mrksbrg/racketghost

Android Open Source Ghosting Coach for Squash, Badminton and Racketlon

RacketGhost

• Android Open Source Ghosting Coach for Squash, Badminton, and Racketlon

Background

Ghosting is an established training exercise in racket sports to practice court movement without a ball. Running to the various corners of the court improves both footwork and general stamina. In the best of worlds, your coach or sparring partner will always be ready to point you to random corners at a pace that pushes you to your limits.

Unfortunately, few people have access to a coach at all times, thus have to run the exercise on their own. That means the randomness in the order of corners is missing.

With RacketGhost you get to have a ghosting coach on your mobile device, always ready to run a ghosting session with you!

Getting Started

Using RacketGhost means following these steps:

1. Configure your ghosting session.
2. Put your mobile device in front of you on the court.
3. Press "GO!" to start your ghosting session.
4. Move to the starting position (mid court).
5. RacketGhost highlights court positions for you to reach.
6. Compare your recent session with your ghosting history.
7. Press "Back" to return to the main screen.

In the main screen you get to set the following parameters for your next ghosting session:

• Reps: The number of repetitions per set, i.e., the number of corners to reach. [DEFAULT=15]
• Sets: The number of sets in the ghosting session. [DEFAULT=3]
• Interval: The time (in milliseconds) between repetitions in the ghosting session. [DEFAULT=5000]
• Break btw. sets: The time (in seconds) to rest between sets. [DEFAULT=15]

Furthermore, there are two checkboxes [DEFAULT=CHECKED]:

• 6 corners: If checked, RacketGhost points you to six court positions, otherwise only the four corners are used.
• Audio: Play complementing audio cues

Further Information

• The current version of RacketGhost is tailored for squash. Although it works fine for badminton as well, refering to court positions as volley left/right does obviously not make sense.
• As the frequent releases suggest, the project relies on continous deployment.
• To compensate for the shorter distances, the interval for volley positions is automatically decreased to 2/3 of the setting.
• In the main screen the last 3 ghosting sessions are listed, but in the summary screen 15 sessions are presented.
• You can stop an ongoing ghosting session by pressing "Stop". Press "Back" to return to the main screen.

Version History

< 1.0.0 - Initial development

1.0.0 - Released on Amazon Appstore: http://www.amazon.com/Markus-Borg-RacketGhost/dp/B013YY2MKE/

1.1.0 - Audio added. Released on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.markusborg.test&hl=en

1.2.0 - Released on Google Play Oct 3, 2015

• Added picture of squash ball
• Increased countdown from 3s to 5s
• Minor bug fixes

1.2.1 - Released on Google Play Oct 10, 2015

• Fixed sound bug on Sony Xperia

1.2.2 - Released on Google Play Oct 11, 2015

• Changed minSdkVersion to 9
• Added SharedPreferences to store the latest setting between sessions

1.3.0 - Released on Google Play and Amazon Appstore Oct 14, 2015

• First release with a stable implementation of all basic features
• Major layout fixes

1.3.1 - Released on Google Play Oct 18, 2015

• Updated the layout for ghosting sessions, added the logo in the center

1.3.2 - Released on Google Play Oct 18, 2015

• Fixed bug, no squash balls presented on volley left and right

1.4.0 - Released on Google Play Oct 21, 2015

• A badminton mode has been added
• Squash/badminton is chosen using a Spinner
• Seek bars replace the edit texts in the main activity

1.5.0 - Released on Google Play Nov 23, 2015

• Added a listview with a custom adapter to the ResultsActivity

1.5.1 - Released on Google Play Nov 24, 2015

• Bug fix for parsing the history file of early versions of RacketGhost

1.5.2 - Released on Google Play Nov 25, 2015

• Bug fix for API versions before LOLLIPOP
• Fixed presentation issue in MainActivity

1.6.0 - Released on Google Play Dec 23, 2015

• Major changes to the thread model

1.7.0 - Released on Google Play Jan 5, 2016

• Major changes to the graphics

1.7.1 - Released on Google Play Jan 13, 2016

• Updated the RacketGhost icon
• Improved text visibility
• Updated Help and About dialogs

1.8.0 - Released on Google Play Jan 28, 2016

• Added sport-specific click sounds
• Added stereo effects during ghosting

1.8.1 - Released on Google Play Jul 11, 2016

• Updated and tested for Marshmallow
• Improved in-app help
• Added a splash screen

1.8.2 - Released on Google Play Sep 24, 2018

• Meets Google Play's new requirements for target API 26
• Updated and tested for Pie (API 28)

1.8.3 - Released on Google Play May 1, 2019

• Increased font size (user request)

1.8.4 - Submitted to Google Play Aug 18, 2023

• Meets Google Play's new requirements for target API 33
• Migrated to AndroidX
• Updated Gradle

racketghost's Issues

Missing numbers in MainActivity after new install

No numbers presented for interval and break time after new install. Numbers appear first when using sliders.

Add an audio cue + flashing screen when a set is finished

When the device is far away it is hard to know when the final corner has been given. It would make sense to play a distinct sound when it is time for the break, and also to flash the screen if the sound is not enabled.

Text hard to read in Settings activity

The gray text is hard to read in the Settings activity, especially with new background. Increase the contrast, e.g., black text.

Model the corners to reflect a real rally

Uncommon to hit a short stop from the back corners. Make drives more common with some occational boosts or crosses.

Create a new about box

The current about box is not very nice. Replace it by something more appealing.

