<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<html>
<h2>Using Apps</h2>
<p>
Apps (introduced in 0install 1.9) work a bit like aliases, e.g.
</p>
<pre>
$ <b>0install add rox http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer</b>
$ <b>rox --version</b>
ROX-Filer 2.11
</pre>
<p>
The main difference is that apps store their current selections (in
<i>~/.config/0install.net/apps/rox/selections.xml</i> in this case). This
means that they start faster, because the solver isn't needed:
</p>
<pre>
$ <b>0alias rox-alias http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer</b>
$ <b>0install add rox-app http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer</b>
$ <b>time rox-alias --version > /dev/null</b>
rox-alias --version > /dev/null 0.12s user 0.02s system 91% cpu 0.144 total
$ <b>time rox-app --version > /dev/null</b>
rox-app --version > /dev/null 0.06s user 0.02s system 92% cpu 0.082 total
</pre>
<p>
When run, they still trigger a background update if they haven't been
updated for a while, and you can also update them manually:
</p>
<pre>
$ <b>0install update rox</b>
No updates found. Continuing with version 2.11.
</pre>
<p>
They also remember any restrictions (e.g. --before).
</p>
<p>Each app also stores past selections (max one set per day) so if an
update goes wrong you can see what changed and roll-back easily:
</p>
<pre>
$ <b>0install whatchanged 0publish</b>
Last checked : Wed Jun 27 20:24:19 2012
Last update : 2012-06-27
Previous update : 2012-06-16
http://0install.net/2007/interfaces/ZeroInstall.xml: 1.8-post -> 1.9-post
http://repo.roscidus.com/security/gnupg: new -> 1.4.12-4
To run using the previous selections, use:
0install run /home/tal/.config/0install.net/apps/0publish/selections-2012-06-16.xml
</pre>
<p>
Starting with 0install 1.14, 0alias is deprecated, and trying to add an alias will
add an app instead.
</p>
<h3>Planned features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Allow multiple shell commands for an app.</li>
<li>Switch desktop integration over to using apps.</li>
</ul>
<quicklinks>
<link href='user-guide-shortcuts.html' img='tango/go-prev.png'>Go back</link>
<link href='user-guide-policy.html' img='tango/go-next.png'>Continue</link>
</quicklinks>
</html>
