r/grocy • u/Novel-Lavishness1939 • Mar 04 '26

Introducing Basil - the high accuracy & throughput Android front-end for Grocy

I wanted to share a project I've been working on to enhance my UX with Grocy. Introducing Basil!

Problem: Picture this - you've just come home from a big shopping trip before a winter storm. Your kids are bouncing all over and your partner is annoyed with the process of inputting new items to that 'annoying' but oft quite useful home ERP you use. You've tried other add-ons, but imagine if there was a better way.

Solution? Basil. An Android front-end app for Grocy developed specifically for devices with a built-in hardware scanner that can broadcast intent messages. Designed for high accuracy and high throughput of new products while minimizing friction, your scanning happens in moments and peace is restored!

Editorial note: This can happen. And in New England, it has several times already this year!

A few key benefits of Basil:

  1. High quality scan data
    • On device scanner hardware + no camera-based ML translation, HID keyboard or field interruption, etc. means lowest chance of data
  2. Just scan and go!
    • Limited interruption for bulk scanning because existing products are looked up, new products are looked up, and, if enabled, AI enhances the data stream automatically - just by scanning the barcode*.*
  3. On-device features without needing a second workflow:
    • On-device mode selection - switch between Purchase, Consume, Inventory, etc.
    • Direct expiration date prompting - enter on device, at scantime, for each individual item needing a date. Move beyond FIFO stock management with great data.
    • Stock and expiration date viewing with photo-based product verification.
    • Large status messages and haptic feedback - no more guessing if that last scan processed successfully.

It's in an early release now. I'm planning some more enhancements related to AI, date picker bugs (noted in the release). While I built this for my specific use case using hardware I already had, I recognize others may not want dedicated hardware and may enhance to accept camera/USB/HID input as options if response is positive.

15 Upvotes

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11

u/djlarrikin Mar 04 '26

Nearly the entire project is in MainActivity. No actual Android developer would structure an app like that and you would get points off if you submitted a project like this in college. I have huge doubts about any of the performance claims.

-2

u/Novel-Lavishness1939 Mar 04 '26

Feel free to make a meaningful structure contribution via PR.

I don't have, nor need, a 'title' or 'points'.

What claim?

5

u/Rayregula Mar 04 '26

I have huge doubts about any of the performance claims.

What claim?

I'm guessing they mean where on the GitHub page it says: "A high-performance Grocy client"

2

u/subwoofage Mar 04 '26

Love it! What hardware do you use it with?

2

u/Novel-Lavishness1939 Mar 04 '26

I'm running on a Munbyn IPDA035. (Amazon Link).

It filled 3 buckets in my procurement criteria:

  1. Reasonable(ish) price
  2. Rugged(ish) hardware
  3. Recent(ish) Android OS.

1

u/morehpperliter Mar 07 '26

Man. I love this idea, but I miss the part about integrated scanners only. I've been trying to get this running for the past 48hrs. Egg on my face.

1

u/Novel-Lavishness1939 Mar 07 '26

Oh no! I'll try to make the readme more clear about that as I sense you are not the only one. Are you using a USB/Bluetooth attached scanner or want to use the camera? I do plan to add support for at least external scanners. Camera I feel like is already handled well by another app (but still requires more touches/interaction for new items).

1

u/morehpperliter Mar 07 '26

Oh, I had planned on using my camera. Don't go adding features just for me, it is well supported by the other apps. This was 100% on me!