Bixby Developer Center

Guides

2019 July–September

Note

Internal platform changes that are not visible to capsule developers will be communicated via internal status updates.

19P Capsule SDK Release Notes

Updated: September 10, 2019

New Limit on Store Sections

To ensure that capsules are more precisely targeted, you are now limited to two store-sections for each capsule.

capsule {
...
store-sections {
section (NewsAndMagazines)
section (BusinessAndFinance)
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19P
  • Stage 2: R19Q
  • End of Life: R19R

New Runtime Flag for Single Result in Input View

We've introduced a new runtime flag that changes how a single result is rendered within an input-view.

If you specify the use-input-views-for-selection-list-detail runtime flag, you can render the details of a single item in an input view by calling a layout, layout-match, or layout-macro.

Example

// With the `runtime-flag` enabled
input-view {
match-pattern: MyResult (this)
message (...)
render {
if (size(this) == 0) {
// render a form
} else-if (size(this) == 1) {
layout {
select-button-text (select me)
section {
...
}
}
} else {
selection-of (this) {
where-each (result) {
...
}
}
}
}
}

If not specified, then an input-view calls out to a corresponding result-view to render the layout for a single result when selecting an item from the selection list.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: This deprecation is currently in Stage 1 and is safe to use until the time that we provide a formal deprecation schedule.

Changes to Automatic Decimal to Integer Conversation

Because there is a loss of precision, we no longer support automatically converting Decimal types to Integer. For example, if you have a macro that takes an Integer parameter, you can't pass in a Decimal.

You must either update the macro parameter to be a Decimal, or change the type being passed.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19P
  • Stage 2: R19Q
  • End of Life: R19S

Changes to Size and Exists EL Special Operators

In an effort to further standardize Expression Language, we're deprecating the following EL special operators.

  • $size: Replace with size(...)
  • $exists: Replace with exists(...)

Deprecated

output (Recipe) {
   on-empty {
     if (servings.$exists) {
       drop (servings)
     } else-if (course.$exists || meal.$exists || cuisine.$exists) {
       ordered-effects {
         drop (course)
         drop (meal)
         drop (cuisine)
       }
     }
   }
 }

New

output (Recipe) {
   on-empty {
     if (exists(servings)) {
       drop (servings)
     } else-if (exists(course) || exists(meal) || exists(cuisine)) {
       ordered-effects {
         drop (course)
         drop (meal)
         drop (cuisine)
       }
     }
   }
 }

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R20K
  • Stage 2: R20N
  • End of Life: None

Input Names Must be Alphanumeric

Your input names for an action now must use only alphanumeric characters (A-Z+a-z+0-9), with no dashes or special characters.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19P
  • Stage 2: R19R
  • End of Life: R19T

Updates to Bixby-Provided Libraries

You must now explicitly import all Bixby-provided JavaScript libraries, such as console and http. For more information, see JavaScript API reference.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19O
  • Stage 2: R19P
  • End of Life: R19V

MD5 Library Deprecated

We've deprecated the MD5 JavaScript library.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19P
  • Stage 2: R19Q
  • End of Life: R19V

Three Deprecation EOLs Delayed

We're delaying the end-of-life for three deprecations until the 19U release:

New Divider within Hbox Key

To allow for vertical separation, we've added a divider child key. This new key creates a dividing line between vbox components in a given hbox row.

hbox {
content {
vbox {
content {
single-line {
text {
value ("From #{value(hotel.lowRate)}")
}
}
}
}
divider
vbox {
content {
single-line {
text {
value ("#{value(hotel.rating)} stars")
}
}
}
}
}
}

Here is how the vertical divider looks on mobile:

19O Capsule SDK Release Notes

Updated: August 19, 2019

Note

The 19N release of Bixby Capsule SDK has been combined with 19O.

New Required Dispatch Phrases

We now require that your hints must use named dispatch. You can also add a preferred-hint to a hint, which can be used in situations where named dispatch is not required.