Break timer acting strange

The break between sets appears strange. Also, there is a 0 in the summary log for the break timer.

Target Android 6.0 Marshallow (API level 23)

Update the target build version and make sure everything works.

Need more time before first set starts

It takes a while to put the device in a good position on the court and return to the starting position. Add a longer count down before the first set, maybe 10 s?

Start tagging releases again

Use stereo effects for audio

Play from left or right depending on ghosting. Might give a useful effect on some devices.

RacketGhost crashes at startup

After patching to 1.5.0 a crash has been reported on Samsung Galaxy Express 2:

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.markusborg.test/com.markusborg.ui.MainActivity}: java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: length=2; index=2
at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2447)
at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2507)
at android.app.ActivityThread.access$900(ActivityThread.java:172)
at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1308)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:146)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5692)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1291)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1107)
at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
Caused by: java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: length=2; index=2
at com.markusborg.logic.Setting.(Setting.java:53)
at com.markusborg.logic.LogHandler.(LogHandler.java:44)
at com.markusborg.ui.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.java:66)
at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5541)
at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1093)
at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2411)
... 11 more

Increment to version 1.8.1 to prepare for release

Time for a summer release. Increment the version number and create a matching tag for the release.

Add optional "push" sound

Add optional "push" sound when there is only a few more reps to go. Make it an option in the settings.

Create special edition app for SweOpen2016

Create a special edition of RacketGhost with pictures from Hyllie Sportcenter.

Add a separate visual presentation for badminton

Time to truly make RacketGhost a multi-racket coach. Allow the user to switch between squash and badminton mode, and present the ball image view accordingly.

Update Gradle version to 2.1.2

Update to the latest Gradle version

Update to required Android Target API Level 26

Or an even higher version. Must be done before November 1, 2018.

Frash start

Replace everything by a new Android Studio project.

Crash when session completed

On Samsung Galaxy Express 2, crash when opening new listview on v. 1.5.1. Linking appears wrong, getBallIcon is not found.

Do clean and rebuild?

Add autotests

The project should have a regression suite of autotests to catch defects before new code is introduced.

Add Ghost! as final step in help string

Add a fourth bullet.

Add binary for release v.1.32

Add the apk for the the release v.1.32.

Change Interval SeekBar from millisecond to second

Granularity of millisecond really not needed. Change it to decisecond.

"Volley" audio clip doesn't make sense in badminton mode

"Volley left/right" is appropriate for squash, but not for badminton. It should be replaced by "Smash left/right".

Add sound to the last 5 seconds of the countdown

User request:

Add sound to the last 5 seconds ... I am often walking around the Court recovering between reps -The sound would bring me back to the T!

Add sport specific click sounds

For the 'GO!' button, play a squash or badminton hit.

No sound on Sony Xperia Z3

Despite toggling audio in the settings, I hear no sounds during ghosting sessions.

The stop button should be complemented by resume

Pressing stop to kill the ghosting session doesn't make sense unless you can resume it again. In v1.1 you must press back as the next step, there is no other option.

Update the main activity with slider controls

Configuring ghosting sessions using text fields requires a power user. Replace them with sliders that suggest what is "slow" and "fast".

Add background images to GhostingActivities

Add a background image that reflects the squash/badminton setting.

The volley corners should be faster

Running to the four real corners takes some time; Doing the volleys is significantly faster. The interval time should reflect this. Possibly 2/3 of the time?

Store last setting

The app should store the setting using SharedPreferences, and load it in OnCreate. There should also be a Reset button to get the default (recommended) setting.

Disable EditTexts in the MainActivity

Should not be editable.

Update screenshots on Google Play

The screenshots on Google Play are outdated, replace them with new images.

Present sessions in list view

Add a proper list view to present all previous sessions in the results acivity.

Support Android API 16

Some friends are using API 16. Add support for all Jellybean versions.

Increase countdown font size

User request:

The font size for the countdown timer is too small, thus hard to see.

Update Gradle version to 2.1.0

Update project to the new Gradle version

Very low sound on Sony device

Very low sound (but sound at least!) on a Sony Xperia M device. Could the default volume be increased in the app?

Immediate on screen timer

User request:

Start the on-screen timer between reps immediately, rather than giving a 5 second countdown.

Branch the project to facilitate special edition releases

Prior to IWT Casino Heroes Swedish Open 2016, it would be nice to branch the project. I plan to distribute a special edition with the tournament logo in the middle during ghosting sessions.

Restarting ghosting activity not working

When stopping a ghosting session, the following restart doesn't start from scratch.

Court layout looks strange during ghosting session

On some devices the layout of the six court areas look strange.

Add audio

Implement the audio announcements.

Replace settings menu by about

The setting menu doesn't make sense. Instead, it could be replaced by a simple about option. Popup with link to Github repo?

Badminton not correctly logged

The log handler always adds (SQ) to ghosting sessions in the history view.

Add a splash screen

The special edition for Swedish Open has a splash screen. Add one also for the standard version of RacketGhost.

Ghosting AsyncTask continues after pressing 'back'

The AsyncTask does not stop, but continues in the background. The same happens when switching to another app or pressing 'home'; The activity continues in the background and keeps playing sounds, but it cannot become active again.

Such operations should stop the ghosting session.

Update RacketGhost icon

Replace the current RacketGhost icon, introduce an alpha channel.

Recent history only populated when app starts

The list of the three most recent settings used is only populated when the app starts, not between sessions in an open app.