Push notifications/ software updates

[gorangrooves]

Hey @Christoph-Hart,
Is there a solution built into HISE/ JUCE that we can utilize to send notifications to users within our compiled plugins when we have updates available?
Even as simple as displaying a note would be very helpful, such as: "There is a new version of the plugin available. Please login to your account here to download it".

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves I hope not. The only way that would be possible is if the plugin connects to a server to check for an update.

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey Why would you hope not? haha

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves Imagine if every time you run an application/plugin it sends a message to someone else's computer to tell them. That's what you're asking for.

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey I wouldn't be sending them a notification whenever I run a plugin. Notification would be sent by the server whenever they run it. What's wrong with that? This is a standard thing for most software. You get notifications for social media posts and even this forum will notify you of updates.
I am thinking of a little bell, like the one on this forum. Who could resist checking it?

Pushing a notification to a user when a newer version of the software is available is not only useful and appreciated by the user, but it also presents an opportunity to introduce them to any new products you may have released since they last visited your website.

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves said in Push notifications/ software updates:

Notification would be sent by the server whenever they run it.

But how would the server know when they are running it?

What's wrong with that? This is a standard thing for most software.

Most software is malware. Don't try to do what most software does, try to be better :)

Pushing a notification to a user when a newer version of the software is available is not only useful and appreciated by the user,

If the plugin is checking the server without the server being able to log that information then I think it's a good idea, I just don't know if that is possible.

but it also presents an opportunity to introduce them to any new products you may have released since they last visited your website.

Sure, because everyone wants ads in their virtual instruments... ;)

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey said:

But how would the server know when they are running it?

Plugin would check with the server to see if a newer version is available. If yes, it would display an icon. User click on the icon and retrieves a message.

Most software is malware. Don't try to do what most software does, try to be better :)

haha Not sure what software you are used to, but all the ones I am using are not malware. I don't see what malware has to do with software updates notifications?

but it also presents an opportunity to introduce them to any new products you may have released since they last visited your website.

Sure, because everyone wants ads in their virtual instruments... ;)

You misunderstood. I am not suggesting on displaying ads within plugins. When a user goes to your website, they may be exposed to new products and subsequently make a purchase. I speak from extensive experience (and success) in this domain.

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves said in Push notifications/ software updates:

Plugin would check with the server to see if a newer version is available. If yes, it would display an icon. User click on the icon and retrieves a message.

As long as it can be disabled or used in a manual mode I think it's generally okay. The user needs to have control of which applications are connecting to other people's computers (servers) and what data they are sending.

haha Not sure what software you are used to, but all the ones I am using are not malware. I don't see what malware has to do with software updates notifications?

Almost every piece of proprietary software contains malicious features and is therefore malware - although most people don't think of it like that. https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/

When a user goes to your website, they may be exposed to new products and subsequently make a purchase.

Oh I get it! Yeah that's cool.

[Dan Korneff]

@gorangrooves if there isn't a built in solution within HISE, some distribution channels have this feature. For instance, SendOwl wil notify customers when a new version of the software is available via email. You could bundle ads with that email if you'd like.

[gorangrooves]

@dustbro That's not really what I am after. You could notify customers using any email platform such as MailChimp, but this is different. This has added benefits. A lot of people don't see the emails, while anyone using your plugin would most certainly see a notification which is relevant to them.

@Christoph-Hart Can you shine some light on this, please? HISE has "check for update" feature, JUCE has automatic version checking and updating available. How do we take advantage of this?

[Christoph Hart]

Well to be honest, I don't care too much about adding a web server API to the scripting language - this opens a whole can of worms that will lead to endless feature requests.

Obviously there are tools in JUCE to call servers (and we use them in HEXERACT for the copy protection), so this would be something you would have to hire a C++ coder for.

[gorangrooves]

@Christoph-Hart OK. Good to know. Thank you!