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Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

meteor.com

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Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#41
post #26
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see it? In cases of misleading or linkbait titles we're glad to hear suggestions for a better title. There are too many posts here for us to correct everything correctly, so help is welcome.

Better title suggestion: Apple allows sites to be opened in webview

No, "sites" would imply "web sites that you could just as easily open in Safari", which is not what they're talking about here. They're talking about implementing an app in Javascript stored locally (still accessible when you have no connectivity), and then being able to download updates to that code directly from the developer rather than through the app store. A lot of people (including myself) legitimately wondered if Apple permits this, since it bypasses Apple's normal review process for apps. Many of us (especially people like me who aren't regular iOS devs and have only anecdotal knowledge of their rules) didn't realize that Apple has an explicit and intentional exception for Javascript run via webview that applies to more than just web pages.

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#43
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't see the point of the blog of a javascript web framework requiring javascript?

I guess OP doesn't see the point of using a JavaScript framework for, per [0], "what should be text communicating a fucking message". [0] - http://motherfuckingwebsite.com/

Probably because it would look odd if Meteor's own web site wasn't build on their own framework.

Plus if they fix a typo the page updates in your browser without reloading. Which is at least kind of neat. :)

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#44
post #6

This sounds great. It bears noting that this form of code push is routinely implemented in native apps too - I know at least that the Quora and Facebook iOS apps make liberal use of web views (and code push). Native apps can take the opposite hybrid approach - sprinkle in web views where needed inside a native codebase, as opposed to sprinkling in native plugins (and a native wrapper) in a web codebase.

> ... Facebook iOS apps make liberal use of web views (and code push)

The Facebook apps absolutely do not use web code anymore. Their native code is conditionally enabled remotely.

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#45

In other words: webpages function as expected on iOS. ... Not to blame the meteor folks for writing it, if they were getting asked it... But wow. I personally think the title is a bit click-baity, but that's because it's not really hot code push. It's loading a web view. If this was hot loading new native code that'd be newsworthy or at least interesting.

Insofar as pushing new Meteor code up to the server will trigger an update to connected clients, it's hot code push. That's _not_ the same, technically, as a web view displaying a webpage that will update on the next page refresh.

Link bait? Maybe, maybe not. There are more interesting discussions to have. :-)

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#46
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess OP doesn't see the point of using a JavaScript framework for, per [0], "what should be text communicating a fucking message". [0] - http://motherfuckingwebsite.com/

Probably because it would look odd if Meteor's own web site wasn't build on their own framework. Plus if they fix a typo the page updates in your browser without reloading. Which is at least kind of neat. :)

Fair enough :).

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#47

In other words: webpages function as expected on iOS. ... Not to blame the meteor folks for writing it, if they were getting asked it... But wow. I personally think the title is a bit click-baity, but that's because it's not really hot code push. It's loading a web view. If this was hot loading new native code that'd be newsworthy or at least interesting.

[i work at meteor]

Meteor's hot code push on mobile is more sophisticated than this. When you deploy a new version of a Meteor app, clients fetch and save the new client JavaScript bundle along with its static assets. Future launches of the installed app immediately run new code (even offline) without first requiring a round trip to a server.

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#48

In other words: webpages function as expected on iOS. ... Not to blame the meteor folks for writing it, if they were getting asked it... But wow. I personally think the title is a bit click-baity, but that's because it's not really hot code push. It's loading a web view. If this was hot loading new native code that'd be newsworthy or at least interesting.

[i work at meteor] Meteor's hot code push on mobile is more sophisticated than this. When you deploy a new version of a Meteor app, clients fetch and save the new client JavaScript bundle along with its static assets. Future launches of the installed app immediately run new code (even offline) without first requiring a round trip to a server.

How can something that is offline somehow get new code? Besides that it sounds exactly like a website.

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#49
post #41
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Better title suggestion: Apple allows sites to be opened in webview

No, "sites" would imply "web sites that you could just as easily open in Safari", which is not what they're talking about here. They're talking about implementing an app in Javascript stored locally (still accessible when you have no connectivity), and then being able to download updates to that code directly from the developer rather than through the app store. A lot of people (including myself) legitimately wondere…

OK Great, Meteor uses regular HTML5 to store things in the app cache (that you could just as easily do in Safari by the way) and Apple's webview complies with the HTML5 standard. I guess I'm just not that surprised that Apple allows the use of standard HTML5 and UIWebview behaves like a browser.

Re: Apple allows hot code push for JS downloaded and run by WebKit

#50
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess OP doesn't see the point of using a JavaScript framework for, per [0], "what should be text communicating a fucking message". [0] - http://motherfuckingwebsite.com/

Probably because it would look odd if Meteor's own web site wasn't build on their own framework. Plus if they fix a typo the page updates in your browser without reloading. Which is at least kind of neat. :)

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