Antomate

A lightweight Android app that automatically manages network connections based on your network type (mobile data vs WiFi).

Now supports TWO automation modes:

• 🦊 Tailscale VPN - Automatic VPN connection management
• 🔒 Private DNS - Automatic DNS-over-TLS configuration (NEW!)

Features

• 🔄 Dual Automation Modes: Choose between Tailscale VPN or Private DNS
• ⚡ Private DNS Mode: Instant DNS switching without app interruption
• 🦊 Tailscale Mode: Automatic VPN connection management
• ⏱️ Smart Debouncing: Prevents spam operations within 30-second windows
• 🔧 Manual Controls: Test connections manually with dedicated buttons
• 📱 Foreground Service: Reliable background operation with persistent notification
• 🔄 Auto-restart: Survives device reboots when automation is enabled
• 🎨 Modern UI: Clean Compose interface with status indicators and mode selector
• 🖼️ Edge-to-Edge Display: Full-screen immersive UI following Android 15 guidelines

Requirements

Tailscale Mode:

• Android: API 24+ (Android 7.0+)
• Tailscale App: Must be installed and configured
• Permissions: Network state, WiFi state, foreground service, boot completed

Private DNS Mode:

• Android: API 29+ (Android 10.0+)
• ADB Access: One-time permission grant via ADB
• Permissions: Network state, WiFi state, foreground service, boot completed, WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Installation & Setup

1. Install Android Development Tools

# Install Java (if not already installed)
brew install openjdk@17

# Install Android SDK tools
brew install android-commandlinetools android-platform-tools

# Set up environment (add to ~/.zshrc)
export ANDROID_HOME=/opt/homebrew/share/android-commandlinetools
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools
export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/gradle@8/bin:$PATH"

# Accept SDK licenses
yes | sdkmanager --licenses

# Install required SDK components
sdkmanager "platform-tools" "platforms;android-34" "build-tools;33.0.2"

2. Build the App

./gradlew assembleDebug

3. Install on Device

Connect your Android device with USB debugging enabled, then:

# Find your device
adb devices

# Install the APK
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

Usage

Choose Your Mode

Option 1: Tailscale VPN Mode (Default)

1. Install Tailscale: Make sure Tailscale app is installed and logged in
2. Launch App: Open "Antomate"
3. Select Mode: Choose "Tailscale" in the Automation Mode card
4. Enable Automation: Toggle "Enable Automation" switch
5. Grant Permissions: Allow network and notification permissions
6. Monitor Status: Watch the status indicators

How it works:

• Mobile Data → Connect: Sends CONNECT_VPN broadcast to Tailscale
• WiFi → Disconnect: Sends DISCONNECT_VPN broadcast to Tailscale
• User Experience: Brief 2.5s app switch, returns to previous app automatically

Option 2: Private DNS Mode (NEW!)

1. Grant ADB Permission (one-time setup):

   adb shell pm grant io.github.jollysleeper.antomate android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

2. Configure DNS:

   • Launch "Antomate"
   • Select "Private DNS" in Automation Mode card
   • Enter your DNS hostname (e.g., dns.adguard.com, dns.google)
   • Tap "Save DNS Hostname"

3. Enable Automation: Toggle "Enable Automation" switch

4. Enjoy: DNS switches instantly without any app interruption!

How it works:

• Mobile Data → Enable DNS: Configures Private DNS with your hostname
• WiFi → Disable DNS: Turns off Private DNS
• User Experience: Instant, no visible interruption

📖 See PRIVATE_DNS_SETUP.md for detailed setup guide

Manual Testing

Tailscale Mode:

• Connect Now: Manually trigger VPN connection
• Disconnect Now: Manually trigger VPN disconnection
• Open Tailscale: Launch Tailscale app directly

Private DNS Mode:

• Enable DNS: Manually enable Private DNS
• Disable DNS: Manually disable Private DNS

Troubleshooting

App Won't Connect/Disconnect

1. Check Tailscale: Ensure Tailscale app is installed and authenticated
2. Verify Permissions: Grant all requested permissions
3. Check Logs: Use adb logcat | grep -i tailscale to see broadcast attempts
4. Manual Test: Try manual connect/disconnect buttons first

Service Stops Unexpectedly

1. Battery Optimization: Add app to battery optimization exceptions
   • Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Battery → Don't optimize
2. Background Restrictions: Disable any OEM battery savers for this app
3. Force Stop Test: Try manual service start/stop buttons

