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

- create a script to move apps to new home and create link

vi /usr/bin/mvapp

---

#!/bin/sh

# This code is open for re-use with no restrictions.  xorg

# Usage: mvapp com.org.appname - mvapp app to destination
# Usage: mvapp list - list all apps sorted by size

APP=$1
# can change destination to anything you want, but use a leading . - props to emoney_33
DEST=/media/internal/.apps
ORG=/var/usr/palm/applications

cd $ORG

case $APP in
"")
   echo "Usage: mvapp com.org.appname - mvapp app to destination"
   echo "Usage: mvapp list - list all apps sorted by size"
   exit 1
   ;;
"list")
   # list app directory with size, props to daventx
   du -s $ORG/* | sort -n
   exit 0
   ;;
esac

if [ -d $DEST ]
then
  echo "Destination directory exists..."
else
  mkdir $DEST
fi

if [ -h $APP ]
then
  echo "Link already exists for... ${APP}"
  exit 10
fi

if [ -d $APP ]
then
  echo "Moving $APP to $DEST..."
else
  echo "Not a valid application directory."
  echo "Usage: mvapp com.org.appname "
  echo "Usage: mvapp list"
  exit 11
fi

mount -o remount,rw /

cd $ORG
echo "Size of $ORG before move... "
du -sh .

# move over to USB drive
cp -r  $ORG/$APP $DEST
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
  echo "Copy failed. Leaving app in $ORG."
  exit 12
fi

rm -r $ORG/$APP
if [ $? != 0 ]
then
  echo "Remove failed. Leaving app in $ORG."
  rm -r $DEST/$APP
  exit 13
fi

# create the symbolic link
ln -s $DEST/$APP $ORG/$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 $ORG after move... "
du -sh .

exit 0

---

chmod 777 /usr/bin/mvapp

To use, find the largest apps in /var/usr/palm/applications...

mvapp list

It shows the largest apps last... IE....
6720 com.accuweather.palm
6720 net.likeme
6816 com.goodrec.app.goodfood
7232 com.apps.forwebos.ahs
7456 com.citysearch.mobile
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 com.ulocate.app.where, use the script...

mvapp 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.

If you have issues with an app, remove it 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.