Created on January 25, 2021, Last modified on September 05, 2023

Web/HTML5 apps are a popular design choice when portability across platforms is a key requirement. Web/HTML5 apps are often easy to implement, offer an up-to-date look and feel, and work best for displaying web pages. During development, you can build apps on the Raspberry Pi platform and they are easily portable across multiple RDK-powered and connected home devices.

Firebolt™ Application Platform includes the Web Platform for Embedded (WPE) browser engine for use by Web/HTML5 apps. WPE is a port of the popular open source WebKit browser engine that is developed at webkit.org. WPE is a modern browser for embedded devices and includes support for rich media elements, graphics, and animations. WPE has an active developer community that is always integrating the latest standards such as Encrypted Media ExtensionsMedia Source Extensions, and WebRTC.

Use the following steps to deploy a Web/HTML5 app.

Step 1 Download

Download requires Login

Step 2 Install on Raspberry Pi

Minimum requirements

HDMI
Cable
USB2
MOUSE
100/G
ETHERNET
USB2
KEYBOARD
USB
DRIVE

Supported Models

Etcher provides easy way to flash the image on SD card across all the platforms, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Flash the image on Raspberry-Pi using Etcher.

Step 3 Connections on Raspberry Pi

Your setup should resemble the one in the picture

...
  1. Connect HDMI
  2. Connect Ethernet
  3. Connect USB Keyboard
  4. Connect USB Mouse
  5. Insert the SD card with the Firebolt™ image flashed
  6. Power on the Raspberry-Pi

Step 4 Learn the basics of Firebolt™ for Raspberry Pi

A USB keyboard or remote control (on supported systems) can be used on the device to launch an app on Raspberry-Pi.The following actions are supported:

move

The arrow keys will move the cursor selector

suspend

Supsend is available for Native Apps.Open “Controls” tab on the UI to enable/disable Suspend mode

launch

Select an app and press Enter or Ok

refresh

Ctrl+E

stop

Ctrl+M

Step 5 GitHub sample Apps

Step 6 Modifying the Config file

appmanagerregistry.conf – Copy and Add your app to this file.

{
	"applications":
	[{
			"displayName": "Youtube",
			"uri": "https: //www.youtube.com/",
			"applicationType": "WebApp"
		}, {
			"displayName": "RNE Video Player",
			"cmdName": "rne_player",
			"uri": "/usb/partnerapps/rne-player/rne_player",
			"applicationType": "native",
			"version": "1.0"
		}, {
			"displayName": "Fancy.js",
			"uri": "http://www.pxscene.org/examples/px-reference/gallery/fancy.js",
			"applicationType": "pxscene"
		}, {
			"displayName": "Partner App",
			"cmdName": "sampleapp",
			"uri": "/usb/partnerapps/partnerapp",
			"applicationType": "native"
		}
	]
}	
Update uri, displayName, applicationType(pxscene, WebApp, native), cmdName(The App name)
create Create a folder “partnerapps” in the root directory of your USB drive
add Copy the updated file appmanagerregistry.conf to the “partnerapps” folder in the USB drive.

Step 7 Launch an Application on Raspberry Pi

  1. Plug in the USB drive with appmanagerregistry.conf file to the Raspberry-Pi.
  2. Press Ctrl+E to refresh app manager UI.
  3. New app is displayed on the launch menu of Raspberry-Pi.
  4. Go to the app on launch Menu and Press Launch to start the application.
  5. New app successfully launched.
 
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