JKChat A.K.A. Jedi Knight mobile application

[ent]

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Added:
- added UTF-8 support for messages: send emojis or any symbol from any language (Jedi Academy only)
- added a possibility to open a link from chat message
- added a possibility to copy a message with a long click
- added informative notification that shows how many servers you are connected to and how many unread messages are there
- added timestamps next to messages
- added new dialog window animations for appearing and disappearing
- added new chat page animations for opening and closing on Android

Fixed:
- fixed inability to interact with dialog window when it was covered by keyboard on small screens on iOS
- fixed missing animation for send button disappearing on iOS
- fixed undefined behavior when the app was restored after being killed by the system on Android

Also I released a few recordings of making of the app: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbmJPIOxh7XwRiUUTSxjNCgmmMs1k9or6

After trying the application, please, leave a feedback of what you'd like see in the future. Yes, you can request any feature you want.
It's not necessarily to be only limited to chat, I could implement other game features. Probably everything is possible that doesn't require game assets.
Also if you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

[ent]

Made one more hotfix with a few additions.

Fixed crash when someone sends a voice command in any team game type in JA.

Fixed weird loading indicator appearance from the top on iOS when navigating to chat page.

Added a possibility to restore the app on Android even if the system killed the app. The app restores in 99% cases.
Added a "Disconnect" button to the foreground service notification on Android.

Redownload the update.
Links are the same.

[ent]

Also I opened the source code:
https://github.com/entdark/JKChat

[ent]

I am back to the development:

Expect new streams and the app updates soon.

And while you are waiting there are some recordings of the development as a YouTube playlist:

 

[ent]

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Changed:
- remade UI of informative and players chat messages
- bottom navigation bar now matches app theme on Android

Also I streamed the development of that feature, so here is the recording: https://www.twitch.tv/entdark/videos

After trying the application, please, leave a feedback of what you'd like see in the future. Yes, you can request any feature you want.
It's not necessarily to be only limited to chat, I could implement other game features. Probably everything is possible that doesn't require game assets.
Also if you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

[Circa]

Getting constant crashing on iOS. It comes up with choosing a name and then crashes. I’ve tried deleting it and reinstalling it but still does the same thing.

 

iPhone 13 Pro

iOS 15.1.1

app version 1.0 (16)

[ent]

Thanks for the report. You are not alone with that. Investigating.
Also GG Google. Removed the app in public beta test for breaking some rules. Gonna fix that as well.

[ent]

Fixed the iOS version. You may download the updated version. Links are the same.
Additionally to the crash there were some critical visual issues like black navigation bar and wrong offset chat.
Using this thread as a psychotherapist: Fuck Apple with their backward incompatibility.
Simple code becomes overcomplex: iOS: fixed app appearance on iOS 15 · entdark/JKChat@cc907d4 (github.com)

Started to discuss the app removal with Google as well. They are not hurrying to reply.
For now download the Android version from Dropbox.

[ent]

JKChat won't be available for some time on Google Play since the app does not respect some rules of the store.

Particularly that thing is violated: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9876937?hl=en
So all server names, all chat messages are UGC and can contain objectionable texts. So I have to add some kind of reporting/hiding option to protect snowflakes from the evil internet.
C'est la vie. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I am not sure when I get some extra time to please Google as it's not high priority. Use Dropbox only for now.

[Circa]

I wonder if Google Play has a TestFlight equivalent? Something to use to avoid the app store approval process.

At least installing outside the store is still a viable option though.

[ent]

5 hours ago, Circa said:

I wonder if Google Play has a TestFlight equivalent? Something to use to avoid the app store approval process.

There are closed and internal testing. But I think they also get reviewed before publishing.
I could try the closed one though.

[ent]

Hello.

The app is back to Google Play. I added reporting system to Android as Google demanded.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

As bonus: fancy effects when clicking on servers and messages and Quake III Arena servers experimental support.

[ent]

New stuff in development:

[Bubbles]

@ent Keep up the good work.

[ent]

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Changed:
- added settings menu
- added support for wide screens
- added more animations and touch effects on Android
- added crash analytics
- added shadow colours for text on JKII 1.02 servers
- fixed a crash on old Android devices (5, 5.1)
- added Quake III Arena servers support

After trying the application, please, leave a feedback of what you'd like see in the future. Yes, you can request any feature you want.
It's not necessarily to be only limited to chat, I could implement other game features. Probably everything is possible that doesn't require game assets.
Also if you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

[ent]

Updated the iOS version with shadow colours for text on JKII 1.02 servers. And fixed a rare crash.
Redownload. Links are the same.

