A Simple How-to Guide for getting homebrew apps onto your Pre !!Outdated!!

[sir_mycroft]

This post is old. Check this article out for the simplified version!

http://www.precentral.net/how-to-install-homebrew-apps

________________
Old Version Below!


I have put the following how-to guide together to let anyone who wishes to enjoy some of the fine homebrewed applications that are being produced by the members at Precentral. This guide should not be viewed as a way of derailing the efforts of other members to develop a packaged means of delivering applications to stock Pres. I certainly wish to encourage that development. This guide is instead meant to act as stop-gap measure for those who want the great apps being produced, but do not have the desire to root their Pres, and no longer have the option of exploiting the e-mail hole after the 1.0.4 WebOS update. The how-to guide is in plain English, and is extremely simple. You need not be a techie or hacker to get homebrewed applications onto your Pre. If you are able to download a program from the internet and drag and drop a file, you have what it takes to get these great programs up and running on your Pre. If you had the wherewithal to find this thread in Precentral and currently possess a desire to get the applications in the homebrew section, you can do this. You have my word on it.

EDIT: (7/15/09) This guide may have possibly been rendered obsolete by the wiki dev team (it was but a matter of time) which has constructed a tool for installing homebrew apps. It can be found here (thanks go to Xorg):

pre dev wiki: Installing Apps on a Stock Pre

I would try this option first as it is an even simpler solution to installing Homebrew Apps.

Caveat 1: The following how to is only for PC’s running Windows XP EDIT(7/8/09): Vista and Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit) users appear to be having difficulties with the how-to, possible as a result of the security measures within Vista and Windows 7. Forum member Nightburn has a work-around using an XP emulator which can be found in post #182 in this thread. For Mac (and possibly Linux) users TheInvsbleMan has a fix located at post #223. Many thanks to both members.

Caveat 2: I guess I should also say that you should try this at your own risk. I take no responsibility for damage done if it should occur, and read the instructions fully before attempting.


A Simple How-to Guide for getting homebrew apps onto your Pre (after 1.0.4)

STEP ONE: Preparing your computer

In order for you to transfer applications from Precentral to your Pre, you will need to download some software and install it onto your computer.

A. First, download and install Virtual Box, a program that will allow you to run a computerized version of your Pre within a window. You can download it here:

http://www.virtualbox.org

Follow the instructions for downloading via the wizard. Leave the downloaded files in the location where the wizard suggests for simplicity sake.

B. Next, download and install the Mojo SDK, which is Palm’s preliminary developer tool, onto your computer. The Mojo SDK has many things that allow programmers to make applications, but you don’t need know how to do any of that. What you do need to know is that the Mojo SDK will load files onto you Pre (See Step Two below). You can find the Mojo SDK here:

http://www.myunspace.com/?d=76CED4B01

Follow the instructions for downloading. Again, leave the files where the wizard puts them so you can find them easily (see Step Three below).

C. Then, pat yourself on the back, the hard part is now over. Seriously. Once you have the above two programs up and running, you will see a virtual Pre appear on your PC. You can now forget about the programs entirely. You will not need to fool with them again. Furthermore, if you wish to download more apps in the future, you can skip Step One completely.

EDIT(7/7/09): Some intrepid members on this thread have deduced that those who are having problems after following the guide may need to install an additional program, Java, on their computers as well, or need to install its latest updated version. If you too are having problems after completing all the steps, start fresh and as part of Step One install the latest version of Java which can be found here:

http://www.java.com

Download the latest version and follow the on screen instructions.

STEP TWO: Preparing the Pre

Now that your computer is ready, it is time for your Pre. Unlike Step One, this will have to be repeated every time you want to install future homebrew app on your Pre.

A. First, you have to put your Pre into “Developer Mode” which sounds impressive but is really, really simple. This will allow your pre to accept applications via the USB cable. To put your Pre into developer mode all you do is type a Universal Search on the Pre for the following:

upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart

If you type it correctly, as soon as you finish the last “t” a “Developer Mode Enabler” icon will float up to greet you. Tap it, turn on developer mode, and you will be prompted to restart your Pre. Do so.

B. Next, plug your USB cable into your computer and your Pre. Select the “Just Charge” mode. If this is your first time doing so, the file, “Novacom” will automatically install on your Pre. Your Pre will be recognized on your PC as a Novacom device.

C. Then, leaving your Pre hooked to you PC once again, restart your Pre. This need only be done the first time. After the initial installation, subsequent restarts after putting your Pre into developer mode and linking to you PC is unnecessary.

STEP THREE: Getting the homebrew apps onto your Pre

This is the fun part. Precentral already has many great new apps cooked up by members ready for you to install, and there are more and more everyday.

A. Find the app or apps you want by going to the following thread:

http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/

Click on the attached file which will end in .ipk and download it onto your PC somewhere you can find it, like the Desktop. Do not e-mail the link to yourself, you need the actual file. Some apps require you to go to another site to download the link, but it is still the same thing, simply download the app to your PC desktop.

B. Next, you have to find a file that has been installed onto your PC in Step One. The easiest way to do this on WindowsXP is to click through the following folders on your PC:

My Computer
- Program Files
- Palm
- SDK
- bin

Once in the “bin” subfolder you will see a list of files, including the following:

palm-install.bat

This file is key for the last thing you have to do, which is…

C. Drag the .ipk file and drop it into the palm-instll.bat file. That’s it. Really. Once you do that, a command prompt window will open, and a bunch of code will scroll past. The window will then disappear. Viola! The App is now installed onto you Pre. You’re done! It is just that easy.

Except for…

STEP FOUR: Disconnecting everything

EDIT (7/7/09): Once again thanks to the collective genius found on Precentral, my previously unresolved issue under this step is now completely resolved, and Step Four has been thoroughly updated.

