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beta open source in-app ad API helper for QML available - please, join

asked 2016-05-29 19:02:11 +0300

zlutor gravatar image

updated 2016-05-29 19:02:42 +0300

I've progressed with implementing an open source wrapper for Vserv RESTful advertisement API in QML.

Quote from API description:

Vserv provides a simple HTTP based API to publishers/developers and other ad networks, etc. to fetch ads for mobile sites or mobile applications. The mobile device / server makes a HTTP request to Vserv Marketplace server with the required parameters and in response receives the ad in JSON format. This single API integration gives you the flexibility to fetch banner/ full screen / rich media ads.

Available implementation is in pre-beta phase - quite majority of functionality works but there is still room for improvement.

Since I'm not so experienced in this area of sw development - and especially newbie in Sailfish native development - I would like to ask some help from the community in finishing it.

It would be a general purpose QML wrapper around the API with necessary tailoring is needed for Sailfish - e.g. Webkit vs. WebView, etc. Maybe separate git branches are needed for different implementation(?) - I'm open for any reasonable proposal.

Is there anybody willing to join? Reviewing, commenting - and of course, coding is more than welcome. [This is my first open source project, so comment from this aspect is welcome, too.]

API descrption is here, code repository is in BitBucket

Yes, I know, in-app advertisement is evil, donation rulez, blablabla - but the fact is without predictable monetization options - if ads are predictable at all - it is really hard to get developers on board in mass. Let the people decide...

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4

People move from Android to other platforms, because of the surveillance that is done and targeted ads at every instance to them. Its annoying to see ads on your Lock screen, your search engines, inside your applications etc. There should be an option to buy a particular app instead of placing adds into it. Or better donate to the developer.

libregeekingkid ( 2016-08-10 07:14:53 +0300 )edit

@libregeekingkid: annoying ads are not welcome by anybody, we can agree. On the other hand ads can be displayed in less intrusive manner...

About paid apps - well... It worked to some extent on iOS in the good old days but not so big thing even there nowadays.

Donation might work for small utilities but simply no go for anything requiring serious investment. Can you imagine e.g. Clash Of Clans based on donation model?

IAP is the king - not supported by Sailfish ATM -, ads are in the second line and paid apps/donations to follow...

I have to repeat - no monetization options, no app ecosystem for Sailfish...

zlutor ( 2016-08-10 09:02:58 +0300 )edit

No monetization options, no app ecosystem for sailfish. -Agree but we have to define what less intrusive manner is. -once while opening or closing the app. - always present on the bottom bar? etc.

libregeekingkid ( 2016-08-10 09:33:49 +0300 )edit

@libregeekingkid: SDK above is general purpose stuff, ads can be placed wherever developer wants to.

There are good and bad practices in ad placement - we could set some guidelines but every app developer has the right ignore them completely... ;)

Our apps use this pattern: one ad at the beginning, one at the end, and some occasionally inside apps - in non intrusive manner, when usual flow of app usage is diverted/break...

E.g. in our football app, in 'half time' of matches there is one ad. Similar to seeing football match in TV...

zlutor ( 2016-08-10 11:29:30 +0300 )edit

Now I am getting convinced. there should be a monetization model for developers for app ecosystem to proliferate.

libregeekingkid ( 2016-08-10 22:35:43 +0300 )edit

2 Answers

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answered 2016-05-29 20:53:18 +0300

tortoisedoc gravatar image

Doesnt VSERV have a QT SDK?

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@tortoisedoc: they had one for Symbian but they have abandoned it after Nokia abandoned Qt platforms. It was not ported to MeeGo either. I tried to convince them many times, having looong conversation but final conclusion was "there is no businesscase behind"...

Finally they have shared API description with me - that is the basis of current implementation linked.

Do you have some other info? ;)

zlutor ( 2016-05-29 21:31:08 +0300 )edit
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answered 2016-05-31 20:54:56 +0300

zlutor gravatar image

no any volunteer? where is the community?! :D

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They are not the kind of people that like ads.

ApB ( 2016-05-31 20:56:54 +0300 )edit

There is no free lunch... :)

With no monetization options there will be no application ecosystem for Sailfish. Period. No, donation model does not count... Especially when Sailfish is heading to BRICS countries. No one will donate in mass from there...

Clueless ads are evil, properly placed ones are not annoying at all - still give the possibility to earn money. E.g. Tap Titans — Giving video ads value

zlutor ( 2016-05-31 21:29:20 +0300 )edit
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Don't disagree but i prefer the "i offer this and want X amount of money for it" model of monetization. And at the moment with many basic apps missing from SFOS there is a place for that.If the dev can do it by himself without jolla -which at the moment can't do much due to being in a reboot state- is also fine with me.

ApB ( 2016-05-31 21:51:04 +0300 )edit
3

Offtopic but I am yet to see properly placed ads. To be honest the one that I don't care annoying. The one I care is going to be annoying. You know the fact, when You are searching the net for new training shoes, and the ads keep appearing even when You already bought one. I could never tell those ads that I have bought my shoe already. So a computer sees the demand for something but doesn't see the end of demand. Now that's annoying.

Macilaci457 ( 2016-06-01 16:36:46 +0300 )edit
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Asked: 2016-05-29 19:02:11 +0300

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Last updated: Aug 10 '16