Tasker: Automate Things on Android Phone

Do you wish to make your phone smarter ?

Do you wish to automate your daily tasks on your phone ?

If yes, here is your Answer : Tasker App (Playstore Link)

 

Requirements

1. Android Phone.
2. Tasker App Installed.
3. Ability to Cope up with a steep learning curve.
4. Desire to Automate Things .
5. Desire to Make your Phone smarter. 

 Note: Requirement No 3. Ability to Cope up with a steep learning curve.

Tasker provides you tons of options and really has a steep learning curve. You may often need to fiddle with things before you get a proper result . Please refrain from cursing me or the developer , if you don't get things right. Luckily for those of you, who are aren't autodidacts there is a user guide in the app , examples of tasker, guides on their official websites. Some Tasker enthusiasts have even created YouTube videos. Also there is a active Tasker community which is willing to help(not spoon feed).

Tasker VS Other Automation Apps

Tasker provides many more options as compared to any other automation apps. It comes with cool plugins which you can install to get your things done. You can also export your tasker scripts as applications. In short, Tasker is the app that can certainly get all your automation things done.

As a matter of fact, tasker can also replace several of your apps all together.

Tasker Programming

Tasker needs to be told what is to be done using the following things

1. Scene
2. Profile
3. Tasks
4. Variables

Scene

It is used to create a UI through which tasker can interact.  Text Boxes, Sliders, Ovals, Rectangles, Menus, etc are used to create a scene. Each of these elements comes with events. 

Eg: When you slide the slider, a variable change event occurs. When this event occurs you can perform a task.

Profile: 

It consists of conditions depending upon which tasks are to be executed. Each profile can consists of upto four conditions. Conditions can be almost anything that you can imagine.Such as:

1. Apps opened
2. Battery State
3. Accelerometer State
4. Gestures
5. Time
6. Date
7. Proximity Sensor State
8. Which Wifi network you are connected to
9. Location,etc

Tasks

It consists of a set of actions to be performed. Various kinds of actions can be performed, such as:

1. Killing some app
2. Opening some app
3. Changing Auto Rotate
4. Changing Display Brighness
5. Wifi, Bluetooth Settings
6. Displaying flash alerts, or morse alerts
7. Led Notifications
8. Locking Your Screen,etc

A Task can be performed when you enter or exit a certain profile.

Tasks is the section where actual programming needs to be done. Tasker includes the following programming constructs:

1. If
2. For
3. Stop
4. Goto

Variables

They are your just like other programming language variables. These can be off two types:

• Global: Must contain atleast one capital letter. These are available to all tasks
• Local: Don't contain capital letters. Available locally within a task.

Greater Functionality 

If you want greater functionality from tasker here are the things you can do:

1. Root - Certain function require root permission
2. Third Party Plugins - Add tons of functionality
3. Administrator Rights- Certain function require Device Administrator Rights

What I use it for 

Alerts and Actions based upon Battery State

Kill wifi, bluetooth, and other unnecessary apps when battery goes below a certain percentage. 

Headset Plug in

Provide a menu asking for which app to launch vlc, fm radio, or music.

Vlc Low Light Settings

Automatically launch my night mode app,during night time when light sensor has intensity below 10, to turn on a screen filter. Exit from night mode app and re-launch vlc. Upon exit, night mode filter is quit.

Bluetooth and Wifi

Collapse the status bar and Display bluetooth and wifi settings if enabled from status bar.

Automatic Internet Enable

If any app requires internet then automatically mobile data or wifi is enabled.

Conclusion

Do try out tasker app and Don't let the steep learning curve bother you ! 

Have a interesting way to use Tasker, do leave a comment below. 

Happy Tasking!

Image Links 

https://pixabay.com/en/checklist-test-check-cross-correct-1402461/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/android-nexus-5-phone-smart-phone-1294370/