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open source apps
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- 1
The F-Droid project has announced F-Droid 2.0, described by the team as a new chapter for Android freedom. The release of the free and open-source app repository is drawing strong attention among tech communities, where users are debating what the update means for the future of alternative app stores and open-source software distribution on Android.
- 2Conversations app leaves Google Play, becomes free●Breaking Up with Google Play: Why Conversations Is Now Free
Developer Daniel Gultsch has announced that Conversations, the popular open-source XMPP chat app for Android, is no longer distributed on Google Play and is now available free of charge. In his announcement he explains the reasoning behind breaking with Google's store and moving fully to alternative distribution channels such as F-Droid, drawing wide attention and debate among open-source and messaging communities.
- 3
Valve has released its fork of Waydroid, the Android runtime layer for Linux, as open source. The move lets developers inspect, modify and build on the code, which could accelerate Android app support on Linux-based systems, including Steam Deck and other SteamOS devices.
- 4F-Droid 2.0 rollout begins in biggest update in a decade●È iniziato il rilascio graduale di F-Droid 2.0 ed è il più grande aggiornamento dello store di app libere per Android in
The gradual rollout of F-Droid 2.0 has begun, described as the largest update to the free and open-source app store for Android in ten years. The interface has been rewritten from scratch, and users can now combine filters for category, phone compatibility and anti-features when browsing apps.
- 5F-Droid 2.0 launches with first major redesign in a decade●F-Droid 2.0 is here! A major redesign of the open-source Android app store after a decade. The new version brings a mode
F-Droid has released version 2.0, the biggest overhaul of the open-source Android app store in ten years. The update brings a modernised interface, improved search, expanded app categories, better filters, easier installs, and automatic app updates. It was rebuilt using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, and the release is drawing attention among open-source software supporters.
- 6F-Droid 2.0 launches with redesigned Android app store●F-Droid 2.0 brings a redesigned Android app store experience with a new UI, improved search and filtering, background up
F-Droid, the open-source alternative app store for Android, has released version 2.0 featuring a redesigned user interface, improved search and filtering, background updates, and smoother app installs. The update marks a major refresh for the long-running free software repository, and coverage in the Linux and open-source community is highlighting the modernized experience as a step forward for users seeking alternatives to Google Play.
- 7F-Droid 2.0 launches with new interface●F-Droid 2.0 segna una delle più importanti evoluzioni dello store Android dedicato al software libero: nuova interfaccia
F-Droid 2.0, the new version of the Android app store for free and open-source software, is being released with a redesigned interface, improved search, automatic updates and stronger privacy features. Supporters in the open-source and Linux communities are calling it one of the most significant evolutions of the store, praising its focus on privacy.
- 8F-Droid 2.0 Launches With Major Redesign After a Decade▼F-Droid 2.0 Released After 10 years With Major Redesign to Transform Open-Source Android App Discovery
F-Droid, the open-source alternative app store for Android, has released version 2.0, its first major update in ten years. The release brings a substantial redesign aimed at improving how users discover free and open-source Android apps. The milestone is drawing attention in the open-source and Android communities, where F-Droid has long served as the main independent alternative to Google Play.
- 9F-Droid 2.0 Launches as Biggest Update in a Decade▼🚀 F-Droid 2.0: The Biggest Update in a Decade F-Droid 2.0 lands as the biggest redesign in a decade, rebuilt in Kotlin a
F-Droid, the independent open-source app repository for Android, has released version 2.0, its largest redesign in ten years. The app has been rebuilt in Kotlin with Jetpack Compose, bringing improved app discovery, better search, and smoother installs. The update arrives as Google's developer verification program is seen as an existential threat to F-Droid and alternative app stores.
- 10Google raises minimum AndroidX SDK requirement to Android 7●Google is raising the minimum SDK version for several core AndroidX libraries to 24 (Android 7). This means that even we
Google is raising the minimum SDK version required for several core AndroidX libraries to API 24, corresponding to Android 7. Independent developers say the change makes it significantly harder to keep apps compatible with Android 6, even when they want to, raising concerns for open-source projects and platforms like F-Droid that serve users on older devices.
