Add simple tool to put together metainfo file

[probonopd]

Since appimagetool has started pushing AppStream, we get a lot of questions and issues regarding metainfo files. A small tool that would help the user in putting together an initial metainfo file and would produce a standards-compilant metainfo file would be very helpful. It could be a CLI tool or even better a GUI tool with masks to enter the information.

What do you think?

[ximion]

You know about the new-template option? E.g. appstreamcli new-template desktop-application will spit out a metainfo file for a desktop-app component, with template values to file out.

I think making some kind of interactive wizard would be useful as well. Also, looking at new-template, some updates there would be useful.

[probonopd]

"Interactive wizard" was what I wanted to describe, yes. Also it would help if appstreamcli new-template desktop-application would produce something that would pass validation without changes.

[ximion]

@probonopd It's quite intentional that this doesn't pass validation, because users should not take the file without adjusting it.
But I see what you mean, patches welcome (as always ;-) ).

[probonopd]

The "interactive wizard" could even be a web-based tool. You would paste in your desktop file, and go from there, heavily assisted by drop-down menus to select licenses, and such.

[probonopd]

Here is my minimal viable product of a JavaScript based AppStream tool that helps you to put together a minimal working AppStream metainfo file.

http://output.jsbin.com/qoqukof

Feel free to take, mirror, host, improve... License: MIT

[ximion]

Thank you! I didn't think of making a JS-only implementation, but I also thought of a much more complex design supporting all features of AS ;-)

Maybe I can trick Docbook into embedding this into its HTML output, then it would be available directly in the documentation HTML pages (otherwise I can find another way).
First change to do on the code would be to add support for the <launchable/> tag and enforce a reverse-DNS AppStream ID.

[probonopd]

This is implemented:

<launchable type="desktop-id">myapp.desktop</launchable>

Personally I am not sold on the reverse-DNS stuff, since 99% of real-world desktop files have appname.desktop as the filename. It is simpler, too.

[ximion]

@probonopd So, at FOSDEM a lot of people I talked to actually pointed out that a tool to easily build metadata is exactly what the community needs at the moment. And while I previously considered this a "nice to have" and appstreamcli new-template to be enought to get started, I got convinced that slightly more would be pretty nice.

So, tl;dr I started to create a web application to deal with this: https://github.com/ximion/metainfocreator
We apps are really not my area of expertise, so any help is appreciated. Once the app is actually ready for general use, I will of course properly announce it and also link to it from all the right places.

Until then, here is a sneak peek: https://www.freedesktop.org/software/appstream/metainfocreator/

I am closing the bug here, please file new ones against the MetaInfo Creator, or even better, submit a PR to it ;-)
Thanks for reporting this bug and creating a prototype, both were immensely helpful!