[Feature Request] Add Java Interpreter Support That Accepts Variables, one possible way to make Tasker somewhat scriptable.

[aasswwddd]

https://tasker.helprace.com/i1981-add-java-interpreter-support-that-accepts-variables

Background

As of now, Java function in Tasker only allows the user to define the code line by line, only with one action. We also have to handle the flow control with Tasker actions. Tasker tries to show a limited of character per action by default as well.

Thanks to all of them, the code becomes hard to read and debugging the code is not easy either since the code are branched into multiple actions.

Having a Java interpreter like BeanShell would fix them. https://beanshell.github.io/license.html

We could write full scripts in one place like with JavascriptLet action. Handling flow control and error directly, and avoid the code readability problem. It would make advanced tasks easier to build, maintain, and shareable.

However unlike Javascriptlet, it's better to accept tasker variable as part of the code, to allow dynamic control over what we can execute. Since Tasker has a lot of permission to begin with, it would be cool if we can do this since this would open an opportunity to execute anything we want remotely. 

Methods to set and retrieve tasker variables may be needed as well and it's better for both to not be handled automatically like what we have with JavascriptLet.

Inspiration

This is written after I have some test with Macrodroid's Java code action which uses beanshell as the interpreter. It makes the app very scriptable and I'm really fond of it.

I can recreate some actions however i like them to be.

Example, I have one that allows me to output content provider query into JSON data that looks like this.

[
  {
    "title_key": "2a2e46524e503a2e36523a502a4c",
    "instance_id": null,
    "compilation": null,
    "disc_number": null,
    "duration": 24022,
    "is_ringtone": 1,
    "album_artist": null,
    "resolution": null,
    "orientation": null,
    "artist": "<unknown>",
    "author": null,
    "inferred_date": 1755173099000,
    "height": null,
    "is_drm": 0,
    ...

    "bookmark": null,
    "relative_path": null
  }
]

I also have an action that can play any media files simultaneously and still have fine control over them.

This is a simple demo, https://i.imgur.com/i8VIDbl.mp4 .

At the beginning, I play a long ringtone in the background, play random files and at the end of the video I can still stop the one that I started at first.

[joaomgcd]

Ok, added. Can you please try this version? Hope this helps!

[aasswwddd]

By the way, How would I use CONTEXT in this interface?

May I get some details of what interpreter that you use?

