Feature Request: Add In-App Mode Switching Between Connectivity-Free and Online-Only Modes for Android

[jiongxuan]

Problem Statement

In my previous PR, I designed the feature such that new users are automatically placed in the Connectivity-Free mode (Capacitor solution), while existing users remain in the Online-Only mode (legacy solution).

However, existing users can only upgrade to the Connectivity-Free mode by uninstalling and reinstalling the app. This approach is not user-friendly and poses a risk of losing user data.

It would be more convenient to allow users to switch between these modes within the app, without requiring reinstallation.

❔ Possible Solution

I propose adding a new tab and button in the settings, specifically for Android users.

• If a user is currently in the Online-Only mode, they would see an option labeled “Upgrade to Connectivity-Free mode (recommended).” This section would include a brief description of the mode and its benefits. When the user clicks on the button, a confirmation dialog would appear, warning them that switching modes may result in data loss and recommending that they sync or back up their data.
  • Note: To minimize complexity and avoid potential bugs, this design will not include auto-sync or backup functionalities at this stage. If the user confirms, the app will restart and switch to the Connectivity-Free mode.
• Similarly, if a user is already in Connectivity-Free mode and encounters issues, they will see the option to “Revert to Online-Only mode.” This option will follow the same interaction pattern with a confirmation dialog and restart process.

This dual-mode switching will improve the flexibility of the app without forcing users to reinstall the app.

⤴️ Describe alternatives you’ve considered

One alternative would be to automatically sync or back up data during the switching process, but this adds complexity and might introduce errors. For this minimum viable solution, we prioritize simplicity by advising users to manually sync or back up their data before switching modes.

➕ Additional context

This new tab and option should only be displayed in the Android app settings.

I would appreciate feedback on whether this design is appropriate, particularly from a UX perspective. Should this be implemented as a separate settings tab, or should we integrate it into an existing tab? Additionally, how can we ensure a smooth interaction without overwhelming the user with too many options?

[github-actions]

Thank you very much for opening up this issue! I am currently a bit overwhelmed by the many requests that arrive each week, so please forgive me, if I fail to respond personally. I am still very likely to at least skim read your request and I'll probably try to fix all (real) bugs if possible and I will likely review every single PR being made (please, give me a heads up if you intent to do so) and I will try to work on popular requests (please upvote via thumbs up on the original issue) whenever possible, but trying to respond to every single issue over the last years has been kind of draining and I need to adjust my approach for this project to remain fun for me and to make any progress with actually coding new stuff. Thanks for your understanding!

[johannesjo]

This would be a great addition! Thank you for opening this up!

I think a new section makes sense (as a sidenote, this might require us to update one of the tutorial selectors). We might also use it for other android related stuff as well later on.

As it is a feature for the more technical users, I would put it below the "Sound" section so it is a bit less promiment. We also should add a warning and/or maybe name the section something like "Advanced Android Settings (experimental)" or something along those lines.

In the (far away) future we might even remove this again as the default probably should be the bundled app.

What do you think? Does this sound sensible?

[jiongxuan]

Thanks for the feedback!

I think naming it “Android Advanced (Experimental)” and placing it under the “Sound” section sounds like a good idea to keep things organized and less prominent.

I’ll add a clear warning for users who switch modes, and I’ll find some time soon to work on this implementation. Thanks for the thoughtful input!