0xCUB3
[Feature Request] Auto-update of filters
It would be really great if wBlock would
- show when some filter was last updated, and
- auto-update the filters in the background.
Right now when I open wBlock, I have to click on "Update Filters" and manually select filters one by one.
Yep this is coming. I need to figure out background daemons so it can update filters in the background.
I've been looking into this too and it does present some issues. There will have to be a different implementation for macOS & iOS/iPadOS/visionOS. macOS we can use a background service, but iOS/iPadOS/visionOS may need manual refreshing, which could include a notification sent to the user depending on the interval they set, or the user would have the keep the app open in the background in which case it may be able to auto-refresh, I'll have to double check.
Added in 78569d1
@0xCUB3 Does the new auto-update feature work when the app is closed on macOS, or does it have to be open in the background at all times? Asking since I didn't see any signs of background services being added (yet) in recent commits, so I'm presuming it's the latter for now.
No, unfortunately it requires the app to be running for now. I am working on getting it in a LaunchAgent, but I don't want to have to request too many permissions from the user.
No, unfortunately it requires the app to be running for now. I am working on getting it in a LaunchAgent, but I don't want to have to request too many permissions from the user.
Is it possible to just run it in the browser like other extensions with a built-in settings page instead of a separate app?
No, unfortunately it requires the app to be running for now. I am working on getting it in a LaunchAgent, but I don't want to have to request too many permissions from the user.
Is it possible to just run it in the browser like other extensions with a built-in settings page instead of a separate app?
It would be tricky due to the limitations of safari extensions. I still think it will be possible, though.
No, unfortunately it requires the app to be running for now. I am working on getting it in a LaunchAgent, but I don't want to have to request too many permissions from the user.
Is it possible to just run it in the browser like other extensions with a built-in settings page instead of a separate app?
It would be tricky due to the limitations of safari extensions. I still think it will be possible, though.
Most Safari extensions I use do that
@TheKivster For content blocking you can't update it through the browser, because its converted to Content Blocking rules through the main app. For advanced blocking, it's also converted with the content blocking rules. It's not possible to do it in the browser I believe because we use SafariConverterLib to convert AdGuard format to content blocking & advanced blocking rules. We could theoretically do the advanced blocking separately, but that would incur a duplication of effort, thus it's more efficient and practical to do them all at once in the main app, rather than in the browser.
This feature has been added into the latest TestFlight alpha build (not release). Note that on iOS, you cannot force quit the app, as Apple won't allow background updates. On macOS, though, you can quit the main app and still get automatic filter updates! Enjoy :)
https://testflight.apple.com/join/F93erUGR
