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...Does the author not understand that the Google Play Store is not the only distribution mechanism for apps? Why not just continue to distribute APKs for users

...Does the author not understand that the Google Play Store is not the only distribution mechanism for apps? Why not just continue to distribute APKs for users to install manually?

gurchik 2y ago
The app is on F-Droid, which is mentioned in the article: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid... I’m not sure why it can’t continue to be. Does anyone know why?
- somat 2y ago
  I suspect it could be, however it sounds like the author has lost all motivation to continue work on syncthing android and has formally announced that no further development will be done. And as much as I like syncthing-android I appreciate this sort of straight forward communications more and salute the author for clearly stating intentions. Now seeing as it is open source (hooray) The way I think that will go is as follows, we will continue using the existing apk(I get mine off f-droid) for a few months to years, in the meantime seeing as the app is so useful to so many a few forks will arise, one will end up being the best, and we will eventually start using that one.
- RussianCow 2y ago
  Presumably because most people don't know about F-Droid, and there's a question of whether it's worth continuing to develop the app for a tiny subset of the original audience.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- suprjami 2y ago
  It's stated in the post. They do not think F-Droid provides enough distribution because it's not as popular as Google Play.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
tomn 2y ago
they do, but google play is the main distribution channel for android apps, and without that many people will not use it (and many will complain). from the actual announcement: > without Play releases I do no longer see enough benefit and/or have enough motivation to keep up the ongoing maintenance https://forum.syncthing.net/t/discontinuing-syncthing-android/23002 https://forum.syncthing.net/t/discontinuing-syncthing-androi...
EasyMark 2y ago
They do set how permissions on upgrades of Android work so even if it’s on f-droid, when they enforce the SAF protocols fsync will stop working if you keep your Android up to date

...Does the author not understand that the Google Play Store is not the only distribution mechanism for apps? Why not just continue to distribute APKs for users to install manually?

gurchik 2y ago

The app is on F-Droid, which is mentioned in the article: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid... I’m not sure why it can’t continue to be. Does anyone know why?

somat 2y ago
I suspect it could be, however it sounds like the author has lost all motivation to continue work on syncthing android and has formally announced that no further development will be done. And as much as I like syncthing-android I appreciate this sort of straight forward communications more and salute the author for clearly stating intentions. Now seeing as it is open source (hooray) The way I think that will go is as follows, we will continue using the existing apk(I get mine off f-droid) for a few months to years, in the meantime seeing as the app is so useful to so many a few forks will arise, one will end up being the best, and we will eventually start using that one.
RussianCow 2y ago
Presumably because most people don't know about F-Droid, and there's a question of whether it's worth continuing to develop the app for a tiny subset of the original audience.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
suprjami 2y ago
It's stated in the post. They do not think F-Droid provides enough distribution because it's not as popular as Google Play.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

tomn 2y ago

they do, but google play is the main distribution channel for android apps, and without that many people will not use it (and many will complain). from the actual announcement: > without Play releases I do no longer see enough benefit and/or have enough motivation to keep up the ongoing maintenance https://forum.syncthing.net/t/discontinuing-syncthing-android/23002 https://forum.syncthing.net/t/discontinuing-syncthing-androi...

EasyMark 2y ago

They do set how permissions on upgrades of Android work so even if it’s on f-droid, when they enforce the SAF protocols fsync will stop working if you keep your Android up to date