Users have to download the same set of add-ons on different computers with the same account.
Could Anki Store the information of add-ons on Cloud and sync among different computers?
1 Like
It wouldn’t be a good idea to sync add-ons automatically between devices. Add-ons might not be compatible between versions of Anki, and sync doesn’t require users have the same version on every device.
It’s pretty easy for a user to copy their add-ons manually from one device to another, checking that they are compatible when they do. It’s a one-time action when setting up a new device, so syncing every time seems excessive.
2 Likes
Different versions can be managed by the user easily——just install the same version of Anki.
However, it is time-consuming and difficult to copy/paste add-on folders between different computers.
I would offer the suggestion that introducing the expectation that users manage different versions is at least as likely to cause numerous issues as to solve one (fairly simple) issue. Particularly, as noted above, since this would imply syncing these each time
But, having recently copied my add-ons over to a new machine I can confirm that it’s not terribly time-consuming or difficult, FWIW
1 Like
A user with an older OS on one device, or who doesn’t have install/upgrade rights on one device (e.g. a school or work computer) could end up stuck using an older version on all devices, instead of being able to update.
All of your add-on folders are in one folder. It’s a single copy-paste.
And I thought of more reasons –
-
Many (perhaps even most?) users sync with AnkiWeb and no other devices, or only other mobile devices (no add-ons). It would be a waste of time and storage space to sync their add-ons to AnkiWeb and those other devices where they would never be needed.
-
Add-ons aren’t profile-specific, they apply to a whole install. If an install has multiple profiles and syncs to multiple AnkiWeb accounts – e.g., shared family computers, teacher/tutor-managed accounts, deck creators with a dedicated sharing account, etc. – would we need to sync the add-ons for every profile/account on the install?
-
Most add-ons are small – some are not. Right now, I’ve got 4 add-on folders that are each larger than my collection db. That’s a lot of additional space the AnkiWeb servers would need to provide.
2 Likes
FWIW, AnkiWeb can simply sync code info of the add-ons. The other device would download it from the Web once synced.
I agree with your other two points though.
1 Like
I’ll add one more. There are benefits to having versions of Anki with different configurations: it might be convenient to have editing addons in one startup folder, and addons better suited for reviews in another; there might also be conflicting addons, which have to be used on the same collection interchangeably; or simply having different sets of addons for developing and testing purposes is also a necessity for some.
3 Likes
It is much easier to change or disable some add-ons than copy/paste between different computers.
As for the storage, it can just store the code of the add-ons and download when Anki first start-up by the sync account.
1 Like
Just sync the code of the add-ons, not the contents.
This depends on the use case. It might be so for you, but it doesn’t mean it would be the same for everyone.
Certainly not, when the former requires you to constantly hold multiple addon names to enable and disable in mind, looking for each in a list of dozens of other addons, and do the switch back and forth multiple times for certain tasks, while the latter one is just a one-time setup.
2 Likes
It might sync the state of the add-ons as well.
If you support the sync of add-ons, you will find solutions.
If you against it, you can find any reason not to support it.
As I’ve tried to explain, this is what might be desirable to avoid in some cases.
Pro or against ultimately depends on whether there is a solution that will bring more convenience than it will take away by introducing multiple new settings that would have to be put in place in order to not disrupt any existing workflows people might have.
I guess a separate Sync button in the Add-ons window might fit the purpose. At least it will avoid the issue of introducing undesired syncs. Although it is still unclear how useful it will be, considering the all the limiting factors: if the addons are synced via their ids from ankiweb, this won’t work for addons that are not uploaded there; settings will also be limited to the config.json, but any addon-specific config files will still require manual copypasting of the whole folder.
2 Likes
You can use:
localStorage.setItem(item, value);
value= localStorage.getItem(item);
1 Like
If you only sync the codes, you won’t have any of your settings/configuration in the add-on. And if you’re going to do without that, it defeats 90% of the convenience of the sync.
