[Research] Generate Oculus Store compatible APKs

Initial request

https://twitter.com/ThePra9/status/1455899334365618181

Current plan

1. Check if APK generated by Oculus CLI uses TWA (Trusted Web Activity): 1.1. Generate APK using Oculus CLI:

./ovr-platform-util create-pwa
  -o output.apk
  --android-sdk /opt/android_sdk
  https://example.com/manifest.webmanifest

Or to use local manifest file:

--manifest-content-file manifest.webmanifest
  https://example.com/

1. Check if Oculus supports TWA (Trusted Web Activity): 2.1. Generate APK using Bubblewrap (PWABuilder), try to publish it to Oculus Store via Oculus CLI or web interface (see https://developer.oculus.com/resources/publish-reference-platform-command-line-utility/#upload-quest) and make some changes to APK source code to fix errors/warnings (see https://developer.oculus.com/resources/publish-mobile-manifest/#specs). 2.2. Compare APK generated by Oculus CLI with APK generated by Bubblewrap (AndroidManifest.xml, etc.). 2.3. Check APK with fixes published to Oculus Store on real Oculus device.

2. Create a pull request for Bubblewrap.

3. Create a pull request for PWABuilder.

4. Write docs. E.g. document new vendor-specific proprietary web app manifest members such as:

"ovr_scope_extensions": [
  {"pattern": "*.example.com"}
]

and

"ovr_multi_tab_enabled" : true

Notes

This should be an option to not affect APKs for other app stores.

[FluorescentHallucinogen]

I’ve also checked TWA on Quest 2. I’ve sideloaded APK via ADB and opened it via “Unknown Sources” section. And it just opened in Oculus Browser just like regular website (not in standalone mode).

I’ve also sideloaded Google Chrome APK to Quest 2. 😃 If Chrome is installed, then TWA open in it in standalone mode (instead of Oculus Browser).

[FluorescentHallucinogen]

Good news! I finally own Quest 2. 😊

ICYMI, preview version of PWABuilder (https://preview.pwabuilder.com) offers packaging PWA for Oculus Store. 😉

@tomayac cc.

It uses ovr-platform-util under the hood. Here’s the repo: https://github.com/pwa-builder/pwabuilder-oculus.