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> SAF cannot be used, as it is for sharing/exposing our files to other apps SAF can be used. There are reasons why this wouldn't be a good fit for NextCloud (y
by jeroenhd 1y ago
> SAF cannot be used, as it is for sharing/exposing our files to other apps
SAF can be used. There are reasons why this wouldn't be a good fit for NextCloud (you can't share your entire internal storage, your download folder, or the root of an SD card, for instance), but I don't think NextCloud's statement makes sense.
- lozenge 1y agoThe point of their app is to backup an entire folder. Sharing from one app to Nextcloud doesn't provide ongoing access to backup later versions of the file.
- jeroenhd 1y agoWhich they can do, using SAF, without the "access to everything everywhere" permission that they want.
- sirdvd 1y ago> permission that they want "they", in my case it's me. With on my own Nextcloud server, on my own LAN. It's me that want "access to everything everywhere". Difficult for me to think that is not about gate keeping from Google.
- jasonlotito 1y agoCurious also, why can't users have access to everything everywhere for their own files?
- nolist_policy 1y agoUsers can access almost everything everywhere with file manager apps. On the Play Store, file manager apps are one of the exceptions that are allowed to access all files.
- criddell 1y agoUsually the answer is that it creates more problems for more people than it solves. The work involved to add options to allow full access is substantial and could increase the attack surface. Features that are expensive but only useful to a small portion of the userbase often don't get prioritized.
- hkt 1y agoFeatures that are useful to competitors who would like to provide an alternative to a Google product also don't get prioritised, it seems.
- deng 1y agoEntirely correct, for instance see https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/shared/documents-files#grant-access-directory https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/shared/d... This was discussed yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43970959 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43970959
- jasonlotito 1y agoJust to make sure: Google software has the same exact permission structure across the board? e.g. No Google product uses the same permissions NextCloud is seeking, and instead, they are using SAF? Especially for things that do what NextCloud is doing here. I just want to be sure that Google is playing by the same rules they they put out for NextCloud and other app developers.
- zb3 1y agoGoogle is smart enough to not make things that obvious, but let's not get fooled.. the point is that if API changes would negatively impact Google products financially, they'd not go through. But if they impact a competitor, it's not an issue. Locked down API means Google can innovate (because they can change the API), but you can't.
- IshKebab 1y agoThey definitely aren't playing by the same rules. If Google Drive needs an API or permission it gets it no questions asked.
- tadfisher 1y agoIn the Play Store, find the Drive app, select "About this app", scroll down to "App permissions", and tap "See more". It does not have the "manage external storage" permission listed, which is the one Nextcloud says they need.
- IshKebab 1y agoRight but it doesn't do the same thing Nextcloud does. If it did do you think Google would say to the drive team "sorry you can't do that"? Of course not. They'd invent a new permission or just whitelist Google apps (they've done it before).
- nolist_policy 1y agoNo, they would just use the SAF API.