New modern GUI topic

[ibex-are-goats]

Android GUIs are moving back to the bottom navigation buttons like Apple uses. It turns out that function beats style when it comes to functions you use all the time. I've been trying to find an openhome/mpd controller which uses a clear, simple, modern interface because my senior parents can't fathom anything else.

I was thinking of doing a web app on my own, then I thought maybe I could modify an existing native app. Then I found your app and I thought I could just put it to you: do you want to have a discussion about the GUI? What's your interest level for updating the app to the latest android version standards?

[abarisain]

Hello!

The develop branch, which I never released, was actually more in line with material design. It used tabs way more (even though they were at the top of the screen).
I'm personally glad that the drawer trend is dying, as I always thought that Apple was right to stick with it. Spotify is 10 times better now that it's back to tabs.

Unfortunately mpdroid isn't developed anymore and hasn't been for years. If you compile develop in the latest Android Studio, it crashes on startup.
As I don't use MPD anymore, I don't really have an interest in fixing it.
I even merged a PR that I never released, and multiple PRs are just sitting there waiting for attention.

I suggest that you make something of your own. MPDroid's codebase is in an horrible shape and really hard to tweak. Unless you have extensive Android knowledge and would essentially like to fork a "fixer-upper", you'd probably achieve your goal more easily with a webapp, and tailor that for your parents.

[ibex-are-goats]

Thank you for your brilliant reply!! I for one am glad that you open sourced the project in the first place. Someone with more skill than I have will come along and fork it one day!!

I agree about apps being much nicer with the primary functions down by your thumbs. Below is a mockup I made for a simple interface. A one-level-deep options menu so the options button itself functions as the "back to options" button. Only the play and next track controls are shown by default.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZYG1GQUf0c01oRQoWvF8yg42OI3o9CIlNjI2xWMLAlA/edit?usp=sharing

I hope our conversation has helped inspire you for your next project!! ;)

Thank you for your contributions to the open source community.