Widget note is not updated if note file.txt is modified by SyncThing - app itself displays all changes OK.

[rolandasragaisis-source]

Checklist

• I can reproduce the bug with the latest version given here.
• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.
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Affected app version

1.6.0 org.fossify.notes

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

LineageOS 20-20240705

Affected device model

Samsung SM-G965F

How did you install the app?

GitHub releases

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Install notes-12-foss-release.apk
2. Manually create Note.txt file somewhere in your directory tree, set Note.txt as widget on the screen.
3. Open Note.txt with fossify notes.
4. Add some text via fossify notes user interface to the note (edit file Note.txt).
5. Close fossify notes.
6. Open file Note.txt with editor, change content and save it. (in real life SyncThing modifies the file during synchronisation process).
7. Open Note.txt with fossify notes again. All changes are reflected properly. Close fossify notes.
8. Check note content at the widget - changes are not reflected.
9. Open Note.txt with fossify notes again. Press enter or add some text. Close fossify notes.
10. Check note content at the widget again - changes are reflected.

SUMMARY: Widget note is not updated automatically when note txt file is modified by SyncThing. It gets updated only if the note is edited by main fossify notes application. This prevents widget usability if notes are synchronized between devices.

Expected behavior

If note.txt file is modified by SyncThing, note widget content shall be updated automatically.

Actual behavior

If note.txt file is modified by SyncThing, widget note content stays unchanged until fossify notes application opens and modifies the file.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

Additional information

No response

[naveensingh]

3. Open Note.txt with fossify notes.
4. Add some text via fossify notes user interface to the note (edit file Note.txt).

Important info: You have to export the note first and choose the "update the file..." option before this can work. Otherwise, the note will stay unlinked from the file and the file will never be updated.

If note.txt file is modified by SyncThing, note widget content shall be updated automatically.

That can't be done instantaneously on Android, and polling frequently would increase resource consumption. The simplest solution would be to refresh widgets on app startup.

[rolandasragaisis-source]

1. If "autosave" is ON (set in Settings), then file is updated immediately, no need for export.
2. SyncThing is capable to watch file modifications in Android - may be fossify notes could use the same method (or even opensource code from SyncThing). Hopefully...

[rolandasragaisis-source]

https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/60664/software-recommendations-to-monitor-android-file-system

OPTION 3:
If you want to see the files being changed in realtime when you make changes, you can make use of Linux kernel's inotify subsystem. A simple way is to use busybox inotifyd: ~# inotifyd - /data/xyz

[naveensingh]

My bad. I assumed you opened the file from an external app without using the Open file option inside Fossify Notes. In that case, whether the file is "linked" automatically to the in-app note depends on the Android version.

If "autosave" is ON (set in Settings), then file is updated immediately, no need for export.

Still, autosave only controls whether changes are saved automatically (to file or in-app DB). It doesn't change link behavior for files. For that, you usually have to choose the "Update the file itself at updating the note" option when initially opening a file (which you probably did in your case).

SyncThing is capable to watch file modifications in Android - may be fossify notes could use the same method (or even opensource code from SyncThing). Hopefully...

SyncThing likely keeps itself alive using a foreground service. I don't think adding a service is justified (battery consumption), given Fossify Notes doesn't need to do anything else in the background. Syncthing also doesn't use the content provider APIs, so other apps observing for changes probably don't get notified.

If you want to see the files being changed in realtime when you make changes, you can make use of Linux kernel's inotify subsystem. A simple way is to use busybox inotifyd: ~# inotifyd - /data/xyz

That's not an official API and still requires the watching process to be alive. It's the same as adding a service.

Bottom line is that with SyncThing updating a file, polling periodically is the only solution (using WorkManager, etc.), and that won't be instantaneous, but it's the closest solution for this usecase.

[rolandasragaisis-source]

Agree with all your comments...

May I suggest "refresh button" at widget corner like it is done by Orgzly widget.

[rolandasragaisis-source]

"Bottom line is that with SyncThing updating a file, polling periodically is the only solution (using WorkManager, etc.), and that won't be instantaneous, but it's the closest solution for this usecase." - for example, Orgzly, Joplin applications allows to set autosync interval in settings. I would be perfectly happy if fossly notes settings would allow me to chose synchronization of widget to main storage (file or database) in the range of 5-600 seconds.

Also, if location of database could be chosen to be located in public folder (for example like in NotallyX .../Android/media/... location), we could use SyncThing for full synchronization among several devices. I personally tested NotalyX with three phones - it works, but needs Notallyx reload for sync changes to be effected)