Once you have your new homebrew apps working, you will want to safely disconnect your Pre and return it to its original state.

A. First, to disconnect your Pre, you cannot use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option on the task bar, at least not yet, because you will receive an error message that your “Novacom Device” is being accessed by another program. Not to worry, though, as all you need do is end the service by doing the following on your PC:

Click START
- Run
Type “Services.msc” and hit enter

At this point a large list of programs will appear. Scroll through until you find the following:

Palm Novacom

Now simply right-click on the above file and stop the process. You can now safely remove the “Novacom Device” by clicking on the “Safely Remove Hardware” button on your task bar, and disconnect your Pre from your computer. You will want to restart the Palm Novacom process by right-clicking it again, so that you can install new homebrew apps in the future.

B. Finally, return you Pre to its original state by taking it out of developer mode. To do that, once again do a universal search on your Pre for the following:

upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart

Then turn off developer mode on the enabler, and restart you Pre as necessary. Some members on this thread have said disabling developer mode is not needed, and have apparently left their Pres in a permanent state of development, so to speak. Frankly, the only down side to keeping it in developer mode that I see is you may leave your device open for files to be unintentionally loaded onto your Pre. While this is only a very slight risk, I still recommend turning off developer mode so you can rest easier with the entire process of loading apps.

So, NOW, that’s it! Enjoy your new homebrew applications!

Special thanks go to everyone’s work on the Homebrew thread where I gleaned all this information. And CONTINUE to receive voluminous feedback. I am sorry I can not name you all individually, but your collective work should definitely be rewarded sometime down the line.

[atlanta]

Or i have found that getting the source and putting it in /var/usr/palm/applications and restarting Luna works also

[TMed_ATL]

Very nice could have used this the other day. I did figure out how to do it from your post on the 2nd page of pinging the collective thread, Im going to remove my thanks from there and put it here. Thanks for taking your time and posting this for the people that still need it!!

[T0mm4]

Thanks for this great guide ! This will come in handy for all the new-comers and noobs (me) alike.

[abiezerf]

Do you really need to take your phone out of Developer Mode after you install a program? Are there any adverse side effects to leaving it on Developer Mode?

[sir_mycroft]

Originally Posted by abiezerf

Do you really need to take your phone out of Developer Mode after you install a program? Are there any adverse side effects to leaving it on Developer Mode?

Good question, and I do not know the answer. I think, though, you may have issues charging your phone via USB if it still in developer mode. Hopefully someone with more knowlege on the subject can give you a better reply.

[abiezerf]

I'm charging my phone now through Dev Mode, no problems whatsoever.

[sacherjj]

I think the only downsides to developer mode are theoretical and one practical.

Developer mode does a few things, including opening ports that are otherwise closed and running the Nova Com client on the Pre.

The first may or may not be exploitable for gaining access to your phone. The second doesn't matter if you only connect with your computer that has the driver loaded. However, if you try to connect to other computers to use the USB drive feature of the Pre, that OS will attempt to load drivers for the Linux NovaCom device it sees before you select USB mode. This is a minor annoyance.

[abiezerf]

Eh, not that bad, for now I will leave it on unless I see any side effects; makes the loading apps more efficient than having to restart each time.

[s4mb4]

i have simply made visible the Dev mode icon.
it is located here; (for those that can root their Pre)

/usr/palm/applications/com.palm.app.devmodeswitcher/appinfo.json

Change the line that says "visible": false to "visible": true

then i can turn it off and on without the Konami code.

[DNic]

I've had it in Dev Mode ever since I turned it on when it was discovered. Haven't noticed any issues. Also added the Dev icon.

Great guide btw!

[abiezerf]

Well the Konami code is not the problem, its the restarting... two minutes of pain.

[morningisbad]

Originally Posted by atlanta

Or i have found that getting the source and putting it in /var/usr/palm/applications and restarting Luna works also

has anyone confirmed this?

[atlanta]

Try it make sure you copy the whole folder with the com. name and everything
then do
Stop LunaSysMgr
then
Start LunaSysMgr

Installing the SDK etc is not needed. .

::EDIT:: Updated the command its LunaSysMgr not SysMgrLuna

[chefjabril11]

kinda a noob here, need a mac version

[Veritas06]

Thanks for the great post =]. I've been looking for a good tutorial on how to use the SDK to install apps post 1.0.4

~Thanks again!

[s4mb4]

Originally Posted by atlanta

Or i have found that getting the source and putting it in /var/usr/palm/applications and restarting Luna works also

please porvide more details...
do you mean untarring a dev tarball into /var/usr/palm/applications OR just scp'ing the directory structure into /var/usr/palm/applications?

thanks

[s4mb4]

Originally Posted by atlanta

Try it make sure you copy the whole folder with the com. name and everything
then do
Stop SysMgrLuna
then
Start SysMgrLuna

Installing the SDK etc is not needed. .

are you using scp?

[Guish]

I'm running linux so I can't test this, but can you kill the process or stop a service on your pc to allow the safe removal?

Also, has anyone used wget on the pre? It allows you to download any file from the web straight to the phone, no additional ftp app needed. I was wondering if it could be in conjunction with the install.bat to install straight from the web...

[s4mb4]

Originally Posted by Guish

I'm running linux so I can't test this, but can you kill the process or stop a service on your pc to allow the safe removal?

Also, has anyone used wget on the pre? It allows you to download any file from the web straight to the phone, no additional ftp app needed. I was wondering if it could be in conjunction with the install.bat to install straight for the web...

yes, wget works great. i have tested it with the links on the forums where the ipk's are served from. the trouble is that the ipk's are not installable with the ipkg installer.