Anichive

Anime Archive (Anichive, formerly Artist Alley Database), is an app in two parts. It is an UNOFFICIAL client for AniList.co, which allows the user to search and track anime/manga.

It is also an app to catalog art prints obtained from anime conventions in an easily searchable format with support for tagging metadata like the series, characters, and artists of each piece.

Disclaimers

Use of this app requires usage of the AniList GraphQL API, and by using it, the user accepts the AniList terms of service.

Release builds designed to be shipped to stores filter based on AniList's isAdult flag, but this is disabled when building debug/internal from source.

There is no guarantee that imports and exports will work across versions until the format is stabilized, nor that the data is safe from corruption or bugs. Use and update at your own risk.

All source is open and available on GitHub except signing keys and API secrets.

Features

AniList client

Free features:

• Full featured anime/manga search and filter
• View details of anime, manga, characters, staff, studios, users, etc.
• Get news through AnimeNewsNetwork and Crunchyroll News RSS integrations
• See global user activity

Features if optional ads are enabled:

• Log in to AniList account
• Edit and rate anime/manga entries
• Search characters, staff, studios, users, activity
• Watching/reading and user lists
• Requires persistent banner ad on bottom of screen

Features under paid subscription:

• Completely remove ads
• Databasing features used to track art prints, CDs, or merch in general from anime conventions
• Import/export support for database
• Comprehensive integration with AniList API to tag art/CDs with characters and staff
• Search to quickly pull up art at conventions to prevent duplicates
• These features are experimental

Databasing

• Image associated with entry, which is copied into the application's private data dir
• Fields including:
  • Series (manga, anime, custom text)
  • Characters (from AniList API, custom text)
  • Source (unknown, convention, custom text)
  • Artist
  • Tags (generic text entries)
  • Physical size (width by length in millimeters)
  • Notes (generic long form text)
• Ability to lock fields to prevent them from being accidentally edited
• Rudimentary search by field
• Browse by artist, series, characters, and tag
• Export and import of entire database with images to/from a (mostly) user readable .zip file

Screenshots

TODO: Need to find an artist willing to license their work to be displayed in this repository. (If you draw anime art and are willing, please contact my GitHub email)

Build

Instructions assume Windows 11 environment using the latest Android Studio Canary build.

1. Clone project with git clone https://github.com/TheKeeperOfPie/ArtistAlleyDatabase.git
2. Get a copy of any local dependencies and place it into libs:
   • SNAPSHOT version, so can't use stable version code for dependency verification.
     https://s01.oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots/com/mxalbert/sharedelements/shared-elements/0.1.0-SNAPSHOT/shared-elements-0.1.0-20221204.093513-11.aar
3. Generate an AniList API client by following the API instructions here
4. Create /secrets.properties and insert the client ID as a property:

   aniList.clientId=$CLIENT_ID
   

   TODO: Missing other properties
5. Install like any other Android application via ./gradlew :app:installDebug

Gradle

This project attempts to store the Gradle home and build caches directly inside the project root under /gradle-home and /build-cache. This allows easy configurable of anti-virus scanning exclusions and caching efforts, as all data is ideally read from just the project folder.

A minor benefit of this is that by deleting the two folders (along with .gradle), a true clean build can be tested, where Gradle cannot reference anything it used previously.

Dependencies

Useful commands

• Check for updates:
  ./gradlew dependencyUpdates
• Verify declarations (included in git commit hook):
  ./gradlew buildHealth

Regenerate verification-metadata.xml

This must be done each time a dependency is added/changed. Disabling dependency verification can be done by deleting ./gradle/verification-metadata.xml.

./gradlew --write-verification-metadata sha256 generateVerificationMetadata

:modules:dependencies

This module serves as a way to generate verification metadata for artifacts which are used by Android Studio but aren't used in the app build. For things like instrumentation testing that require additional dependencies.

Releasing

1. Rename the top entry of changelog.md to the next release version name
2. Create a new entry in changelog.md for the Next ($versionCode) release
3. Increment the version code and name in app/build.gradle.kts
4. Studio toolbar > Build > Generate Signed App Bundle > auth for keystore > create release
5. Upload release from /app/release

Licensing

TODO: Add a real license All rights reserved, no warranty or support provided, no commercial derivatives allowed. Individuals are allowed to edit and build the app for personal use, but cannot distribute copies. If you build this app to avoid ads/monetization, please consider donating.