version: 1
-Date: 15 March 2016
+Date: 30 mai 2016
Author: José Bollo
This document describes what we intend to do. It may happen that our -current implementation and the content of this document differ.
- -In case of differences, it is assumed that this document is right -and the implementation is wrong.
+This document describes application framework user daemon fundamentals. +FCF (Fully Conform to Specification) implementation is still under development. +It may happen that current implementation somehow diverges with specifications.
The daemon afm-user-daemon is in charge of handling -applications for one user. Its main tasks are:
+applications on behalf of a user. Its main tasks are:enumerate the applications that the user can run -and keep the list avalable on demand
start applications for the user, set their running -environment, set their security context
list the current runner applications
enumerate applications that end user can run +and keep this list available on demand
start applications on behalf of end user, set user running +environment, set user security context
list current runnable or running applications
stop (aka pause), continue (aka resume), terminate -the running instance of application
transfer requests for installation or uninstallation -of applications to the dedicated system daemon +a running instance of a given application
transfer requests for installation/uninstallation +of applications to the corresponding system daemon afm-system-daemon
The afm-user-daemon takes its orders from the session instance of D-Bus.
-The figure below summarizes the situation of the -afm-user-daemon in the system.
+The figure below summarizes the situation of afm-user-daemon in the system.
+------------------------------------------------------------+
| User |
@@ -83,38 +125,40 @@ instance of D-Bus.
Maintaining list of applications
At start afm-user-daemon scans the directories containing
-the applications and load in memory the list applications
-availables to the current user.
+applications and load in memory a list of avaliable applications
+accessible by current user.
-When afm-system-daemon installs or removes an application,
-it sends the signal org.AGL.afm.system.changed on success.
-If it receives that signal, afm-user-daemon rebuild its
-list of applications.
+When afm-system-daemon installs or removes an application.
+On success it sends the signal org.AGL.afm.system.changed.
+When receiving such a signal, afm-user-daemon rebuilds its
+applications list.
-afm-user-daemon provides the data that it collected about
-application to its clients that either want to get that list
-or to get information about one application.
+afm-user-daemon provides the data it collects about
+applications to its clients. Clients may either request the full list
+of avaliable applications or a more specific information about a
+given application.
-
-Launching applications
+
+Launching application
-afm-user-daemon launchs the applications. This means
-that its builds a secure environment for the application
-and then start it inside that secured environment.
+afm-user-daemon launches application. Its builds a secure
+environment for the application before starting it within a
+secured environment.
-Applications of different kind can be launched.
+Different kind of applications can be launched.
This is set using a configuration file that describes
-how to launch an application of a given kind for a given
+how to launch an application of a given kind within a given
mode.
There is two launching modes: local or remote.
Launching an application locally means that
-the application and its binder are launcher together.
+the application and its binder are launched together.
-Launching application remotely means that only the
-binder is launched for the application.
+Launching application remotely translates in only launching
+the application binder. The UI by itself has to be activated
+remotely by the requested (ie: HTML5 homescreen in a browser)
Once launched, running instances of application receive
a runid that identify them.
@@ -125,15 +169,15 @@ a runid that identify them.
afm-user-daemon manages the list of applications
that it launched.
-With the good permissions, a client can get the list
-of the running instances and details about a specific
-running instance. It can also terminate, stop or
-continue a given application.
+When owning the right permissions, a client can get the list
+of running instances and details about a specific
+running instance. It can also terminates, stops or
+continues a given application.
Installing and uninstalling applications
-If the client has the good permission,
+
If the client own the right permissions,
afm-user-daemon delegates that task
to afm-system-daemon.
@@ -149,78 +193,77 @@ located at /usr/lib/systemd/user/afm-user-daemon.service.
-a
--application directory
- Includes the given application directory to
- the database base of applications.
+ Includes the given application directory to
+ the database base of applications.
- Can be repeated.
+ Can be repeated.