- 11F-Droid pushes back against Google's Android sideloading crackdown●# FDroid2 # appstore thumbs its nose at # Google 's dev crackdown Goog is tightening screws on # Android # sideloading ,
Google is tightening restrictions on Android sideloading, requiring developer verification that threatens independent app distribution. In response, F-Droid, the free and open-source app marketplace, is rolling out a major overhaul of its platform and planning for a future in which Google's rules make installing apps outside the Play Store harder. Supporters see the update as a defense of user choice and software freedom on Android.
- 12GrapheneOS releases Messaging app version 15●GrapheneOS Messaging version 15 released: https:// github.com/GrapheneOS/Messagin g/releases/tag/15 See the linked relea
The GrapheneOS project has released version 15 of its Messaging app, the open-source SMS/MMS application bundled with its privacy-focused Android operating system. The release notes on GitHub summarise improvements over the previous version, with a full changelog and a forum discussion thread available for users. Privacy-focused Android users are sharing the update and discussing the changes.
- 13F-Droid 2.0 Launches as Google Threatens Android Sideloading●F-Droid 2.0 : le magasin d'applications libres défie les menaces de Google https:// goodtech.info/f-droid-2-0-refo nte-a
F-Droid, the free and open-source app store for Android, has rolled out a major version 2.0 redesign, framed as a response to Google's tightening restrictions on installing apps from outside the Play Store. The update is being widely shared and discussed in French-speaking tech communities, where commentators see it as a stand for user freedom and sideloading rights on Android devices.
- 14F-Droid 2.0 launches with redesigned Android app●# F -Droid 2.0 cambia volto: nuova # app # Android , # ricerca migliorata e più controllo sulla # privacy # uno # sicure
F-Droid has released version 2.0 of its free and open-source Android app store, featuring a redesigned interface, improved search functionality and stronger privacy controls. The update also emphasizes user security as an alternative to big tech app stores. Early reactions among open-source enthusiasts are positive, with users welcoming the focus on privacy and greater control over installed software.
- 15F-Droid, the open-source Play Store alternative, releases 2.0●The Open Source Play Store Alternative F-Droid Hits 2.0
F-Droid, the long-running free and open-source app repository for Android, has reached version 2.0. The release marks a major milestone for the project, which has served as a Google Play Store alternative for users seeking apps without proprietary tracking. Coverage highlights its durability as a community-run project and renewed interest in open-source Android software.
- 16qBittorrent 5.2.4 Released with WebUI Improvements▼qBittorrent 5.2.4 Open-Source BitTorrent Client Released with WebUI Improvements
The open-source BitTorrent client qBittorrent has released version 5.2.4, bringing improvements to its web-based user interface alongside routine maintenance fixes. The free, cross-platform torrent app remains a popular alternative to commercial clients, and the update is being reported across Linux and open-source news outlets.
- 17
StreetComplete, the open-source app that lets users fix missing map details in OpenStreetMap by answering simple on-site questions, has released a public beta for iOS. The app has long been popular on Android, so iPhone users are welcoming the chance to contribute map data. The news is drawing attention on developer forums, where people are testing it and discussing its arrival on Apple's platform.
- 18Developers rage against Android Developer Verification Program●Fuck Android Developer Verification Program
Google's Android Developer Verification Program is drawing sharp criticism from developers, with a blunt post rejecting the scheme racking up hundreds of likes and high visibility on Hacker News. Critics see the program, which requires identity verification to distribute apps, as a threat to sideloading and open development. Supporters argue it improves security by making it harder to distribute malware.
- 19PeerTube mobile app launches version 2.3.0 with picture-in-picture●📱 The # PeerTube mobile app is now available in version 2.3.0! 🚀 Along with many new features, you can now enjoy picture
The PeerTube mobile app has released version 2.3.0, adding picture-in-picture mode and the ability to choose video quality, alongside other new features. The update is available on Android via F-Droid or Google Play, and on iOS through the App Store or Alt Store. The decentralized video platform's app update is drawing attention among users of open, self-hosted media tools.
