Request for Packaging for F-Droid

[PanderMusubi]

Do the authors agree that a request for packaging (FRP) is made at F-Droid?

Explicitly agreeing with this question is needed to create the RFP.

[jan-leila]

already answered here: #42

its not on their roadmap

[PanderMusubi]

If I read this #42 (comment) they don't object. Getting packaged and published on F-Droid is done by the F-Droid community. So is that to be interpreted as a yes (as no objection).

[jan-leila]

as long as it has a separate name is my understanding

[PanderMusubi]

There are alternative naming convention, for example OsmAnd (Google Play with limited downloads) is published as OsmAnd~ (F-Droid with unlimited downloads, but allowed by the original authors).

[jan-leila]

I think their conserns were around support requests coming back to them so it has to be a disconnected name and clearly show its not from the official team. Something like "Unofficial app for Pebble"

[PanderMusubi]

Okay, I will let F-Droid community choose what is best:

• Unofficial Pebble
• Unsupported Pebble
• Pebble (Unofficial)
• etc.

In general, getting published on F-Droid results in PRs that improve the code and not a drain on support, but I understand their point of view. Might be good to ask in issue template from where the app was installed to easily filter out issues coming from F-Droid installs.

[matejdro]

Another important point is that this app is using closed source GMS libraries: https://github.com/coredevices/mobileapp/blob/master/gradle/libs.versions.toml#L111

I don't think this is allowed on F-droid.

[PanderMusubi]

An RFP will scan for that, but also show which alternative libraries can be used, such as microG.

Another thing that is required by F-Droid, and is practical to have anyway for more easily publishing on Google Play, is a fastlane directory. That holds the demo screenshots of the app and a short and long description.

[jan-leila]

being that changes will need to be made do you want to figure out who will be in charge of said changes, make a fork for those changes, close this issue, and then link your fork?

[PanderMusubi]

This can all be done without having to maintain a fork. The changes for using an alternative library, disabling trackers, etc. is in the F-Droid package data. And it will build automatically with each new release, without somebody having to upgrade a fork. :-)

[jan-leila]

thats wonderful! I have never personally packaged something for fdroid so thanks for the knowledge. I do agree with you about users for fdroid being a net good and I do hope that one day we can get an official publishing

[ericmigi]

We'd prefer "Unofficial app for Pebble", thanks!

[usbeehu]

It would be nice if there would be an option to be able to install this app from a source that also gives the ability to keep it up to date on devices where Google Play is not installed. (For example de-Googled Android ROMs or Sailfish OS.)

[PanderMusubi]

This PR is needed for next step with F-Droid. #104