-r
---root directory
+--root directory
- Includes the root application directory to
- the database base of applications.
+ Includes root application directory or directories when
+ passing multiple rootdir to
+ applications database.
- Note that the default root directory for
- applications is always added. It is defined
- to be /usr/share/afm/applications (may change).
-
- Can be repeated.
+ Note that default root directory for
+ applications is always added. In current version
+ /usr/share/afm/applications is used as default.
-m
--mode (local|remote)
- Set the default launch mode.
- The default value is 'local'
+ Set the default launch mode.
+ The default value is 'local'
-d
--daemon
- Daemonizes the process. It is not needed by sytemd.
+ Daemonizes the process. It is not needed by sytemd.
-q
--quiet
- Reduces the verbosity (can be repeated).
+ Reduces the verbosity (can be repeated).
-v
--verbose
- Increases the verbosity (can be repeated).
+ Increases the verbosity (can be repeated).
-h
--help
- Prints a short help.
+ Prints a short help.
-
-Configuration of the launcher
+
+Launcher Configuration
It contains rules for launching applications.
-When afm-user-daemon need to launch an application,
-it looks to the mode of launch, local or remote, and the
-type of the application as given by the file config.xml
-of the widget.
+When afm-user-daemon has to launch an application,
+it looks for launch mode (local or remote), as well as
+for the type of application describe in config.xml
+widget configuration file.
-This couple mode and type allows to select the rule.
+This tuple mode+type allows to select the adequate rule.
-The configuration file is /etc/afm/afm-launch.conf.
+Configuration file is /etc/afm/afm-launch.conf.
It contains sections and rules. It can also contain comments
-and empty lines to improve the readability.
+and empty lines to improve readability.
The separators are space and tabulation, any other character
-is meaning something.
+should have a meaning.
The format is line oriented.
The new line character separate the lines.
-Lines having only separators are blank lines and are skipped.
-Line having the character # (sharp) as first not separator character
-are comment lines and are ignored.
+Lines having only separators are blank lines and ignored.
+Line having character #(sharp) at first position are comment
+lines and ignored.
-Lines starting with a not separator character are differents
-of lines starting with a separator character.
+Lines not starting with a separator are different
+from lines starting with a separator character.
The grammar of the configuration file is defined below:
@@ -250,18 +293,18 @@ NCHAR: CMT | CHAR
Here is a sample of configuration file for defining how -to launch an application declared of types application/x-executable, -text/x-shellscript and text/html in mode local:
+to launch an application of types application/x-executable, +text/x-shellscript and text/html in local mode:mode local
application/x-executable
text/x-shellscript
- %r/%c
+%r/%c
text/html
- /usr/bin/afb-daemon --mode=local --readyfd=%R --alias=/icons:%I --port=%P --rootdir=%r --token=%S --sessiondir=%D/.afb-daemon
- /usr/bin/web-runtime http://localhost:%P/%c?token=%S
+/usr/bin/afb-daemon --mode=local --readyfd=%R --alias=/icons:%I --port=%P --rootdir=%r --token=%S --sessiondir=%D/.afb-daemon
+/usr/bin/web-runtime http://localhost:%P/%c?token=%S
This shows that:
@@ -278,9 +321,9 @@ text/htmlWithin this mode, the launchers have either one or two vectors -describing them. All of these vectors are treated as programs -and are executed with the system call ‘execve’.
+Within this mode, the launchers have either one or two description vectors. +All of those vectors are treated as programs +and are executed with ‘execve’ system call.
The first vector is the leader vector and it defines the process group. The second vector (if any) is attached to the group @@ -292,19 +335,17 @@ defined by this first vector.
Within this mode, the launchers have either one or two vectors describing them.
-The first vector is treated as a program and is executed with -the system call ‘execve’.
+The first vector is process as a program and is executed with +system call ‘execve’.