- 20Google begins enforcing Android developer verification in four Asian markets●⛓️ Today, Google has taken the next step in enclosing the # Android ecosystem by starting to enforce its developer verif
Google has started enforcing its Android developer verification program in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, requiring developers to be verified before distributing apps. Critics, including Nextcloud, describe the move as a further enclosure of the Android ecosystem and are pointing users toward free and open-source app stores as alternatives. The rollout is being watched as a preview of wider global enforcement of the policy.
- 21EU KIDS Act's impact on free software questioned●To anyone following the # EU # KIDS # Act , does anyone understand how the current proposal would affect # FDroid and #
The developer behind F-Droid, the open-source Android app repository, is publicly asking how the EU's proposed KIDS Act would affect free and open-source software. He notes the proposal does not appear to directly regulate projects like F-Droid, but reports hearing it might, raising concerns among free software advocates about age-verification rules covering app distribution.
- 22Conversations chat app pulls away from Google Play●🔬 The best bytes of # science & # tech across the # fediverse “Breaking Up with Google Play: Why Conversations Is Now Fr
Daniel Gultsch, developer of the Android XMPP messaging app Conversations, has announced the app is no longer being distributed through Google Play, explaining the decision in a post titled 'Breaking Up with Google Play'. The move has drawn attention on Hacker News and across the fediverse, where users are debating the practicality of leaving major app stores and what it means for open-source, privacy-focused messaging apps.
- 23Accrescent developers detail API management challenges●How does a complex application like Accrescent manage its API? In this blog post, we discuss some of the API challenges
The developers behind Accrescent, a security-focused Android app store, have published a blog post explaining how the application manages its API. The post, titled 'A Tale of Too Many Protocols', describes the API challenges the team encountered and their efforts to build a single source of truth for the project's protocols.
- 24F-Droid 2.0 launches with major overhaul of Android app store●F-Droid 2.0 ist da: Android-App-Store erhält kompletten Neustart https:// fosstopia.de/f-droid-2-0/ # Android # FDroid #
F-Droid, the independent open-source app store for Android, has released version 2.0, described as a complete restart of the platform. The update is drawing attention in the free-software community, with users sharing the news and discussing what the overhaul means for the future of the alternative store.
- 25F-Droid app recommendations shared in Nextcloud discussion●RE: https:// mastodon.xyz/@nextcloud/117359 711364631730 I can advise the following @ fdroidorg apps. Some apps need an
Users are exchanging recommendations for free and open-source Android apps available through F-Droid, responding to a Nextcloud thread. Suggestions include Aegis Authenticator for two-factor authentication, AntennaPod for podcasts, and Breezy Weather for forecasts, with a note that some apps require adding an extra repository to the F-Droid client.
- 26This Week in Linux: Witcher 3 Remaster, F-Droid 2.0, SteamOS Update●LWDW # Linux fun this week! 🤗💖🐧🐧🐧 Witcher 3 Remaster on Linux, F-Droid 2.0, Automatically fix volume levels in OBS, Big
A weekly Linux news roundup highlights several developments for the open-source community: The Witcher 3 remaster now runs on Linux, F-Droid has released version 2.0 of its free software repository, OBS gained an automatic volume-leveling feature, SteamOS received a major update, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chip reportedly supports Linux. The item covers gaming and open-source software topics of interest to desktop Linux users.
- 27Android users urged to root devices as first step away from Google●RE: https:// mastodon.xyz/@nextcloud/117359 711364631730 if you cannot root an # android device, your most basic form of
A widely shared reply to Nextcloud on Mastodon argues that rooting an Android device is the basic starting point for de-Googling a phone. The steps suggested: download a browser from the Google Play store, allow software installation in settings, then get apps from F-Droid, the independent open-source app repository, instead of relying on Google services.
- 28Veilamp open source music player streams music to friends●Veilamp is an open source music player that also streams your music to friends You really have to see this cross-platfor
Veilamp, a cross-platform open source music player, is drawing attention for doing more than playback. Beyond detailed listening and audio tweaks, it can run as a headless music server on a home network and stream a user's music library to friends. Early reactions online highlight how much functionality is packed into the free player.
- 29
A 25 MB open-source, cross-platform database client written in Rust is drawing attention for supporting more than 100 databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, DuckDB, SQL Server and Chinese vendor Dameng. It ships as a desktop app, Docker image and CLI, and includes a built-in AI assistant and MCP server. Developers are discussing it as a lean alternative to heavier database management tools.