You’re proposing this as a way to avoid the one-time set up of add-ons on a new device – but if you don’t sync their configurations, you’ll still have to set all of them up one by one! The only step you’d be eliminating is installing them – but you can already enter all of those codes in a single step, by copying the string of “IDs of active AnkiWeb add-ons” from your “Copy Debug Info.”
A single copy-paste of the folder is a much more efficient solution for getting your add-ons and their configurations to a new system.
It’s clear that you aren’t going to be moved by any reasons we offer – the heart wants what it wants. 
But that doesn’t mean these aren’t real reasons that would need to be considered before anyone could implement what you’re asking for.
I’ve moved this to the Suggestions category, but given the number of changes that would be required, the number of complicating factors, and the very small gain anyone would get out of it – I think this one is unlikely to be adopted.
4 Likes
So far these are the add-ons for syncing add-ons. (I don’t know if these will work with the latest Anki.)
- Addons Code Exporter
- Addons Code Exporter Fixed Backup
- AddonBackup
- Addon Config Sync
- Addons Archived Backup
Though not directly related, I’m developing add-ons for advanced users and developers (because I use them for add-ons development).
Custom Debug Info - for Development (Created by Shigeඞ)
Addon Bug Detector - Save and Load Enable Add-ons (Created by Shigeඞ)
AnkiRestart - Quick Anki Rebooter, for Customize & Develop (Created by Shigeඞ)
Meta json Formatter - for Development (Created by Shigeඞ)
disable auto update addons by Shigeඞ
about add-ons data sync
You can get the code of the add-ons you are using from Debug Info. By entering the code in the add-ons dialog you can download all the add-ons at once. Help → About → Copy Debug info → IDs of active AnkiWeb add-ons
If you want to move your add-ons data to another laptop, copying the Add-on folder directly will work in most cases, this way is useful if your add-ons contain large data or if you want to move complex custom settings. In rare cases, add-ons are discontinued and no longer supported and do not exist on AnkiWeb, in such cases the only way to get them is to copy the folder directly.
Some Add-ons do not support newer Anki versions, and some add-ons are device-dependent (e.g. binary files), so when you change devices I recommend to reinstall all add-ons with new ones.
Personally I do not recommend batch downloading of add-ons, if you download all add-ons at once you may not know which add-on is the cause of a bug (my addon Bug Detector was developed for this purpose), so I recommend that you check for bugs one by one before adding new add-ons. If checking the comments on the add-on page sometimes it is possible to find reports of the latest problems or useful tips.
The exception is Anking’s Butler add-on, they track all problems with add-ons used for bulk downloads by Anki version, so if you have a problem with bulk downloads you can quickly find the cause.
In my opinion it is power users who use a lot of add-ons while most Anki users use very few Add-ons. Average users have few add-ons and can download add-ons manually, advanced users can solve their problems with add-ons or manually, so I think they rarely need extra support or new features.
And many add-ons do not require syncing of settings. Also add-ons that require syncing of settings across devices often already have that feature developed by the author, because users with multiple devices request it from the author.
This sync of add-ons data is executed every time when Anki decks are synced, if developers store a lot of add-ons data in it, it slows down Anki’s sync, so the amount of data to be stored in this sync should be as minimal as possible.
3 Likes
Thanks for your kindly reply.
Shige.
You have implemented a lot of add-ons.
Hope you all the best.
1 Like
Thx! If you have any ideas or requests feel free to send them to me, useful add-ons for add-ons management and development are a bit higher on my priority list because I would like to use them too.
The plugin I desire most is an enhanced version of the Edit Field During Review plugin. This current plugin only allows for editing and bolding, and it fails to perform complex operations such as changing the text color.
1 Like
There is already an enhanced version of Edit Field During Review (Cloze). It allows optional change of font color, you can also change the size of the image.
Add-on: Edit Field During Review (Cloze) https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/385888438
You are so amazing that I just want to speak a sentence
——Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
2 Likes