Code References for Child Apps

joshlobe · April 22, 2023, 1:38am

I've created an app for some basic led strips light management. I currently have three led strips. This is just for me learning and experimenting.

My current app takes inputs with 'capability.colorControl'; and changes the color every 30 minutes. Works great on all three led strips. However, all three strips are subscribed to the same color changing event. What if I wanted them to change independently of each other?

I'm thinking it would be cool if it worked similar to RM. I could name the "instance", then select one led strip, and then it would be on it's own schedule. Then, when looking at the "Apps" menu item, I would have "Light Color Changer" as the main app, and then my custom instance names as the three "child apps??".

Is there a code example that shows how to create these child instances of an app, similar to RM?

EDIT:
I had been looking at this code:
example

Is it really as simple as adding lines 18 and 19 to my code for page?

FriedCheese2006 · April 22, 2023, 2:15am

Those lines just allow for customizing the app name. It doesn't create child apps. That is a little more involved but certainly do-able.

github.com

FriedCheese2006/WindowTrackerPlus/blob/main/WindowTracker_Parent.groovy

/**
 *
 * Window Tracker
 *
 * Copyright 2022 Ryan Elliott
 * 
 * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
 * publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
 * 
 * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 * 
 * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 *
 * v1.0		RLE		Creation
 */
 
definition(
    name: "Window Tracker",
    namespace: "rle.sg+",

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Lines 50-52 show how to add a child app.

github.com

FriedCheese2006/WindowTrackerPlus/blob/main/WindowTracker_Child.groovy

/**
 *
 * Window Tracker Child
 *
 * Copyright 2022 Ryan Elliott
 * 
 * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
 * publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
 * 
 * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 * 
 * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 *
 * v1.0		RLE		Creation
 * v1.1		RLE		Added door closed listing
 */
 
definition(
    name: "Window Tracker Child",

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Line 25 is the reference to the parent app to relate them.

You'll probably just want to make a new parent app and use your existing code as the child.

joshlobe · April 22, 2023, 2:21am

Thank you very much! I'll study over this tonight and post back tomorrow.

FriedCheese2006 · April 22, 2023, 2:22am

Good luck!

joshlobe · April 22, 2023, 3:34am

Well... that was amazing! Your examples were easy to follow; did exactly what I wanted; gave me some new ideas; showed me some new techniques (love the next page functionality); and I already have the new system up and running. I certainly didn't expect it to only be a one hour job.

The two hints you provided were much appreciated. Making my app the child app; and basically copying your parent app. And how to relate them using the namespace and app name.

Again, thank you!!