The second vector (if any) defines a text that is returned -to the caller. This mechanism can be used to return the uri -to connect to for executing the application remotely.
+to the caller. This mechanism can be used to return a uri +for remote UI to connect on the newly launched application. -The daemon afm-user-daemon allocates a port for the -running the application remotely. -The current implmentation of the port allocation is just -incremental. -A more reliable (cacheable and same-originable) allocation -is to be defined.
+The daemon afm-user-daemon allocates a port for each +new remote application. +The current implementation port allocation is incremental. +A smarter (cacheable and discoverable) allocation should be defined.
This simply emits the percent sign %
%a: appid
-This is the application Id of the launched application.
+Holds application Id of launched application.
Defined by the attribute id of the element
The file within the widget directory that is the entry point.
-For a HTML application, it is the relative path to the main +
For HTML applications, it represents the relative path to main page (aka index.html).
-Defined by the attribute src of the element
Defined by attribute src of the element
%D: datadir
Path of the directory where the application runs (cwd) @@ -368,24 +408,23 @@ of config.xml.
%p: plugins
-Unhandled until now.
- -Will be the colon separated list of plugins and plugins directory.
In the future should represent the list of plugins and plugins directory separated by ‘,’. +Warning: not supported in current version.
%P: port
A port to use. It is currently a kind of random port. The precise model is to be defined later.
%R: readyfd
-Number of the file descriptor to use for signalling -readyness of the launched process.
Number of file descriptor to use for signaling +readiness of launched process.
%r: rootdir
-Path of the directory containing the widget and its data.
Path of directory containing the widget and its data.
%S: secret
-An hexadecimal number that can be used to pair the client -with its server binder.
An hexadecimal number that can be used to initialize pairing of client +and application binder.
%W: width
Requested width for the widget.
@@ -402,27 +441,25 @@ of config.xml.afm-user-daemon takes its orders from the session instance -of D-Bus. The use of D-Bus is great because it allows to implement +of D-Bus. D-Bus is nice to use in this context because it allows discovery and signaling.
-The dbus of the session is by default adressed by the environment +
The dbus session is by default addressed by environment variable DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS. Using systemd -the variable DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS is automatically set for +variable DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS is automatically set for user sessions.
-The afm-user-daemon is listening with the destination name -org.AGL.afm.user at the object of path /org/AGL/afm/user -on the interface org.AGL.afm.user for the below detailed -members runnables, detail, start, terminate, +
The afm-user-daemon is listening on destination name +org.AGL.afm.user at object path /org/AGL/afm/user +on interface org.AGL.afm.user for following members: + runnables, detail, start, terminate, stop, continue, runners, state, install and uninstall.
D-Bus is mainly used for signaling and discovery. Its optimized -typed protocol is not used except for transmitting only one string -in both directions.
+typed protocol is not used except for transmission of standalone strings. -The client and the service are using JSON serialisation to -exchange data.
+Clients and Services are using JSON serialisation to exchange data.
The D-Bus interface is defined by:
@@ -436,16 +473,16 @@ exchange data.The signature of any member of the interface is string -> string for JSON -> JSON.
-This is the normal case. In case of error, the current implmentation -returns a dbus error that is a string.
+This is the normal case. In case of error, the current implementation +returns a dbus error as a string.
-Here is an example that use dbus-send to query data on +
Here an example using dbus-send to query data on installed applications.
dbus-send --session --print-reply \
- --dest=org.AGL.afm.user \
- /org/AGL/afm/user \
- org.AGL.afm.user.runnables string:true
+--dest=org.AGL.afm.user \
+/org/AGL/afm/user \
+org.AGL.afm.user.runnables string:true
The syntax is simple: it accept a command and if the command -requires it, the argument to the command.
+The syntax is simple: it accept a command and when requires attached arguments.
Here is the summary of afm-util:
@@ -570,12 +606,12 @@ an application as described above for the methodDescription: Install an application from its widget file.
