The Definitive Analysis of App Install Limits and App Catalog Hanging

rwhitby · 10/12/2009, 04:09 AM

We all know about the app catalog install limits, but no-one has ever tracked down *exactly* what is happening. Until now.

Please read rwhitby.net : The Definitive Analysis of Palm Pre App Install Limits and the Palm App Catalog Hanging for the definitive analysis of app install limits and palm app catalog "hangs".

-- Rod

abhinandanjain · 10/12/2009, 05:10 AM

Awesome work there, and well explained!

Kyusaku · 10/12/2009, 05:14 AM

Your workaround worked perfectly. Thanks a lot.

scottitude · 10/12/2009, 05:17 AM

Never had the "too many aps" issue but it's great to know a simple way to speead up the load-time. Nice, concise , and easily understandable explantion. Thank you.

rwhitby · 10/12/2009, 06:15 AM

Update: I've now webOS Doctored my Pre in the name of science, and have tested the limits of installing applications.

If you run "du -s /var/usr/palm/applications/*", and add up all the numbers in the first column, then as soon as you hit the 62367 1K blocks limit of the addition of the sizes reported by that "du" command and the size of the app you with to install, you will get the dreaded "Sorry, Not Enough Memory" error from the Palm App Catalog application (and any other installer, like fileCoaster or PreLoad, which uses the palm appInstaller API). It doesn't matter whether you have 192MB free in your /var partition, it will max out at just under 64MB of application usage.

-- Rod

QuietStorm21A · 10/12/2009, 06:16 AM

I am happy pre owner again now i got preware back and no freeze issue. Thank you Rwhitby!

Knsnik · 10/12/2009, 06:43 AM

preload can work around app limit.

rwhitby · 10/12/2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knsnik

preload can work around app limit.

The "Download Rooted" option of PreLoad (which is only available if the WebOS Internals Package Manager Service is installed) of course can work around the app limit, because it uses the same webos-internals.org service that Preware uses.

That's the main reason why we released the Package Manager Service as a separate package - so other open source applications like PreLoad can take advantage of the technology and not have to waste time developing it from scratch like closed source application authors do ...

-- Rod

maxima2k53 · 10/12/2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwhitby

The "Download Rooted" option of PreLoad (which is only available if the WebOS Internals Package Manager Service is installed) of course can work around the app limit, because it uses the same webos-internals.org service that Preware uses.

That's the main reason why we released the Package Manager Service as a separate package - so other open source applications like PreLoad can take advantage of the technology and not have to waste time developing it from scratch like closed source application authors do ...

-- Rod

how will we be getting around this memory limit error...is there a hack/tweak/app in the works that will bypass this...or is palm really working on a fix for this?

Kyusaku · 10/12/2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwhitby

Update: I've now webOS Doctored my Pre in the name of science, and have tested the limits of installing applications.

If you run "du -s /var/usr/palm/applications/*", and add up all the numbers in the first column, then as soon as you hit the 62367 1K blocks limit of the addition of the sizes reported by that "du" command and the size of the app you with to install, you will get the dreaded "Sorry, Not Enough Memory" error from the Palm App Catalog application (and any other installer, like fileCoaster or PreLoad, which uses the palm appInstaller API). It doesn't matter whether you have 192MB free in your /var partition, it will max out at just under 64MB of application usage.

-- Rod

I appreciate everything you're doing with this project, and hopefully you'll be able to come up with something that will work for everyone. This is over my head so all I can do is cheer you on, good luck.

rwhitby · 10/12/2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxima2k53

how will we be getting around this memory limit error...is there a hack/tweak/app in the works that will bypass this...or is palm really working on a fix for this?

Watch this space ...

-- Rod

rwhitby · 07:55 AM

"Fair Dinkum App Limit" has been released. You can find it in Preware, ready for installation on your Pre.

It will remove both the "hang" and the arbitrary 64MB limit on installation of applications.

http://forums.precentral.net/homebre...tallation.html

Enjoy.

-- Rod

DrSuSE · 10/12/2009, 07:58 AM

Thanks Rod... all the work is really appreciated. Out of curiosity, does FDAL (lol) leave the Pre still checking for free space in the /var partition at all (just not the 64M limit)?

Mhunterjr · 10/12/2009, 08:07 AM

Wow, you never cease to amaze me!

rwhitby · 10/12/2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSuSE

Thanks Rod... all the work is really appreciated. Out of curiosity, does FDAL (lol) leave the Pre still checking for free space in the /var partition at all (just not the 64M limit)?

The Package Manager Service will refuse to install an application if it will fill up /var. Future versions of fairdinkum will also do more sophisticated checks.

-- Rod

bakerja · 10/12/2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwhitby

"Fair Dinkum App Limit" has been released. You can find it in Preware, ready for installation on your Pre.

It will remove both the "hang" and the arbitrary 64MB limit on installation of applications.

http://forums.precentral.net/homebre...tallation.html

Enjoy.

-- Rod

Enjoy is the understatement of the month! You rock! Works great! Yahooo!!

Can you tell I am a little excited?

scuzlebutt · 10/12/2009, 08:59 AM

Ty ty ty ty ty!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally Pre · 10/12/2009, 09:10 AM

Other than the Video camera the phone is now complete. Great work! This was the biggest headache of the WebOS file structure.

fbcregan · 10/12/2009, 10:22 AM

Thanks for this fix, but I still can't install anything else from the App Catalog. It still says there's not enough space.

superdog87 · 10/12/2009, 10:55 AM

Rod, thank you so much for your time and work put into this patch! My Pre is able to install new apps smoothly now! I have called Palm and voiced my concern of outside developers having to patch there flawed OS. The lady I spoke with agreed and thought Palm should have released a patch by now. lol But, your work is totally appreciated!

