Database Users

Portable Webserver for APK files

Hi guys,
I have just been playing around with the idea of hosting a webserver on my machine that my phone could connect to to download apk files after performing a wipe.
Iv been thinking about this as everytime i wipe my phone i connect back to the market and download appmanager to install apps direct from sd. So instead of having to do that im looking at having them all in a directory on my PC/Flashdrive (as this will be portable) using XAMPP.
Before any gets any wrong ideas this is not intended for any illegal doings. Its just to make my life easier. I thought i would share what i have started to see if this will help out anyone else.
So far i have it working (very rough). But i dont know any coding so this is a bit of a hack job.
I am using XAMPP as stated aswell as a PHP script that will automaticly populate the page will all files within a particular folder.
I have attached the index file i am using.
if you wish to use this please make sure you do a few things.
Install XAMPP
From where you installed XAMPP. In the HTDOCS folder create a "APK" Folder
Place the index.php in the HTDOCS folder
Edit the index.php file to change the path of the APK folder (currently set to D:\\Dream\\xampp\\htdocs\\APK) keep the double slashes "\\"
Start the Apache webserver from the XAMPP control panel
Now connect to Localhost, any files you place in that folder should now appear
Anyone wishing to use this, edit this, whatever you feel like. Go ahead
If you would like to help and change the look and feel of the page it would be greatly appreciated. If you do post the files back up here for all to use
Hope you guys like

Can I ask why you wouldn't just backup your apps to your sdcard (use something like MyBackup) and be done with it?
You can always copy them from your sdcard to your flash drive (and back from flash drive to sdcard temporarily if you need to re-install).
I'm all for experimenting, learning and even playing around a lot. But this seems like overkill. First off, your apps will surely get outdated quickly, and you'll end up upgrading lots of apps. You'll end up spending an enormous amount of time managing your own local library.
Personally, I think you're wasting your time unless your trying to learn how to do something in the process. Maybe you are, and in that case, go for it. Otherwise, enjoy your phone and let the Market do the management for you.

Or you can just have all your .apk's in a folder and use adb to install all of em at once. But like the above post you might have to get updates for alot of em.

Alternate Way of Sideloading apps: Sideload Wonder Machine

For those of you who are uncertain of how to use adb commands or are afraid of editing their db check out the link below for more details about the app.
This is a quote from the site below explaining what it is:
"It's a Windows application that lets you sideload apps on ANY Android device, on any carrier, without the Android SDK installed. And you DON'T HAVE TO BE ROOTED"
Sideload Wonder Machine
***Note I am not the developer of this app or have any connection to it other than the fact that I happened to see the post and figured I would spread the word to everyone here. I have tested it on a ATT Captivate (which was already rooted) and it works as described.

so does this mean you can load any .apk file from the web into this Sideloader program and when the Captivate is plugged into the computer it will install it without issues?? and no need for modifying the no-market value settings thru root explorer?

Sticky Needed.

IT WORKS!!!
I tried this program yesterday and can confirm that it works

so its a cleaner way to install apk files into the captivate instead of editing the dbsettings file?? do I just save the apk file to my computer then just plug the captivate into the computer then select the file and run the program?

This lets you sideload any app (.apk file - android app file extension) that you can download on your computer, and it does not require rooting.
You need to download the samsung drivers for the phone (sammy website), upgrade to .net 4 (google search), download the wonder machine program from the beginning of the thread, and turn on usb debugging on the phone (settings>applications>development>usb debugging on)
Download an .apk somewhere on the net (I chose bansai blast as my first one). MOVE THAT FILE INTO THE FOLDER WITH THE UNZIPPED WONDER MACHINE. If you don't then you will get a "loader.bat" not recognized error when you hit go. Next, plug in your phone, pull down the notification tap and mount your sd card to the computer (I know that the instructions on android central say to keep your phone in charge only mode, but then the program will not find your phone if you don't mount the card). On the wonder machine hit choose file, and select the apk file you downloaded (again, in same folder as wonder machine program). Hit ok. Then hit go. It should pull up a dos looking command window and display your serial number (If you have a firewall like zonealarm, be sure to let the program access the net and your trusted zone - serial won't display if you don't) and a "press any key to continue." Do that and it should take a second to say "install successful. press any key..." Check your phone and the app should be in your apps list. Hope this helps, as it took me a while to figure all this out.

droid explorer offers better functionality. still, good find

with droid explorer am I able to copy the dbsettings file directly to my micrsd card then open SQLite from my phone edit and paste back into the origin dbsettings and overwrite it? or does that have to be done thru the comp??

I can confirm too that this program works great.

