Roku Developer Program

[wxYz]

I've taken courses in C++ and Java, so I have a little programming background, but it's been a while.

I'm working through the SDK developers' guide, and I'm having trouble with the Application Installer recognizing the manifest file in the helloworld.zip. The error I get upon trying to upload the file reads: Install Failure: No manifest. Invalid package.

I've seen in a previous post where the manifest file cannot have spaces. I've tried both with and without, neither with any success.

Is the problem with the manifest file, or it possible that something in my helloworld.brs file is off?

[EnTerr]

Maybe the manifest is in sub-directory of the zip?
I think has to be top-level in the ZIP (so if you unzip it it shows in current directory). This is how i package w/o makefile.

[wxYz]

thanks, EnTerr!

I'm beginning to suspect my problem may be the makefile...I didn't create one :oops: . What's better, in my attempts to create one using Command Prompt (or bypassing creation of the makefile and using your example), the Command Prompt doesn't recognize any of the commands (export, %, etc) shown in the SDK Developer Guide. I'm stuck spinning my wheels here, and can't seem to get any traction!

Are there any development environments (or any methods otherwise) available to make this process go more smoothly, or am I pretty much just limited to using the Command Prompt?

[wxYz]

oh hey, I was just reading the Dev Blog...we're assumed to have cURL, which I don't. I wonder if downloading that will help...

[squirreltown]

You don't have to use Makefile, I don't. On the dev installer page just hit "choose file", select your zip and then hit "install". When you make your zip file you should be selecting (at least) the manifest, images directory and source directory. If you are selecting the folder they are in and trying to zip that it wont work. You don't need curl to upload a package just a browser.

[malloys]

"wxYz" wrote:

Are there any development environments (or any methods otherwise) available to make this process go more smoothly, or am I pretty much just limited to using the Command Prompt?

Roku publishes the Brightscript plugin for Eclipse (see: http://sdkdocs.roku.com/display/sdkdoc/Eclipse+Plugin+Guide).
Via an included menu option/wizard (Export/BrightScript Deployment), it can largely automate the zip, side-loading, and package file creation processes.
It's also got a lot of other features typical of IDEs.

Cheers

[EnTerr]

Using Eclipse for BRS development is like using a bazooka to kill a mosquito. Approximately as much overkill; not worth installing for that. However if you are already accustomed to Eclipse and use it day to day, under the Golden Hammer rule it makes sense to use the plugin.

The script i pointed was for Mac (or another Unix flavor, #!/bin/bash is a giveaway). But i had used batch file on Windows with no problem, just had to download cURL; don't remember what i used for zipping, don't think i have the .cmd file handy. For the first few times do it manually indeed, to see there is no magic to it, zip by hand and upload from the web page. It will be good to use (free) text editor with syntax highlighting option for BASIC (or Visual Basic) - like Notepad++, ConTEXT, TextWrangler.

PS. Found it, this worked couple of years ago (that put in say "run.cmd" in the project directory):

del bundle.zip
"d:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" a bundle.zip manifest source images 
curl -S -F "mysubmit=Install" -F "archive=@bundle.zip" -F "passwd=" http://%ROKU_DEV_TARGET%/plugin_install 
pause

Nowadays have to add "--user rokudev:some_password_here --anyauth"; as well as adjust for fav. ZIP archiver (probably can "jar" it)

[wxYz]

just wanted to post an update: still having trouble with the "helloworld" file. One of my friends tried it, and was able to get it to work successfully. He sent his zip file to me, and I was able to upload it to the application installer successfully, but nothing displayed on the Roku.

So, I copied his file exactly, and upon uploading my version, the application installer promptly rejected that, as it has all of my other attempts.

So now, just for kicks and giggles, I tried to upload his file again...the exact same file that was accepted successfully before gave the same exact error that my files have been getting.

I searched the forums on this error, using "Install Failure: No manifest. Invalid package" as my search terms. It seems that most people that were having this problem were either working on Mac OS X (which, btw, I'm working on Windows 8.1), and/or they had their manifest at the wrong level (buried in the "source" folder, or otherwise not at root level).

btw, for further information, here are the contents of my manifest file (should look familiar...this is exactly how it shows up in the SDK example):

title=Hello World
subtitle=Simplest Program
major_version=1

oh, and I've tried everything else, too...tried to install VisualStudio and Eclipse...neither seemed to want to have anything to do with BrightScript. Tried both Juno and Helios versions of Eclipse, the update site for BrightScript wasn't recognized, and thus couldn't even use it for this project.

Does anyone have any ideas? I swear I've gone down every single rabbit hole...not one of them has produced a single carrot!

[squirreltown]

Have you tried downloading the SDK and installing one of the known-good examples from there? I've never seen the "hello world" project, but you really aren't ready to do that if you can't get something into the box. Download the SDK and try uploading any of the zip files in examples/zips. Forget about installing other programs, just use the browser - first things first. If it works you will have an example to copy the structure of, if it doesn't you know the file you're sending isn't the problem.

[NewManLiving]

"EnTerr" wrote:
Using Eclipse for BRS development is like using a bazooka to kill a mosquito. Approximately as much overkill; not worth installing for that. However if you are already accustomed to Eclipse and use it day to day, under the Golden Hammer rule it makes sense to use the plugin.

I have tried both ways, and once the application became large it was more beneficial for me to use Eclipse with the plugin. The project explorer is a quick way to access any file quickly, even my images , xml, json. The outliner allows fast access to functions in different modules and shows me where any naming conflicts may arise. To be able to zip, sideload and debug in a couple of mouse clicks is also a benefit. Also copying code from other projects, running test code in a test project - etc.
Even the editor is helpful most of the time. I'm using Version: Helios Service Release 2 Build id: 20110218-0911 with windows 8. No problem except from time to time I have to re-enter the ip address in the deployment wizard (don't know if this is intentional or just a bug). It can only get better with each release of the plugin (I hope)