10/12/2009, 04:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
rwhitby Developer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia - follow @webosinternals on Twitter visit www.webos-internals.org and www.facebook.com/webosinternals Posts: 10,220 Likes Received: 546 Thanks: 90 Thanked 8,534 Times in 2,806 Posts	The Definitive Analysis of App Install Limits and App Catalog Hanging We all know about the app catalog install limits, but no-one has ever tracked down exactly what is happening. Until now. Please read rwhitby.net : The Definitive Analysis of Palm Pre App Install Limits and the Palm App Catalog Hanging for the definitive analysis of app install limits and palm app catalog "hangs". -- Rod __________________ WebOS Internals and Preware Founder and Developer You may wish to donate by Paypal to donations @ webos-internals.org if you find our work useful. All donations go back into development. www.webos-internals.org twitter.com/webosinternals facebook.com/webosinternals
	Liked by Thanked by abhinandanjain, adma84, Audemars02, cashen, daaknes, DarthRepublican, Dogg006, Finally Pre, gjlowe, Jason Robitaille, jcross22, jimhuff, Kyusaku, Leathal, maxima2k53, Mhunterjr, mrloserpunk, psm9, QuietStorm21A, roofer2, scottitude, superdog87, tc600, Tikerz, Trekker

10/12/2009, 05:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
abhinandanjain Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 180 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 22 Thanked 21 Times in 13 Posts	Awesome work there, and well explained!
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 05:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kyusaku Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,483 Likes Received: 5 Thanks: 92 Thanked 195 Times in 142 Posts	Your workaround worked perfectly. Thanks a lot.
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 05:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
scottitude Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 96 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 15 Thanked 28 Times in 14 Posts	Never had the "too many aps" issue but it's great to know a simple way to speead up the load-time. Nice, concise , and easily understandable explantion. Thank you.
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 06:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
rwhitby Developer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia - follow @webosinternals on Twitter visit www.webos-internals.org and www.facebook.com/webosinternals Posts: 10,220 Likes Received: 546 Thanks: 90 Thanked 8,534 Times in 2,806 Posts	Update: I've now webOS Doctored my Pre in the name of science, and have tested the limits of installing applications. If you run "du -s /var/usr/palm/applications/", and add up all the numbers in the first column, then as soon as you hit the 62367 1K blocks limit of the addition of the sizes reported by that "du" command and the size of the app you with to install, you will get the dreaded "Sorry, Not Enough Memory" error from the Palm App Catalog application (and any other installer, like fileCoaster or PreLoad, which uses the palm appInstaller API). It doesn't matter whether you have 192MB free in your /var partition, it will max out at just under 64MB of application usage. -- Rod __________________ WebOS Internals and Preware Founder and Developer* You may wish to donate by Paypal to donations @ webos-internals.org if you find our work useful. All donations go back into development. www.webos-internals.org twitter.com/webosinternals facebook.com/webosinternals
	Liked by Thanked by Kyusaku, Milominderbinder, sudoer

10/12/2009, 06:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
QuietStorm21A Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spring Valley, NY Posts: 232 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 79 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	I am happy pre owner again now i got preware back and no freeze issue. Thank you Rwhitby! __________________
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 06:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
Knsnik Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 161 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 28 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts	preload can work around app limit.
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 07:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
rwhitby Developer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia - follow @webosinternals on Twitter visit www.webos-internals.org and www.facebook.com/webosinternals Posts: 10,220 Likes Received: 546 Thanks: 90 Thanked 8,534 Times in 2,806 Posts	"Fair Dinkum App Limit" has been released. You can find it in Preware, ready for installation on your Pre. It will remove both the "hang" and the arbitrary 64MB limit on installation of applications. http://forums.precentral.net/homebre...tallation.html Enjoy. -- Rod __________________ WebOS Internals and Preware Founder and Developer You may wish to donate by Paypal to donations @ webos-internals.org if you find our work useful. All donations go back into development. www.webos-internals.org twitter.com/webosinternals facebook.com/webosinternals Last edited by rwhitby; 10/12/2009 at 07:55 AM.
	Liked by Thanked by bigbrent80, leucus, prubin, psm9, roofer2, Spunks3

10/12/2009, 07:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
DrSuSE Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 490 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 14 Thanked 74 Times in 56 Posts	Thanks Rod... all the work is really appreciated. Out of curiosity, does FDAL (lol) leave the Pre still checking for free space in the /var partition at all (just not the 64M limit)?
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 08:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mhunterjr Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,461 Likes Received: 115 Thanks: 64 Thanked 294 Times in 180 Posts	Wow, you never cease to amaze me!
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 08:59 AM	#17 (permalink)
scuzlebutt Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wrigley Field Posts: 161 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ty ty ty ty ty!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ There's always next year!
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 09:10 AM	#18 (permalink)
Finally Pre Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,558 Likes Received: 24 Thanks: 411 Thanked 431 Times in 266 Posts	Other than the Video camera the phone is now complete. Great work! This was the biggest headache of the WebOS file structure.
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 10:22 AM	#19 (permalink)
fbcregan Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 50 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Thanks for this fix, but I still can't install anything else from the App Catalog. It still says there's not enough space.
	Liked by

10/12/2009, 10:55 AM	#20 (permalink)
superdog87 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 47 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 20 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Rod, thank you so much for your time and work put into this patch! My Pre is able to install new apps smoothly now! I have called Palm and voiced my concern of outside developers having to patch there flawed OS. The lady I spoke with agreed and thought Palm should have released a patch by now. lol But, your work is totally appreciated!
	Liked by Thanked By: Shadow53007

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