Just wondering why the arduino IDE attempts to access the internet when it is opened. What is going on when it finally connects to where/what it is trying to connect to and why?
Which version are you running?
I have 0019. As far as I can tell, it does nothing with the network.
Could it be Java checking for updates?
I'm running 0018, and it has been producing this activity ever since I installed it. I run zone alarm and it will pop up an alert when programs on the computer try to access the internet. Zone alarm also has a little icon in the task bar that displays in and out network traffic. It could be something to do with java updates, but the activity comes from the IDE and not the usual java updates. The only reasion I got curious is suddenly my servo scripts no longer control my servos at almost the same time a new IDE has been released. Just wondering if the IDE downloaded something for the new IDE that breaks 0018. I don't remember any disclosure of the IDE downloading on its own from the net.
This aroused my curiosity, sniffing the network traffic confirms the IDE does call home. It accesses the arduino.cc website server when first started. It doesn't appear to do anything untoward but requests a 'lastest.txt' file which contains the following :
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:32:27 GMT
Server: Apache
Last-Modified: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:10:50 GMT
Accept-Ranges: bytes
Content-Length: 6
Keep-Alive: timeout=5, max=100
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Type: text/plain
Can't find much else going on, in comparison to what many software packages do with an internet connection its extremely tame. This is version 0019, I'm running.
I couldn't find any file named "lastest.txt" - but I did find:-
www.arduino.cc/latest.txt
And "latest.txt" is parsing 0017 to my browser.
And every time the Arduino IDE "phones home", it clocks up a unique visit that will invariably bode well for the arduino.cc Alexa ranking.
Interesting. What does that file mean?
I am not a source code reader, presumably it can be checked.
It is of note that the web pages in the reference directory, forming the Help files, contain links to the arduino website (including the images) and others. 0019 has a link to 'addthis'. Whether there is a plan to tidy this up, I don't know.
Re: Arduino IDE "calls home"?
Reply #4 - Today at 08:30:17 |
I couldn't find any file named "lastest.txt" - but I did find:-
I knew I should C&P everthing....... 
Like the man says, its probably an indication of how many and how often people are running their software as much as anything, its more the fact that its accessing something and putting entries in the server log rather than what its actually transferring. Just like you reading this puts an entry in my server log. (my sylvester icon with the blue nose is hosted on my server - the standard arduino.cc sylvester has a red nose)
It looks to me like they intend(ed) to provide automatic upgrades. Or at least automatic "new version available" notifications.
Something like Mozilla Thunderbird does (which, in my opinion, works great!).
I figured the calling home was the IDE developers tracking who/when/where useage of their application. Also figured it was harmless as nobody on the forum was posting concerns about it. On the down side, it can allow somebody somewhere to take total control of your computer if desired and you may never know it. Just something to think about.
In the "File->Preferences" menu item there is a box marked "Check for updates on startup"
My observation (with Linux arduino-0018 and -0019) is that if you uncheck that box, Arduino will no longer automatically phone home.
My further observation (guess, actually) is that if it accesses a file on the server that contains "0017" this "feature" is worthless as an update notifier, and the "feature" itself needs to be updated or deleted.
I mean, it certainly didn't notify me that there was an update available for my 0018 installation.
Maybe the checkbox should have a more honest legend that informs the users that they have an option to let developers track usage or some such thing.
Regards,
Dave
It must be that it checks for a new version. I would have done similar approach.
The problem is that the file has not been updated, currently 0017 but I use 0019, so we will not be informed by of new versions in the IDE.
Disclaimer: This is just my guess, and perhaps they use it for tracking usage.
Obviously whoever was responsible for adding the "Check for Update" feature simply forgot (or is choosing not) to make use of it.
It is perfectly valid to ask the question "why is this being done." It is completely unfair (and unnecessary) to jump to conclusions about tracking usage over being useful. You guys are all guessing and making conclusions about guesses.
The developers are just a group of people. Sometimes mistakes get made, like, forgetting to update a text file on a web-server.
You guys are all guessing and making conclusions about guesses.
We appreciate your "conclusions and guesses" about the conclusions and guesses.
My concern is that the IDE may have updated itself to where my servo code is now broken. Since the developers don't follow the forum, speculation will rule the day. I've still got to do some testing to see what is now different such that my servo code no longer works. Interesting mystery to figure out.
My concern is that the IDE may have updated itself to where my servo code is now broken.
Wow, that sounds highly unlikely.
Wow, that sounds highly unlikely.
Ah, all is well. Close inspection with a light found a mini jumper had slipped (or knocked off by one of the cats) off of a wire that was providing a ground path between the servo power supply and the arduino ground. Guess I'll have to set the usual suspects free!
I'm using 0019.
This document has been updated...
http://www.arduino.cc/latest.txt
...to...
0021
...and my IDE displays this on startup...
[Update]
A new version of Arduino is available,
would you like to visit the Arduino download page?
[Yes] [No]
...click [Yes] and the default browser opens here...
yea I am still using 18 and it now does that, which is kind of annoying
I have not upgraded yet cause things for a little bit were moving fast and I really didnt want to keep downloading crap ... I guess if 21 is what we will be using for a while I will upgrade (there is no real reason to still be on 18)
yea I am still using 18 and it now does that, which is kind of annoying
You could just turn off the update check until you upgrade.
pfft, any effort exerted by me to make something the way I like is just bad design from the start :
I dont need no stinkin checkboxes (glad you pointed it out though, totally forgot there was an option)