Solution to App Catalog Installation Limit
Based on rwhitby's findings that temporarily moving /var/usr/palm/applications will allow installing apps from the App Catalog, here's a permanent way to keep the apps on (much larger) /media/internal by using links. This will permanently save space on /var.
It's unfortunate that Palm has not resolved the issue in the 1.2 update. This is a workaround that could work long term, also saving space on /var, but this needs support by the homebrew community to add in the homebrew installer apps.
Overview
This solution involves creating a (hidden) directory in the /media/internal area, moving selected applications to the newly created directory, and then creating a symbolic link in the /var/usr/palm/applications directory pointing to the new location. This frees up the disk space from the relatively limited /var volume to the larger /media/internal. The included script (which must be created) will move the files and create the appropriate link. It will also provide information on the size of the applications stored in the /var/usr/palm/applications directory.
Solution (symbolic link method)
- create a script to move apps to new home and create link
mount -o remount,rw /
vi /usr/bin/mvapp
#!/bin/sh
# This code is open for re-use with no restrictions. xorg
# Usage: mvapp link com.org.appname - move app to media and link
# Usage: mvapp unlink - restore app to var and remove link
# Usage: mvapp list - list all apps sorted by size
# Usage: mvapp clean - remove app dir and links
COMMAND=$1
APP=$2
# can change destination to anything you want, but use a leading . - props to emoney_33
MEDIA=/media/internal/.apps
VAR=/var/usr/palm/applications
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
# function cleanapp - removes symbolic links and folder in media and var
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
cleanapp () {
mount -o remount,rw /
echo "Size of $VAR before move... "
du -sh $VAR
if [ -d $MEDIA/$APP ]
then
rm -r $MEDIA/$APP
echo "Removed directory" $MEDIA/$APP
fi
if [ -d $VAR/$APP ]
then
rm -r $VAR/$APP
echo "Removed directory" $VAR/$APP
fi
if [ -L $VAR/$APP ]
then
rm -r $VAR/$APP
echo "Removed link" $VAR/$APP
fi
# rescan luna in case it's needed
luna-send -n 1 palm://com.palm.applicationManager/rescan {} >/dev/null 2>&1
echo "$APP directories and links removed."
echo "Size of $VAR after move... "
du -sh $VAR
exit 0
}
# end of cleanup function
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
# function listapps - list the size of each app, sort showing largest last
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
listapps () {
du -s $VAR/* | sort -n
exit 0
}
# end of listapps function
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
# function linkapp - move the app to media and create symbolic link
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
linkapp () {
if [ ! -d $MEDIA ]
then
mkdir $MEDIA
fi
if [ -h $VAR/$APP ]
then
echo "Link already exists for... ${APP}"
exit 1
fi
if [ -d $VAR/$APP ]
then
echo "Moving $APP to $MEDIA..."
else
echo "Usage: mvapp link com.org.appname - move app to media and link"
echo "Usage: mvapp unlink com.org.appname - restore app to var and remove link"
echo "Usage: mvapp list - list all apps sorted by size"
echo "Usage: mvapp clean - remove app dir and links"
exit 2
fi
mount -o remount,rw /
echo "Size of $VAR before move... "
du -sh $VAR
# move over to USB drive
cp -r $VAR/$APP $MEDIA
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
echo "Copy failed. Leaving app in $VAR."
exit 3
fi
rm -r $VAR/$APP
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
echo "Remove failed. Leaving app in $VAR."
rm -r $MEDIA/$APP
exit 4
fi
# create the symbolic link
ln -s $MEDIA/$APP $VAR/$APP
# rescan luna in case it's needed
luna-send -n 1 palm://com.palm.applicationManager/rescan {} >/dev/null 2>&1
echo "$APP moved and linked."
echo "Size of $VAR after move... "
du -sh $VAR
}
# end of linkapp function
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
# function unlinkapp - restore the app to var and remove symbolic link
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
unlinkapp () {
mount -o remount,rw /
echo "Size of $VAR before move... "
du -sh $VAR
# remove the old symbolic link
rm -r $VAR/$APP
# move to original location
cp -r $MEDIA/$APP $VAR
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
echo "Copy failed. Leaving app in $MEDIA."
exit 3
fi
rm -r $MEDIA/$APP
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
echo "Remove failed. Leaving app in $MEDIA."
rm -r $VAR/$APP
exit 4
fi
# rescan luna in case it's needed
luna-send -n 1 palm://com.palm.applicationManager/rescan {} >/dev/null 2>&1
echo "$APP moved and unlinked."
echo "Size of $VAR after move... "
du -sh $VAR
}
# end of unlinkapp function
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
# Script Begins Here
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
case $COMMAND in
"clean")
cleanapp
;;
"list")
listapps
;;
"link")
linkapp
;;
"unlink")
unlinkapp
;;
*)
echo "Usage: mvapp link com.org.appname - move app to media and link"
echo "Usage: mvapp unlink com.org.appname - restore app to var and remove link"
echo "Usage: mvapp list - list all apps sorted by size"
echo "Usage: mvapp clean - remove app dir and links"
exit 1
;;
esac
chmod 777 /usr/bin/mvapp
Commands
To find the largest apps in /var/usr/palm/applications
mvapp list
It shows the largest apps last... IE....
8352 com.apnews.webos
8512 com.fandango.app.fandango
8672 com.palm.app.musicplayerremix
10304 com.shortcovers.palm.pre
10432 com.fusioncreativestudios.deadman
10656 com.ulocate.app.where
To move and link com.ulocate.app.where, use the script
mvapp link com.ulocate.app.where
It should now work in the new location thanks to the link. Test each app to make sure it works before doing another. I don't recommend looping the script to do every app in the dir or to link the entire app dir. File attributes are lost on the move, which some apps may need. You need to test each app after a move.
To revert the move and delete the link command, use this script
mvapp unlink com.ulocate.app.where
The application will then be placed back in the original directory. File attributes are lost on the move, which some apps may need. You need to test each app after a move.
To cleanup and remove directories and symlinks
If you have any issues, issuing the following command will remove the applications directories at both locations and also the symlink. While this may not solve all the problems, it does give you a fresh start.
mvapp clean com.ulocate.app.where
Contingency Plan
If you have issues with an app, remove it completely and reinstall through the respective app catalog or homebrew installer app.
Proposal
Would like to propose that PreWare, WebOS Quick Install and other Pre installer apps provide an option to move any app in /var to the /media fs and create a link per the code above. Also provide option to move back. Could make a backup retaining file attributes using tar and restore that way.
Risks, Issues, Dependencies
- File attributes of linux fs are not copied over to fat fs. May not work with apps that rely on file attributes.
- Jason Robitaille has indicated that a future version of WebOS Quick Install will include a routine to resize the /var partition. He has also indicated that doing so will wipe the /media/internal area, so any applications stored there would need to be backed up first. It might be good to be able to reverse the process of this soulution. This could be done either by adding to this mvapp script, or cerating a new one.
Discuss
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