If an application of the same id and version exists, it is not -reinstalled except if force=true.
+reinstalled except when force=true.Applications are installed in the subdirectories of the common directory -of applications. -If root is specified, the application is installed under the -sub-directories of the root defined.
+reserved for applications. +If root is specified, the application is installed under +sub-directories of defined root.Note that this methods is a simple accessor to the method org.AGL.afm.system.install of afm-system-daemon.
@@ -583,10 +619,10 @@ sub-directories of the root defined.After the installation and before returning to the sender, afm-user-daemon sends the signal org.AGL.afm.user.changed.
-Input: The path of the widget file to install and, optionaly, -a flag to force reinstallation, and, optionaly, a root directory.
+Input: The path of widget file to be installed. Optionally, +a flag to force reinstallation and/or a root directory.
-Either just a string being the absolute path of the widget file:
+Simple form a simple string containing the absolute widget path:
"/a/path/driving/to/the/widget"
“wgt” and “root” must be absolute paths.
+“wgt” and “root” MUST be absolute paths.
-output: An object with the field “added” being the string for -the id of the added application.
+output: An object containing field “added” to use as application ID.
{"added":"appli@x.y"}
Description: Uninstall an application from its id.
-Note that this methods is a simple accessor to the method -org.AGL.afm.system.uninstall of afm-system-daemon.
+Note that this methods is a simple accessor to +org.AGL.afm.system.uninstall method from afm-system-daemon.
After the uninstallation and before returning to the sender, afm-user-daemon sends the signal org.AGL.afm.user.changed.
-Input: the id of the application and, otpionaly, the path to -root of the application.
+Input: the id of the application and, optionally, the path to +application root.
Either a string:
@@ -646,7 +681,7 @@ the id of the added application.Description:
-Input: the id of the application and, optionaly, the +
Input: the id of the application and, optionally, the start mode as below.
Either just a string:
@@ -654,25 +689,24 @@ start mode as below."appli@x.y"
Or an object having the field “id” of type string and -optionaly a field mode:
+Or an object containing field “id” of type string and +optionally a field mode:
{"id":"appli@x.y","mode":"local"}
The field “mode” as a string value being either “local” or “remote”.
+The field “mode” is a string equal to either “local” or “remote”.
-output: The runid of the application launched. -The runid is an integer.
+output: The runid of the application launched. runid is an integer.
Description: Terminates the application of runid.
+Description: Terminates the application attached to runid.
-Input: The runid (an integer) of the running instance to terminate.
+Input: The runid (an integer) of running instance to terminate.
output: the value ‘true’.
@@ -681,9 +715,9 @@ The runid is an integer.Description: Stops the application of runid until terminate or continue.
+Description: Stops the application attached to runid until terminate or continue.
-Input: The runid (an integer) of the running instance to stop.
+Input: The runid (integer) of the running instance to stop.
output: the value ‘true’.
@@ -692,9 +726,9 @@ The runid is an integer.Description: Continues the application of runid previously stopped.
+Description: Continues the application attached to runid previously stopped.
-Input: The runid (an integer) of the running instance to continue.
+Input: The runid (integer) of the running instance to continue.
output: the value ‘true’.
@@ -705,12 +739,11 @@ The runid is an integer.Description: Get informations about a running instance of runid.
-Input: The runid (an integer) of the running instance inspected.
+Input: The runid (integer) of the running instance inspected.
-output: An object describing the state of the instance. It contains: -the runid (an integer), the id of the running application (a string), -the state of the application (a string being either “starting”, “running” -or “stopped”).
+output: An object describing instance state. It contains: +the runid (integer), the id of the running application (string), +the state of the application (string either: “starting”, “running”, “stopped”).
Example of returned state:
@@ -726,7 +759,7 @@ or “stopped”).Description: Get the list of the currently running instances.
+Description: Get the list of currently running instances.
Input: anything.