Example

hints {
for-category (Translators) {
hint ("Ask My Japanese Dictionary what is artificial intelligence in Japanese?") {
preferred-hint ("What is artificial intelligence in Japanese?")
}
hint ("Ask My Japanese Dictionary what is alligator?") {
preferred-hint ("What is alligator in Japanese?")
}
hint ("Ask My Japanese Dictionary what is crab?") {
preferred-hint ("What is crab in Japanese?")
}
hint ("Ask My Japanese Dictionary what is the character for fire?") {
preferred-hint ("What is the character for fire in Japanese?")
}
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19O
  • Stage 2: R19Q
  • End of Life: R19S

New Intent Key for Attribution Links

You can now add an intent key to the attribution-link. This allows you to add functionality such as triggering an additional result-view with an app-launch.

Example

...
attribution-link {
label ("a label")
url ("a url")
if (false) {
url ("another url")
} else {
intent {
goal: DoSomething
}
}
}

Runtime Flag for New Input View

We've introduced a new runtime flag that changes how a single result is rendered within an input-view.

If you specify the use-input-views-for-selection-list-detail runtime flag, you can render the details of a single item in an input view by calling a layout, layout-match, or layout-macro.

Example

// With the `runtime-flag` enabled
input-view {
match-pattern: MyResult (this)
message (...)
render {
if (size(this) == 0) {
// render a form
} else-if (size(this) == 1) {
layout {
select-button-text (select me)
section {
...
}
}
} else {
selection-of (this) {
where-each (result) {
...
}
}
}
}
}

If not specified, then an input-view calls out to a corresponding result-view to render the layout for a single result when selecting an item from the selection list.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: This deprecation is currently in Stage 1 and is safe to use until the time that we provide a formal deprecation schedule.

New Runtime Flag to Disable Input Filtering

We've added a new runtime flag, no-filtering-with-validation, which changes how Bixby applies validation conditions in order to reduce the number of ambiguous values.

By default, when a cardinality constraint violation occurs because an input has too many available candidates, Bixby attempts to pre-filter the available candidates using the existing input validations. This runtime flag disables that.

For more information, see Runtime Flags.

Example

capsule {
...
runtime-flags {
concepts-inherit-super-type-features
modern-prompt-rejection
support-halt-effect-in-computed-inputs
no-filtering-with-validation
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19N
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19P

Updates to Hints and Endpoints File Naming

You now have the option to name your hints and endpoints files without a prefix.

Allowed:

  • my.hints.bxb
  • my.endpoints.bxb
  • hints.bxb
  • endpoints.bxb

Not Allowed:

  • shints.bxb
  • myendpoints.bxb
  • .hints.bxb
  • .endpoints.bxb

Status Bar within Transaction Support Deprecated

We've added a new runtime flag, no-filtering-with-validation, which changes how Bixby applies validation conditions in order to reduce the number of ambiguous values.

By default, when a cardinality constraint violation occurs because an input has too many available candidates, Bixby attempts to pre-filter the available candidates using the existing input validations. This runtime flag disables that.

For more information, see Runtime Flags.

Example

capsule {
...
runtime-flags {
concepts-inherit-super-type-features
modern-prompt-rejection
support-halt-effect-in-computed-inputs
no-filtering-with-validation
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19N
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19P

Prompt Mode Deprecated

Because most capsules currently use the default mode of replace, we've deprecated the mode key within prompt.

Old:

...
error (MultipleItemsMatched) {
property (candidates) {
type (FoodName)
min (Required)
max (Many)
}
on-catch {
prompt (menuItemName) {
min (1)
max (1)
mode (Replace)
candidates (candidates)
}
}
}
...

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19N
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19P

19M Capsule SDK Release Notes

Updated: July 26, 2019

New Runtime Flag for Validation

We've added a new runtime flag, no-filtering-with-validation, which changes how Bixby applies validation conditions in order to reduce the number of ambiguous values.

By default, when a cardinality constraint violation occurs because an input has too many available candidates, Bixby attempts to pre-filter the available candidates using the existing input validations. This runtime flag disables that.

For more information, see Runtime Flags.

Example

capsule {
...
runtime-flags {
concepts-inherit-super-type-features
modern-prompt-rejection
support-halt-effect-in-computed-inputs
no-filtering-with-validation
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19N
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19P

New Runtime Flag for Default View Behavior

We've introduced a new runtime flag, modern-default-view-behavior, which changes behavior when a result view or input view is not defined.

If modern-default-view-behavior is not set, Bixby will fall back to a default collection. This behavior is deprecated, and will be removed in a future release.

