NANY 2018 Release (preliminary alpha-or-so): ymarks

[Tuxman]

ymarks :: self-hosted cross-browser bookmarks sync

You know Xmarks, the almost legendary bookmark sync service that has been allowing you to synchronize your bookmarks across multiple browsers since 2006? I have been working on a self-hosted open-source alternative for a couple of months (skipping a couple of weeks because this is far from being my only ongoing development project) and I'm confident to be able to release a first version just in time for NANY 2018.

I implement the client part as a WebExtension, it will probably work with Firefox, Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, and Edge without any modifications when I'm done. I'll also try to provide an Android app because mobile browsers suck when it comes to extensibility, but that does not have a high priority as of now.

DONEs and TODOs:

Bookmarks server:

• Compiles on Windows done
• Compiles on *ix done
• Can retrieve and store bookmarks done
• Can backup bookmarks done
• Can send bookmarks to the client done

Browser extension:

• Can upload bookmarks done
• Can download bookmarks done
• Can download previous bookmarks done
• Automated downloads and uploads on start/changes done
• Ensure cross-browser compatibility Write separate extensions because Mozilla is a cunt done

Android app:

• Settings (UI & storage TODO
• Bookmarks list TODO
• Add/Edit/Delete bookmarks TODO

Prepare.

[cranioscopical]

I like that quite a bit!

[Tuxman]

So do I. 

[Deozaan]

I like that quite a bit!

What's that? The Comic Sans?

[cranioscopical]

I like that quite a bit!

What's that? The Comic Sans?

It's much better than the sans of Times!

[rgdot]

Looking forward to this 

[Tuxman]

State of things:

• Upload and download (non-incremental: delete and recreate everything on both sides) of bookmarks work neatly with Firefox "Developer Edition" (latest beta 57b13).
• All other browsers remain untested. As it stands, Edge support might be hairy, but I'll try anyway.
• Next up: Implement and test the client-side backup mechanisms. Because we all know why.

[Tuxman]

I sent out what I consider the first release candidate for Windows (server)/Firefox (client) to my first voluntary tester today. 

[Tuxman]

Website. First Windows version, first Firefox version. Do not use it unless you love pain.

[rgdot]

'VCRUNTIME140.DLL is missing' error when running ymarks.exe. VCRUNTIME140.DLL is on my system, more than one location

Win10 Home 1703 64bit

[Tuxman]

That's why I said "unless you love pain".  This is a largely untested version, proven to work on exact one machine: Mine. 
Seriously though:  Tried copying the DLL into the binary folder?

[rgdot]

Copied the DLL to its folder, that error is gone. Got Windows Firewall prompt, allowed access. Get this apparently blank window (nothing can be done in the window)

[Tuxman]

Then the browser extension should be able to connect to it. 
(Standard: http://localhost:8888, PIN 12345)

I'm still not sure what to do with that window. I find it OK that you can "just exit it", especially since the "server" mostly runs on actual servers, I guess. 

[rgdot]

Thanks.

That brings us to the unsigned extension issue, eventhough I have set it to signature.required to false (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1134589) since I am not a daily FF user (more often on Chrome) is there something I am missing?

[Tuxman]

Hm ... normal Firefox or Developer Edition?

[Tuxman]

I pushed a signed version. Same URL.

[rgdot]

Normal edition

More, sorry (hopefully this is useful for you in the end)

[Tuxman]

It is: It currently requires Firefox 57. I can't really be sure that the APIs I access are available in earlier versions. 
AFAIK your 56 will be gone in two weeks, probably earlier.

I pushed a version with Fx56 compat... I honestly don't know if it throws errors for you.
(IIRC, bookmark separators are unsupported before Fx57 beta 13.)

[rgdot]

57 is due on the 14th Nov. I will just test this on 57 beta (will install it now) and post back, thanks. Up to you if you care about the 56 compatible version.

[Tuxman]

I don't really care about Firefox at all anymore, it just came handy for my plans to make a portable extension. 
I develop on Fx Developer Edition (because about:debugging is nice for this). Currently, Fx Dev 57 beta 14.

[rgdot]

Stupid question time  what should be endpoint in options? (PIN is entered as you mentioned above of course)

[Tuxman]

(Standard: http://localhost:8888, PIN 12345)

[rgdot]

In the add-on options I already have those (saved) but do get that message as in the last screenshot.
FF57b14 (portable)

[Tuxman]

Hmm, you should never access that site. 

[rgdot]

Just for confirmation