OEM-Specific Issues

Xiaomi/HyperOS:

# Disable battery optimization
Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Battery saver → No restrictions

Samsung:

# Disable adaptive battery
Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Battery → Optimize battery usage → Don't optimize

OnePlus/HydrogenOS:

# Recent apps → [App icon] → Lock (padlock icon)

Logs and Debugging

# View app logs
adb logcat | grep -i "tailscale\|NetworkMonitor"

# View all broadcasts
adb logcat | grep -i "broadcast"

# Check service status
adb shell dumpsys activity services | grep NetworkMonitor

Technical Details

Broadcast Intents

The app sends explicit broadcasts to Tailscale:

// Connect VPN
Intent("com.tailscale.ipn.CONNECT_VPN").apply {
    component = ComponentName("com.tailscale.ipn", "com.tailscale.ipn.IPNReceiver")
}

// Disconnect VPN
Intent("com.tailscale.ipn.DISCONNECT_VPN").apply {
    component = ComponentName("com.tailscale.ipn", "com.tailscale.ipn.IPNReceiver")
}

Architecture

• UI Layer: Jetpack Compose + ViewModel
• Data Layer: DataStore Preferences for settings
• Service Layer: Foreground service with NetworkCallback
• Broadcast Layer: Explicit intents to Tailscale

Permissions

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />

Limitations & Known Issues

Tailscale Mode:

1. App Switching: 2.5s visible interruption when launching Tailscale
2. Tailscale Dependency: Requires Tailscale app to be installed
3. Broadcast Compatibility: May break if Tailscale changes their broadcast API

Private DNS Mode:

1. ADB Requirement: One-time setup requires computer with ADB
2. DNS Only: No VPN tunneling, only DNS queries are affected
3. Android 9+ Only: Older devices not supported

Both Modes:

1. OEM Restrictions: Some manufacturers heavily restrict background services
2. WiFi SSID Filtering: Current version connects/disconnects on any WiFi (SSID whitelist in future version)
3. Location Permission: Not required in current version (needed for SSID detection in future)

Development

Project Structure

app/
├── src/main/
│   ├── AndroidManifest.xml
│   ├── java/com/antomate/tailscale/
│   │   ├── MainActivity.kt           # Compose UI
│   │   ├── MainViewModel.kt          # UI state management
│   │   ├── service/
│   │   │   ├── NetworkMonitorService.kt  # Foreground service
│   │   │   ├── NetworkMonitor.kt         # Network detection
│   │   │   └── TailscaleController.kt    # Broadcast sender
│   │   ├── data/
│   │   │   ├── SettingsRepository.kt     # DataStore wrapper
│   │   │   └── AppSettings.kt            # Data classes
│   │   └── receiver/
│   │       └── BootReceiver.kt           # Auto-start on boot
│   └── res/                              # Resources
└── build.gradle.kts                      # Dependencies

Testing

# Run unit tests
./gradlew testDebugUnitTest

# Run instrumentation tests (requires device/emulator)
./gradlew connectedDebugAndroidTest

License

This project is provided as-is for educational and personal use.

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make changes with tests
4. Submit a pull request

Why Private DNS Mode?

If you're frustrated with Tailscale's unreliable broadcast receiver and the annoying app-switching behavior, Private DNS mode is your solution!

Advantages over Tailscale Mode:

• ✅ No app interruption - Changes happen instantly in the background
• ✅ More reliable - Direct system API calls, no dependency on Tailscale app
• ✅ Faster - No 2.5s delay waiting for Tailscale to launch
• ✅ Less battery usage - No need to launch another app
• ✅ Great for ad-blocking - Use DNS-based ad blockers like AdGuard DNS

When to use each mode:

Use Tailscale Mode if:

• You need full VPN tunneling (not just DNS)
• You want encrypted traffic routing through Tailscale network
• You're okay with the brief app-switching interruption

Use Private DNS Mode if:

• You mainly want DNS-based features (ad blocking, privacy DNS)
• You want instant, seamless switching
• You're tired of Tailscale's app-switching behavior
• You have access to ADB for one-time setup

Future Enhancements

• WiFi SSID whitelist/blacklist
• Advanced diagnostics page
• Log export functionality
• Retry logic with exponential backoff
• VpnService fallback for direct VPN control
• Per-SSID automation rules
• Different DNS servers for different WiFi networks