Sorry for the late responses but here they go:
poulosjr said:
so its a cleaner way to install apk files into the captivate instead of editing the dbsettings file?? do I just save the apk file to my computer then just plug the captivate into the computer then select the file and run the program?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct, plug in your phone, place the apk anywhere on your comp, and browse for the apk thru the app. this then installs the apk directly into your phone.
poulosjr said:
with droid explorer am I able to copy the dbsettings file directly to my micrsd card then open SQLite from my phone edit and paste back into the origin dbsettings and overwrite it? or does that have to be done thru the comp??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With this app you do not have to edit the db, the only down side of this app is that you have to install the apks via your comp.
systoxity said:
droid explorer offers better functionality. still, good find
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, with this app you lose a bit of flex ability since this method installs via your comp. But for those people who dont want to edit or use the adb push method it could not get any easier. I personally end up installing apks when i am on the road all the time so i prefer the permanent methods on my phones.

this works awesomely!
just make sure to put the .apk's in the same folder as the sideload program

+1 to this. Not the most convenient method but quick if you have your computer with you

i hate logging into windows. I'd love a mac version!
but I do have this on my windows ( i believe it is an androidcentral.com app ) and i used it a lot until i started messing with my phone and learned about adb.

I just wanted to say thanks for the quick guide. I was concerned about messing around with the db settings and screwing stuff up. I have absolutely NO problem installing non-market apps through my pc--thanks a lot dude!

I've been using it. My phone is unrooted. I used it to add 2 apps. A live wallpaper and a need for speed game demo.

Thanks to all of you !!
by following all that you posted I was able to root with super user , save with rom mgr , load wireless tether which was my goal.
Just to update were i screwed up must remember with super user (update zip) put the whole zip file on phone as a stand alone not in any folder . With side loader must be in the same folder as side loader to work , of course with micro net 4 installed, on the pc and debugging enabled , samsung usb driver installed on pc and superuser must installed to use side loader
thanks for all you help !!!

{TOOL}APK_TOOL_v1 [8-5] Linux only

This is a little tool I put together after a post I made on the Rom Customizer thread.
This is only for linux only at the moment, but its simple enough that i may be able to get a batch file for you windows guys.
it comes with everything needed-including the option to install java if you dont have it
What it does is this
1. pulls the specified apk
2. takes a baskup -you can restore to the backup by running the restore script.
3. replaces an image file in drawable-mdpi with the one you provide.
4. re-zips and re-signs the app
5.pushes the app back to either /system or /data
this has only been tested on pre-installed app, ie no market apps.
Its pretty simple but it could be helpful, so let me know what you think.
Extract the working folder to your desktop please.

[DEV] AndroidLib.dll Expansion Project

Description:
The AndroidLib Expansion Project was created to bring support of more Android devices to my AndroidLib.dll project I'm working on. This project is a Windows executable (compiled batch script) that you will run on your computer with your Android device connected. This will NOT run automatically; it will give you a prompt to run after opening.
The main purpose of this project is to collect data about new phones for AndroidLib.dll, not about your specific phone, but about how it transfers specific data through it's shell and through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), and more importantly, how that output is formatted.
This information will not be shared with anyone other than myself, and will only be used for further developing AndroidLib.dll to support many more Android devices than it currently does.
Source Code is available under "Download Info"
What it does:
Starts an Adb server
Checks Device List
Checks Device Type
Checks Device Serial (only for unique .zip filename)
Checks For SU
Checks UID
Checks BusyBox
Checks File System
Checks Battery Statistics
Checks Running Processes
Checks /data/system/packages.xml for existance
Checks Build Properties
Checks Shell Environment
Creates Zip of Data Above
Opens Upload Form in Browser After Exiting
NOTE: Does NOT Upload Automatically
Usage:
Download the Windows Executable below and run from any directory on your computer with your Android device connected.
Requirements:
Windows Computer
Android device to test
Download Latest Release
AndroidLibExpansion.exe
Download Info
AndroidLibExpansion.exe MD5: 3a8971f452ab7e3da63e375a859033d4
VirusTotal Report
Source Code

No zip file on my desktop to send...

drcell said:
No zip file on my desktop to send...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the Desktop folder in %USERPROFILE%\Desktop as well instead of just the graphical desktop. I have tested it working on 5 different computers here...

Can you upload to another site
Like http://www.mediafire.com/

TarekNajem04 said:
Can you upload to another site
Like http://www.mediafire.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you can, if you send me the link to it.. but I just wrote that upload script so it would just go straight to my server.. Upload it to mediafire if you would like.

I realize now that this exe may not have worked correctly. I've had 3 reports now of no zip being created on the desktop. I am working to solve this issue, as you see in the source.. it really has no reason not to be creating on the desktop.

I'll be glad to help, if only it created a zip file for me to upload.
EDIT: I checked the %USERPROFILE%/Desktop as well as running a search for anything containing "androidlib" in C:\Users... nothing.

2 things.
1st, it won't make a zip file for anyone that doesn't have 7zip or the required folder structure (there is no standard environment variable of %myfiles% - just use %temp% instead), and it's assuming subfolders exist for output of the adb commands.
2nd, why is it an exe file when it's a batch file? Please link the bat file instead of an exe. I'm running the bat file I copied and pasted from the source and it runs just fine.

