Unable to log into web client on iOS

[Tim Spindler]

I was testing Evergreen 3.0 web client with my iPhone and no login prompt appears. A colleague checked with an Android and is able to login. The web client login does work on with my iPhone in 2.12. I have tested this with Chrome and Firefox. The iphone model is the iphone 7 plus.

[Scott Thomas (scott-thomas-9)]

Same at 3.03 and iPhone 8 Plus iOS 11.2.5.

[Anna Goben (agoben)]

This was what went out to my libraries about this earlier this month:

"Supported Browsers
-Chrome on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android (small screen support isn't ideal but it does work)
-Firefox on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux

Safari (Mac OS or iOS) and Edge (Windows 10) used to but do NOT currently work. They may work with the client again after an update (these browsers are missing some features used by the web client); Internet Explorer will never work. Because all browsers on iOS actually use Safari behind the scenes, Chrome on iOS doesn't currently work either." -Jason Boyer

[Tim Spindler (tspindler-cwmars)]

Here are my details on my phone IOS 11.2.2 and Evergreen 3.03.

[Galen Charlton (gmc)]

Upon a quick test in Evergreen master with Safari 9.1.2, I note that the specific reason why the login prompt isn't being rendered has to do with our use of BroadcastChannel, which Safari doesn't support. The following patch works around the issue:

diff --git a/Open-ILS/web/js/ui/default/staff/services/auth.js b/Open-ILS/web/js/ui/default/staff/services/auth.js
index ec83005..b93b6b8 100644
--- a/Open-ILS/web/js/ui/default/staff/services/auth.js
+++ b/Open-ILS/web/js/ui/default/staff/services/auth.js
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ function($q , $timeout , $rootScope , $window , $location , egNet , egHatch) {

     service.logout = function(broadcast) {

- if (broadcast) {
+ if (broadcast && service.authChannel.postMessage) {
             // Tell the other tabs to shut it all down.
             service.authChannel.postMessage({action : 'logout'});
         }

[Galen Charlton (gmc)]

That said, the policy issue — whether to formally support Safari and derivatives in the first place — remains open.

[Kathy Lussier (klussier)]

Since the policy issue remains open, I'm going to set this back from Won't Fixed to Triage until such time that was have an opportunity to clarify which browsers have formal support.

My recollection from initial discussions was that we would support desktop Firefox and Chrome, but now that we are rolling the client out into production environments, it's probably a good time to either reaffirm that policy or make adjustments.

[Tim Spindler (tspindler-cwmars)]

I don't know if this is related but I can login with my iMac on our instance of 3.03

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch)
Sierra IOS 10.13.2

[Tim Spindler (tspindler-cwmars)]

Add one more thing on my iMac, I logged in successfully with Chrome and Firefox.

[Kathy Lussier (klussier)]

Hi Tim,

From my understanding of the discussion to date, the reason it doesn't work on iOS is because Safari is the underlying browser for all browsers in iOS, even if you don't choose to use Safari. This isn't the case if you use Chrome or Firefox on the iMac.

[Kathy Lussier (klussier)]

I've put Galen's patch into a git branch:
http://git.evergreen-ils.org/?p=working/Evergreen.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/user/kmlussier/lp1746020-broadcast-channel-workaround

I still haven't tested it, but I plan to find somebody who can test it this afternoon.

[Jason Stephenson (jstephenson)]

I'd like to point out that just because Galen's patch allows one to login with a browser on iOS, that does not mean that all iOS issues are resolved by this patch. There very well may be other issues that come up once you're logged in.

[Kathy Lussier (klussier)]

True, but it's a bit difficult to find out what those other issues might be if you can't log in. I know there is a larger discussion that needs to be had, but I don't see any harm in getting this one particular issue addressed.

[Jason Boyer (jboyer)]

I almost forgot, we've been running this for a few days, it does what it says and hurts nothing else.

Signage:

http://git.evergreen-ils.org/?p=working/Evergreen.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/user/jboyer/lp1746020-broadcast-channel-workaround-signoff

[Galen Charlton (gmc)]

Pushed to master and rel_3_0. Thanks, folks!