I am not a programmer but I have found a workaround for the problem that exists in Backgrounder on iOS 5.x on iPhones that would be helpful for people who, like me, don't have the level of knowledge to modify the source files and recompile the project.
I find Backgrounder EXTREMELY useful. A major problem has been the issue that exists when the home button is pressed and the way the system does not subsequently show the Springboard. Instead, you have an usual hybrid situation where the last app now shows on the main screen [and allows the user to interact with it normally] but the status bar and home button now behave as if you are on Spotlight [first page of Springboard]. As the Springboard is effectively inaccessible it limits the usefulness of Backgrounder as you have no way of starting new apps [unless you use something like SBSettings and its Dock feature to start your favourite apps, or to kill running apps which then returns you to the Springboard] - neither of which is particularly helpful. A video explanation of the bug is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzpxMNrmPXM
I have found that installing an app called HomePage which is in the default cydia repository fixes this problem. I don't have the level of knowledge to know why it works but I have found that 99% of the time it does successfully return you to the Springboard after pressing the home button. The badge icons on the Springboard show that Backgrounder still has the apps running in the background.
Homepage is available here:
http://modmyi.com/cydia/package.php?id=38405
I think a lot of people would find this workaround helpful. Ideally it would be great if the Backgrounder package could be updated to incorporate the Homepage patch, although I know that ashikase says they are no longer maintaining the package. Alternatively if the page here:
http://cydia.saurik.com/package/backgrounder
could be updated with instructions that people could install Homepage as a patch with Backgrounder this may be a simpler approach.
Alternatively it looks as if ashikase did corroborate with devbug(@devbug0) in patching Backgrounder to work with iOS 5.x. Perhaps devbug would be willing to liaise with ashikase to do the above? I have contacted devbug via their Github page to ask if this would be something that they would be interested in doing.
WHAT WOULD BE GREAT IS A JOINT COLLABERATION IN GETTING BACKGROUNDER TO WORK ON iOS6. I am stuck on iOS 5.1.1 as I do not want to lose the functionality that backgrounder provides for iOS. While InfinityTask does extend apps to run past the 600s limit set by Apple the apps are still aware that the user has backgrounded the app and so this is NOT A TRUE backgrounder alternative.
The developers page is here:
https://github.com/ashikase/Backgrounder
People have mentioned in this forum that an app called Music Control Pro 6.x may be an alternative to Backgrounder on iOS6.
Does anyone know if this app allows multitasking for non music/video apps? Backgrounder appears to work by preventing running apps from realizing that they are being backgrounded - does MCP6.x app work in the same way? It is important that the app continue to run but NOT realize that it is in the background and therefore does not execute any SPECIFIC backgrounding code prior to being pushed to the background. I also do not want the backgrounded app to be quit after the standard 600s period specificied by Apple.
On an unjailbroken iOS if an app realizes it is being backgrounded it executes specific code prior to going into the background e.g. to tidy memory etc. I use certain apps on my iphone which have chat room functions and if the home button is pressed it will logout of the chat room - which I do not want it to do. Backgrounder on iOS 5.x allows the app to continue running without executing any code specific to backgrounding and therefore allows me to remain logged in. Does MCP6.x app provide this same functionality for iOS 6.1.2?