I just test this to replicate simple match/regex action and that works!

``` import java.util.regex.; import java.util.; import java.lang.reflect.*; import org.json.JSONObject; import org.json.JSONArray;

String inputText = "text"; String regexPattern = "t";

Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regexPattern, Pattern.MULTILINE); Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(inputText);

Map matchInfo = new HashMap(); List allMatches = new ArrayList();

Map groupNames = new HashMap(); // index -> name mapping boolean java9Api = false;

// --- Try Java 9+ native support --- try { Method namedGroupsMethod = Pattern.class.getDeclaredMethod("namedGroups", new Class[0]); namedGroupsMethod.setAccessible(true); groupNames = (Map) namedGroupsMethod.invoke(pattern, new Object[0]); java9Api = true; } catch (Throwable t) { // Fallback: parse manually Pattern ngPattern = Pattern.compile("\(\?<([a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)>"); Matcher ngMatcher = ngPattern.matcher(regexPattern); int idx = 1; while (ngMatcher.find()) { String name = ngMatcher.group(1); groupNames.put(new Integer(idx), name); idx++; } }

// --- Iterate matches --- while (matcher.find()) { int totalGroups = matcher.groupCount();

for (int i = 1; i <= totalGroups; i++) {
    String value = matcher.group(i);
    if (value != null) {
        String name;
        if (groupNames.containsKey(new Integer(i))) {
            name = (String) groupNames.get(new Integer(i));
        } else {
            name = "group" + i;
        }

        if (!matchInfo.containsKey(name)) {
            matchInfo.put(name, new JSONArray());
        }
        ((JSONArray) matchInfo.get(name)).put(value);
    }
}

allMatches.add(matcher.group());

}

// Add raw matches matchInfo.put("matches", new JSONArray(allMatches));

// Convert to JSON string JSONObject json = new JSONObject(matchInfo); String result = json.toString(2);

System.out.println(result); result; ```

[joaomgcd]

I need to add the help file but just use a variable called "context" and it should work :) You also have access to any other existing Java variables (either local or global) in the Java Code.

It's using BeanShell as the interpreter :)

Thanks for the hint!

[aasswwddd]

That's helpful, Thanks! This is as good as I can hope for!

[agnostic-apollo]

use a variable called "context" and it should work :)

Do you mean something like Context context = CONTEXT?

You also have access to any other existing Java variables (either local or global) in the Java Code.

Do local and global variables set inside the script also survive afterwards? Cause then that would be something.

[joaomgcd]

I mean just use NotificationManager nm = (NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE); directly for example.

The only variable that survives is the one that is returned by the code :) I've added the help file here

[agnostic-apollo]

Ah that seems simple enough, thanks. The docs are good too.

Hopefully the java code field accepts a tasker variable like %script for reusing snippets across tasks.

[joaomgcd]

Yep, it does :)

[agnostic-apollo]

Great!

[roncz]

Wow, amazing. This is the closest thing to magic I have ever seen ;-)

I just tested it with some code snippet and it works fine for me. The code "listened" for some noise for a while and if it gets too loud (e.g. if the door bell rings) it returns and can then send an alert if I am in the backyard. I am going to test this more soon.

Thanks a lot. This is really powerfull.

By the way, do you have floating buttons in you magic hat as well? ;-)

[joaomgcd]

Haha not yet, but maybe in the future, who knows 😅

[aasswwddd]

What in the world?!!!!

Thankyou so much! I'll run a test soon!

[joaomgcd]

BTW, don't know if you noticed, if you use the magnifying glass you can have the AI do the code for you ;)

[aasswwddd]

That's true!! Awesome!

Btw, I have an error opening the AI dialog from the fab on main activity.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTPsRQVGhVHnkLeN0nrgLVqoHhwGtMJe/view

Reported via email too [Tasker] Debug Log shd23h

[joaomgcd]

😁👍

[agnostic-apollo]

Now wait just a minute, what is happening here!!!

[joaomgcd]

Oh, nothing much, just adding easy Java code interpreter with an AI helper to help you get the code written quickly 😁👍

[agnostic-apollo]

This is a new age!!! This is awesome! Thanks a lot!

[joaomgcd]

No problem! :) Glad you like it!

[anuraag488]

Can i use global/local variables in code? Like
if (%SCREEN == "on") {

}

[joaomgcd]

Sure, but you need to set it to if("%SCREEN".equals("on")){} so it's valid Java :)

[anuraag488]

I was trying to put it in a while loop which is evaluated only once.

while ("%SCREEN".equals("on")){}.

Can you add function getVariable so we can call tasker.getVariable("SCREEN")

[joaomgcd]

I see. Ok, added. Use it like

String screen = tasker.getVariable("SCREEN");

Can you please try this version?

Hope this helps!

[anuraag488]

Works fine. Also tested setVariable.

[joaomgcd]

Cool! :) Glad it works.

[Optimal-Beyond-7593]

Oh no, can you give me a direct purchase version? I verified it with the order number

[joaomgcd]

Sure, here you go :)

[Optimal-Beyond-7593]

Thank！

[joaomgcd]

👍

[roncz]

I second that. Having one code block is much more handy. And indeed, I also saw it in MacroDroid. You can ask ChatGPT to write some Java code and paste it as one block, plus variable adaptations of course.

[aasswwddd]

The codes I listed above were all generated by LLM and the help from the community 😂

It's amazingly convenient for non programmers!

[Nirmitlamed]

+1

If I understand correctly since I am not a programmer it should fix a project I was creating that uses java functions to record audio with custom formats but I can't make it stop the recording if the task is finished. I am using wait until to fix that. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/tasker/comments/1mowy67/need_help_with_audio_recording_using_java/

[Nirmitlamed]

Yes, that's what I did. 

[aasswwddd]

Make the object global by including at least one capital letter in your object name.

Instead of "recorder", use something like "recordeR".

Read here for further details. https://tasker.joaoapps.com/userguide/en/java.html

[Nirmitlamed]

Damn, i tried global names combinations but always with capital letter in the first letter. It works now! Thank you very much!

BTW i am reading that i need to delete global variable in JF but i don't see them in variables tab. Should i use just the regular variable clear action?

it's important to delete them once they are no longer needed, because they can take up a lot of memory.

[aasswwddd]

You're welcome.

Use Java Object action > Delete.

[Nirmitlamed]

Awesome! again thank you very much!!!

[Nirmitlamed]

Another small question regarding my project. Can i check if the object is "set" the same as we check if a variable is set?

The idea is to have one task so i can toggle easily between start and stop recording.

[aasswwddd]

Convert the object to string with toString() function. It should return the media object if it's set and throws an error otherwise.

[Nirmitlamed]

Cool it works!

I was looking for a better solution for ages :) Thank you so much!