Example

capsule {
...
runtime-flags {
concepts-inherit-super-type-features
modern-default-view-behavior
support-halt-effect-in-computed-inputs
}
}

Meta Command Updates

We've added a number of reserved utterances. Read Reserved Utterances for the full list.

Bixby Views Updates

Default Views

If you include the new modern-default-view-behavior runtime flag, any Bixby Views you create now have default views if you do not specify a result-view or an input-view that matches the current moment. Bixby uses a default view that can provide a reasonable display of results or selectable options to the user. Your capsule should provide its own views for the best possible conversations with users.

Note

There is no default confirmation-view, although Bixby falls back to default confirmation dialog and displays if views are not defined for confirmation moments.

For more information, see Runtime Flags.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19O
  • Stage 2: R19S
  • End of Life: R19Y
Manual Page Navigation

We've introduced a new read-manual key within navigation-mode, which provides you with a manual way to handle page navigation. Results still have paging, but you have more control over how this is done. This key helps you with APIs that handle result paging themselves. For example, you might use this with a web API that provides a "cursor" to obtain more results, rather than returning all results.

Example

result-view {
match-pattern: MyResultList (list)
render {
list-of (list.results) {
navigation-mode {
read-manual {
page-selection-question (Do you like one of these?)
item-selection-question (Which one would you like?)
previous-page {
intent {
goal: MyResultList
value: MyPageNumber$expr(list.curPage - 1)
}
}
next-page {
intent {
goal: MyResultList
value: MyPageNumber$expr(list.curPage + 1)
}
}
// optional
with-previous-page-conversation-driver (!list.isFirstPage)
with-next-page-conversation-driver (!list.isLastPage)
}
}
}
}
New Progress Bar Component

We've added a new progress-bar component to let users know the progress of an event or action.

Example

  section {
content {
progress-bar (70.2)
}
...
}
New Column Size Key for Image Cards

We've added a new column-size key, which determines how many image cards are displayed within a larger list. You can specify 1, 2, or 3 cards per column.

Example

list-of (this) {
where-each (car) {
compound-card {
content {
image-card {
aspect-ratio (9:16)
column-size (2)
image-url ("#{raw(car.imageUrl)}")
title-area {
slot1 {
text {
value ("#{raw(car.name)}")
style (Title_M)
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
New Color Option in Text

You now have the option to specify amber, blue, green, or red text color within text. If not specified, the default color is white.

19L Capsule SDK Release Notes

Updated: July 8, 2019

Layouts within Layout Macros

You can now add a layout within layout-macro.

Note

You can't use a layout-macro with list-of and selection-of components if the macro can return a layout.

Updates to Geo Library Capsule

The NamedPoint concept within the viv.geo library capsule now supports rectangular bounding boxes.

Bixby Views Updates

Chin Deprecated within Compound Card

We're making Bixby Views more consistent by ensuring each card has only one tappable area. As a result, we're deprecating support for the chin key for compound-card.

For more information, see cards in Bixby Views.

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19M
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19U
New Attribution Link within Sections

We've added the ability to add an attribution-link within sections.

Example

// Within a larger view or layout file
section {
content {
... //other components
attribution-link {
label {
template ("More on BixbyDevelopers.com")
}
url ("https://bixbydevelopers.com")
}
}
}

Attribution Link

New Spacer within Section Content

We've added the option to add spacer in content within a section.

// within a larger Views file
...
section {
content {
title-area { ... }
spacer // 24px
paragraph { ... }
// no spacer, 12px space between these two components
single-line { ... }
}
}
...
New Date Interval for Calendar Picker

In addition to a single date, you can now use viv.time.DateInterval as the initial-value for a calendar picker.

New 'flattenAs' Expression Function

We've introduced a new flattenAs formatting expression function, which flattens specified nodes into a single list, formats them in the specified format, then joins those formatted strings as a conjunctive list ("value1, value2, and value3").

Updates to Deprecation Lifecycle

We've updated our SDK deprecation lifecycle, which includes three stages. Learn about these deprecations in our Developers' Guide.

'confirmed-by' Deprecated

We've deprecated the confirmed-by key. You should instead use the confirm key.

Example

confirm {
if (myInput > 65) {
by (MyConfirmation)
}
}

Deprecation Stages

Learn more about the deprecation stages.

  • Stage 1: R19L
  • Stage 2: R19O
  • End of Life: R19U

Old File Extensions Deprecated