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How can I view source on an app (preferably before installing)?

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by danstowell

danstowell
danstowell

An app for Firefox OS is programmed in HTML and JavaScript. So, just like a webpage, I should be able to View Source, right? That's always been the empowering Mozilla approach, as far as I understand. View Source is great for learning by example (just like how I originally learnt HTML!), but also for open audit. Ideally I'd like the opportunity to look over the code before I agree to install.

If I go to https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/astroalpaca using my desktop browser, or if I find it in Marketplace using my ZTE Open, I can't see a View Source option anywhere. Where is it please?

I can understand not showing it on a small phone screen, but there's no reason why someone visiting Marketplace with a laptop/desktop web browser shouldn't download and inspect the app package.

If it doesn't exist (I'm starting to suspect this is the case), then where's my empowerment? What makes these fxos apps any less of an impenetrable consumer black box than android apps?

An app for Firefox OS is programmed in HTML and JavaScript. So, just like a webpage, I should be able to View Source, right? That's always been the empowering Mozilla approach, as far as I understand. View Source is great for learning by example (just like how I originally learnt HTML!), but also for open audit. Ideally I'd like the opportunity to look over the code before I agree to install. If I go to https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/astroalpaca using my desktop browser, or if I find it in Marketplace using my ZTE Open, I can't see a View Source option anywhere. Where is it please? I can understand not showing it on a small phone screen, but there's no reason why someone visiting Marketplace with a laptop/desktop web browser shouldn't download and inspect the app package. If it doesn't exist (I'm starting to suspect this is the case), then where's my empowerment? What makes these fxos apps any less of an impenetrable consumer black box than android apps?

Chosen solution

hello, if you inspect the source code of the install button, you'll see that the app is hosted at http://www.astroalpaca.com - view its source code through the browser as you're used to with other sites...

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philipp
philipp
  • Moderator

Chosen Solution

hello, if you inspect the source code of the install button, you'll see that the app is hosted at http://www.astroalpaca.com - view its source code through the browser as you're used to with other sites...

danstowell
danstowell Question owner

Wow OK. So for future reference, "View Source" (Ctrl+u) doesn't do it, since I guess the button comes from JS. So instead you need to:

  • Open the inspector (Ctrl+shift+c)
  • Click on the install button (to inspect it, not to install it).
  • In the panel you get to see the source code for the button which includes the URL to the .webapp file (it might be hosted separately as in the example, or on the marketplace)
  • You can copy and paste that URL and then open that file to see where the app content is delivered from, and then if you follow those paths you can view the HTML, JS etc.

So that's really quite buried, but I'm glad that at least it's technically possible! Not quite as easy as Ctrl-U ;)