 (October 20, 2014, 03:28 AM)
-strochkov (October 20, 2014, 05:41 AM)

Nope, I'm using one called Awesomium. Not 100% sure what it is based on but it worked very nicely for the main functions.

To be honest, it looks like I am going to have to code together the functions for cookie and session storage myself as there doesn't seem to be a more viable solution using this engine.

Ahh well, I'll get her working

for now, the main things are done and if you are willing to sign in each time you launch, then it isn't really an issue

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2014, 06:40 PM »

OK, There is only so long I am willing to wait for somebody from Slack to e-mail me back, and I think 5 days is long enough. If they do decide they have a problem with me releasing this, then I will deal with it as and when.

I will be releasing the Software within the next 45 minutes.

For the moment, you CANNOT save login sessions. What this means is when you close SlackyApp and open it back up again, you have to login to Slack...It isn't a HUGE problem or hassle for now so I am not hugely focused on getting this feature functional for the moment.

If you do have any feature requests, then please let me know.

Current feature requests waiting to be added to my list: (See first post)

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2014, 06:47 PM »

Annoyingly, I can only upload files no bigger than 8MB to DonationCoder, so I am uploading the Installer to MediaFire.com - If the link doesn't work for you for any reason, let me know and I will upload elsewhere.

**edit** no longer using MediaFire. The download is now stored on my own webserver

app103 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2014, 01:13 AM »

Feature requests:

1. That tray balloon should have a check box on it to not show it to you again.

2. Remember the last Slack domain used, in the text box.

Nope, I'm using one called Awesomium. Not 100% sure what it is based on but it worked very nicely for the main functions.
-Stephen66515 (October 20, 2014, 07:04 AM)

From what I understand, it's based on Chromium 18, which is quite old, released back around the end of 2011. (Current version is v40.) So, this would be V8/WebKit based, not Blink.

http://answers.aweso...omium-v173-used.html

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2014, 12:33 PM »

1. That tray balloon should have a check box on it to not show it to you again.

2. Remember the last Slack domain used, in the text box.

Added to my To-Do list

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2014, 03:17 PM »

Update: v0.2.7.15

• Status Bar: See what links you are about to visit when you hover the mouse over them.
• Show/Hide Balloon Tip on Minimize.
• Remember the last Slack domain used, in the text box.

New Users: Download from link in Original Post
Existing Users: Same as Above - Please UNINSTALL the current version of SlackApp that you have as the updater will NOT do this for you in the previous version.

From now, SlackyApp updates will all go into the same folders (I didn't realize the previous build went into it's own version folder instead of one main container...this has now been fixed and future installs will go in C:/Program Files (x86)/SlackyApp)

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2014, 08:34 PM »

Update: v0.3.0.0 (Pre-Release)

• Cookies and Sessions now store.

Please use the Update Utility via the app icon on your taskbar to update.

Please Note: This is ONLY the .exe and not the full application, so it will overwrite SlackyApp.exe. This is not a stand-alone installer - That will be built tomorrow.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CLOSE SLACKYAPP.EXE BEFORE UPDATING OTHERWISE IT WILL NOT WORK

If you have any issues with this update, please revert back to the original EXE for the last version or re-install using the full installer then LET ME KNOW if it failed

Update file no longer available - Please download the full installer to update from previous versions prior to v0.3.0.0

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2014, 01:40 PM »

Version 0.3.0.0 is now available as a full download in the first post on this thread.

Please report any bugs to me or request any features you want adding by clicking here.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2014, 02:31 PM »

Just added a really boring video showing how the install works (Not that it is anything special)...so if you can't sleep and want something to help...go check the first post in the thread

strochkov · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2014, 02:01 AM »

Thanks a lot from out team! It works! Just one feature request: notifications!

app103 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2014, 02:37 AM »

Thanks a lot from out team! It works! Just one feature request: notifications!
-strochkov (October 23, 2014, 02:01 AM)

Optional! And no balloons!

Perhaps use a small toaster style alert that won't activate your taskbar.

app103 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2014, 02:43 AM »

Previous bugs reported to you on IRC seem to be fixed.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2014, 11:54 AM »

Thanks a lot from out team! It works! Just one feature request: notifications!
-strochkov (October 23, 2014, 02:01 AM)

I assume you mean Desktop notifications? If so, that is something I am working on adding already

- This is a difficult one to get running however so I cannot promise...but I CAN promise to try...after all...I didn't think Cookies would be possible in this...but those are now here, so who knows!

Thanks a lot from out team! It works! Just one feature request: notifications!
-strochkov (October 23, 2014, 02:01 AM)

Optional! And no balloons!

Perhaps use a small toaster style alert that won't activate your taskbar.
-app103 (October 23, 2014, 02:37 AM)

If I can get them working, I can give you lots of options on how to receive them

Previous bugs reported to you on IRC seem to be fixed.

-app103 (October 23, 2014, 02:43 AM)

Awesome!

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 24, 2014, 05:00 PM »

Information Update: 24th October 2014

I have included, within the first post on this thread, information pertaining to False Positive reports on SlackyApp from Virus Scanners. I have found 2 False Positives on the installer (Only managed to report to one of them so far).

If you get hit with a virus warning, then please follow the steps below:

1. Verify you downloaded SlackyAppInstaller.exe from ONLY the link I give in the first post on this thread.
2. If possible, verify the file you downloaded has the same information as shown below:

Information

MD5 a257b71dd437345da5aef47d55699ef9
SHA1 78610df5ecdbb76931ab47b713a522c592bfa533
SHA256 514ffba157e812d86fc40da8ce4e9852223d9af5428b35c4111de60230bafb1e
ssdeep
authentihash 853624ae37f42d669f9a68eff8c44627a1a88de94c942d8fd07b8795d4a2841f
imphash e45db0faa2d6ea8117244b8eeec66f7d
File size 31.6 Мб ( 33180454 bytes )
File type Win32 EXE
Magic literalPE32 executable for MS Windows (GUI) Intel 80386 32-bit
TrID InstallShield setup (48.1%)
Win32 Executable MS Visual C++ (generic) (34.9%)
Win32 Dynamic Link Library (generic) (7.3%)
Win32 Executable (generic) (5.0%)
Generic Win/DOS Executable (2.2%)

3. If possible, scan the file with a different scanner.
4. If you have exhausted all the above options, then please Send me a private message with all the information you can provide. Please feel free to also mention on this thread that you have got a report of a virus in the installer, and let people know what it is saying, and what Anti-Virus suite you are using.

I want to be as open as possible about everything here and will hide nothing. If companies are flagging me as somebody who writes malware or somebody who releases viruses...then I will happily share that information with all of you here.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 25, 2014, 01:52 PM »

Information Update: 25th October 2014

DrWeb AntiVirus confirmed that their report of SlackyApp was indeed a False Positive, and have resolved the error! Very VERY happy with their response time. Now just need to wait for the final one to report back and I will have 0 hits on VirusTotal!

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 26, 2014, 10:22 PM »

Update: 27th October 2014

I'm still looking for Feature Requests for SlackyApp and also people to help test it out to make sure it is bug free! I want to be able to bring it out testing phases sooner rather than later, but don't want to do so until I know it is working as good as it should do!

Don't forget to give us a Shoutout on Twitter using #SlackyApp and #NANY2015 !!!

You can also follow me on there: https://twitter.com/Kynlo