[Bubbles]

That's a MB2 server your on right? Thought you didnt allow people using JKChat on them?

Maybe I am misremembering lol. Either way the wide screen support looks nice.

[ent]

9 hours ago, Bubbles said:

That's a MB2 server your on right? Thought you didnt allow people using JKChat on them?

Maybe I am misremembering lol. Either way the wide screen support looks nice.

I have unlimited power.

[ent]

Updated the Android version with a few bug fixes:
- a rare error with "Collection was modified"
- inability to reconnect when you got disconnected from the server when the app was minimized
- the app gets properly restored from suspension without "blank" chat page or just crashes
Redownload. Links are the same.

[ent]

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Changed:
- added a possibility to add a server manually by IP or URL ("+" button on the screenshots)
- fixed crashes or undefined behaviour when restoring the app from suspension on Android
- fixed appearance on iOS 16
- fixed freezes on launch with bad internet connection

After trying the application, please, leave a feedback of what you'd like see in the future. Yes, you can request any feature you want.
It's not necessarily to be only limited to chat, I could implement other game features. Probably everything is possible that doesn't require game assets.
Also if you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

[TriForce]

@entSome ideas:
- Add map artwork (or screenshots) on the server list (as a background or thumbnail)
- Add a filter option to show between JK2, JKA and Others (Q3 for example)

[ent]

You are close to the idea we got as well:

@TriForce

[ent]

The app got released on Apple App Store so it will never expire in 3 month like it does on TestFlight:

https://apps.apple.com/app/jkchat/id1545850673

[ent]

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Changed:
- added a possibility to search in server list page
- added a possibility to preview nickname in settings page
- added a setting to set encoding for Jedi Academy in settings page
- some fixes to properly run the iOS app on macOS on Apple Silicon

After trying the application, please, leave a feedback of what you'd like see in the future. Yes, you can request any feature you want.
It's not necessarily to be only limited to chat, I could implement other game features. Probably everything is possible that doesn't require game assets.
Also if you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

[ent]

Spoiler

Updated the app.

For iOS users:
Install TestFlight: https://apps.apple.com/app/testflight/id899247664
Then open that link on your iOS device: https://testflight.apple.com/join/5HSqhVHw
For Android users:
Install directly from APK: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptx301a1pas39n9/com.vlbor.jkchat.apk?dl=1
Install from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlbor.jkchat

Changed:
- changed visual appearance on Android: it now follows Google Material Design 3 (Material You) guidelines
- changed visual appearance on iOS: it now follows Apple Design guidelines (HIG)
- added filters
- added favourites
- added detailed server information including scoreboard and server cvars
- added commands suggestions

None expected but here it is. JKChat in a new shell with a lot of new features.

The main feature is probably visual appearance. In the first version we decided to stylize the app with Jedi Academy colours and fonts. But then the app extended games support to Jedi Outcast and Quake III. So we decided to go with neutral appearance. And each platform provides what we needed. So we went wtih Material Design 3 on Android and Apple Design on iOS. Each of of those give us the ability to switch between light and dark themes, customize accent colour and support of accessibility features. Hope you like the new look.
Current switching themes is not implemented (but it works!) since some colours has to be adjusted but it will appear in the near future for sure.

Another long awaited feature is server list filters. You can choose to exclude empty or full servers, choose games, their mods and game types. And additionally to that you can add servers to favourites to not bother with filters at all or do that once.

Also we added server full information page where you can see scoreboard and server cvars, or share the server with others.

And for those who likes to use commands in the game we added a "/" (slash) button in chat page with commands suggestions. There are only few commands as proof of concept but feel free to suggest more depending on a mod (like JA+ commands etc).

All those features were done in a hurry and not well tested, so please test and leave your feedback so I can fix all the bugs asap.

If you encounter any error, then please report me either in the feedback form in TestFlight or in this JKHub post or in JKHub PM or on discord PM: ent#9404.
Report the error either by copying it or taking a screenshot and showing me or just telling the steps to reproduce.

Thanks.