Archer said:
2 things.
1st, it won't make a zip file for anyone that doesn't have 7zip or the required folder structure (there is no standard environment variable of %myfiles% - just use %temp% instead), and it's assuming subfolders exist for output of the adb commands.
2nd, why is it an exe file when it's a batch file? Please link the bat file instead of an exe. I'm running the bat file I copied and pasted from the source and it runs just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you knew who I was or looked at anything else I have written, you'd realize that I know what I'm doing, and that I would not assume everyone has the standard environment variable %MYFILES% or have 7zip installed. I am assuming in this program, actually, that the end user does NOT have the android sdk set up (or in their path) and does NOT have any 7 zip binaries. I created a self extracting exe out of my batch file that includes adb.exe, the 2 required adb dlls, and the 7 zip binary, all in the global variable %MYFILES% (aTemp folder in %temp%). It works fine. Just need to figure out why it creates a zip on all of my computers, and not any of yours. I appreciate the feedback though.

FredFS456 said:
I'll be glad to help, if only it created a zip file for me to upload.
EDIT: I checked the %USERPROFILE%/Desktop as well as running a search for anything containing "androidlib" in C:\Users... nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for letting me know you ran a full search and nothing came up still, that actually does help me out, telling me it didn't write to anywhere else. I'll have a working version for you guys in a little bit.

Ok guys, fixed the problem. Works great now. Check the source code and VirusTotal report in the first post if you need to. Thanks again for everyone helping with this! And special thanks to nebenezer for testing the new builds!

regaw_leinad said:
Well, if you knew who I was or looked at anything else I have written, you'd realize that I know what I'm doing, and that I would not assume everyone has the standard environment variable %MYFILES% or have 7zip installed. I am assuming in this program, actually, that the end user does NOT have the android sdk set up (or in their path) and does NOT have any 7 zip binaries. I created a self extracting exe out of my batch file that includes adb.exe, the 2 required adb dlls, and the 7 zip binary, all in the global variable %MYFILES% (aTemp folder in %temp%). It works fine. Just need to figure out why it creates a zip on all of my computers, and not any of yours. I appreciate the feedback though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol - calm down mate. I wasn't criticising - I was trying to help. I get why it's an exe now you've explained and that makes sense. Glad you got it working anyway. I'll upload a couple of files for you later.

Archer said:
Lol - calm down mate. I wasn't criticising - I was trying to help. I get why it's an exe now you've explained and that makes sense. Glad you got it working anyway. I'll upload a couple of files for you later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for clarifying. The way you presented your self in your post sounded like somewhat of "this n00b doesn't know what he's doing, and I'm gonna let him know that" lol I'm a pretty chill guy, I just don't appreciate when people do that.
And thank you for doing some uploads later! I appreciate it!

This is my upload link because i couldn't upload with your page. It says "The file you are trying to upload is not a .zip file. Please try again."
http://db.tt/0HoRAK11

It works and I have uploaded the zip
Burned from my laser torch using pencil cells

Uploaded .zip file.

regaw_leinad said:
Ok thanks for clarifying. The way you presented your self in your post sounded like somewhat of "this n00b doesn't know what he's doing, and I'm gonna let him know that" lol I'm a pretty chill guy, I just don't appreciate when people do that.
And thank you for doing some uploads later! I appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies if that's how I came across - it wasn't intended. I've just uploaded a couple of zip files for you.

Thank you to everyone who has uploaded a zip so far! This is really helping development on AndroidLib. I am still accepting more uploads, so if you feel like helping develpment of AndroidLib, feel free to download and run the exe! I'm needing a few more Samsung devices in particular, those seem to vary in output between themselves.

Have you got an upload from an Motor ATRIX 4g yet? If not ill see if I can sort it for you.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA

The-Milkybar-Kid said:
Have you got an upload from an Motor ATRIX 4g yet? If not ill see if I can sort it for you.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope haven't got one yet, that'd be awesome! Thanks!

Portable Android Dev (jPortable Method) (Windows Only)

Saw a method a while ago for creating a portable android dev environment, however, i decided that i would post my method which i have used. So far, it seems to work rather well. I have not fully tested it though, and i will post any problems i find with it.
1. Create a directory for all files and folders (for instance, "Android_Dev")
2. Inside of that folder. Create a 2 more directories, one should be called "CommonFiles", and the other something sensible like "AndroidSDK"
3. First things first, download jPortable from here and install it to your "Android_Dev\CommonFiles" location
4. Now, Download Eclipse Portable from here and simply set it to install to "Android_Dev"
5. Finally. Head over to the google dev page right here and download the latest ADT bundle. DO NOT EXTRACT IT YET
6. Once you have downloaded the bundle, open up the .zip file, and copy the contents of the "sdk" folder to your "Android_Dev/AndroidSDK" folder
7. Now everything should be configured. Just open up the eclipse installation (Android_Dev\EclipsePortable\EclipsePortable.exe) and let Eclipse load
8. If it doesnt ask you to point to an Android SDK, just go to Window>Preferences>Android and point to the AndroidDev\AndroidSDK folder
9. You should now be able to access the Eclipse SDK manager and download the rest of the resources you will need through that!
DISCLAIMER: I have not extensively tested this, I simply installed it into my laptop (needed the software, didnt have admin rights). It may or may not work for you, if it works, drop a thanks! If it doesn't, reply below with the problem, or any fixes if you find one!

Issues
Doesn't use the latest Eclipse version