How to deliver UI theme updates?

[jagannatharjun]

Currently, it's all own users to check for theme updates, which I think is not the best way to do this. I can think of a couple of ways to do this

1. Something like search plugins update, setup a repo in qbittorrent with plugin list, and when there is an update, the author can submit a PR with a download link to deliver updates. Plus point - qBittorrent controls the process, Down - more work (it shouldn't be that much)
2. Have config.json include a URL to version.txt with a defined format. Plus point - nothing much is done from our side, Down points - Author can go haywire

ping @Chocobo1 @glassez

[glassez]

I'd prefer something like second option.

But first, we need to define the theme format more strictly (since this feature is gradually leaving the experimental status). Here are my suggestions:

1. config.json must be a mandatory element of the theme. By and large, only it should be mandatory.
2. config.json should contain some mandatory info/metadata:
   2.1. Format (e.g. "qBittorrent UI Theme 1.0")
   2.2. Theme name
   2.3. Theme version
   2.4. Theme author (with optional author email)

E.g.:

{
    "format" : "qBittorrent UI Theme 1.0",
    "meta" : {
        "name" : "Sample dark theme",
        "version" : "1.0",
        "author" : "John Doe <john_doe@example.com>",
        "update url" : "https://example.com/john_doe/sample_dark_theme.json",
    }
}

[FranciscoPombal]

I'm more partial to the second scenario as well. An important question: in your vision, are theme updates supposed to be fully automatic, or do you just want to notify the user when a new version becomes available?

[glassez]

notify the user when a new version becomes available

👍

[jagannatharjun]

I'd prefer something like second option.

config.json should contain some mandatory info/metadata:

👍

"update url" : "https://example.com/john_doe/sample_dark_theme.json",

what should be the format of this?

[glassez]

"update url" : "https://example.com/john_doe/sample_dark_theme.json",

what should be the format of this?

I didn't think about it in detail... well, it should at least contain the current version number so that qBittorrent can compare with the one used and warn the user if a newer one is available.