- 30Developer makes the case for local-first software●Why I’m Building More Local-First Software Modern applications often follow the same... # discuss # opensource # android
A software developer explains why they are shifting toward building local-first applications, arguing that modern apps too often depend on the same cloud-based patterns. The piece touches on open-source development, Android, and the role of AI, and frames local-first design as better for users and communities. It has sparked discussion in open-source and development circles about whether more software should work offline and keep data on the device.
- 31
Google's Firebase SDK for Apple app development is trending among developers this week. The open-source repository, written primarily in C++ with Swift bindings, provides the libraries developers use to add Firebase features such as analytics, authentication and cloud messaging to iOS and macOS apps. It ranks among the most-viewed repositories on GitHub globally right now, reflecting continued strong interest in Apple platform development with Google's backend services.
- 32ArcaneChat promotes its open-source group chat app●dropping the meme in the group chat through thick and thin # ArcaneChat # european # europe # eu # decentralization # an
ArcaneChat, an open-source messenger, is promoting itself with a lighthearted post about sharing memes in group chats "through thick and thin." The app positions itself as a European, decentralised messaging option for Android, tapping into ongoing interest in alternatives to mainstream chat platforms. Attention centres on its open-source approach and its pitch as an independent, privacy-friendly way to stay in touch.
- 33StreetComplete open-source map app launches iOS public beta●StreetComplete on iOS is now in public beta https://github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete/issues/5421 # HackerNews #
StreetComplete, the open-source app that lets users improve OpenStreetMap data by answering simple survey questions on the ground, has released a public beta for iOS. The launch, tracked in a GitHub issue, brings the long Android-only tool to iPhone users, and developers and mapping enthusiasts are inviting testers to try it and report bugs.
- 34PeerTube mobile app 2.3.0 released with Picture-in-Picture●📱 La version 2.3.0 de l'application mobile # PeerTube est sortie ! 🚀 Parmi de nombreuses nouveautés, vous pouvez désorma
Version 2.3.0 of the PeerTube mobile application has been released for Android, available via F-Droid and other channels. The update brings a range of new features, including Picture-in-Picture mode, which lets users keep watching a video while using other apps, and the ability to choose video playback quality. The announcement from Framasoft, the organisation behind the decentralized video platform, is drawing attention from users of the open-source alternative to mainstream video sites.
- 35Six Lesser-Known Open Source Apps Gaining Attention●Nobody Is Talking About These 6 Insane Open Source Apps (The Last One Is Mine!)
A rundown of six open source applications that the creator argues deserve more attention has drawn significant interest, with the final entry being the creator's own project. The piece highlights free, community-developed alternatives to mainstream software, a topic that continues to resonate with users looking to cut costs or escape big-tech ecosystems.
- 36Open source productivity setup claimed to beat commercial apps▼This open source setup beats all productivity apps
Reysu is showcasing an open source workflow that he argues outperforms popular productivity apps, walking through the tools and configuration behind it. The claim has drawn strong engagement from people interested in free alternatives to paid task managers and note-taking apps, with viewers debating whether a self-assembled open source stack can really replace polished commercial products.
- 37
A widely watched tech commentary argues that free, open source applications are now surpassing paid Mac software in quality and features, urging users to reconsider paying for utilities they can get at no cost. The piece highlights popular free alternatives to established commercial Mac apps and has drawn tens of thousands of likes, with viewers debating which open source tools have genuinely replaced paid favourites.
- 38PineTime open-source smartwatch wins praise for outdoor heart-rate tracking●I got a PineTime # OpenSource smartwatch to monitor my heart rate on hikes and bike rides. I've had it for a couple mont
A hiker and cyclist reports two months of happy use of the PineTime, an open-source smartwatch, to monitor heart rate outdoors, calling it an amazing deal. The hardest part was finding a suitable recording app, resolved by using OsmAnd, already a favorite. The account highlights the watch as a cheap, hackable option for fitness tracking.
- 39New portfolio tracker encrypts all user financial data on-device●We built a portfolio and spending tracker that can't read your numbers. Your key is made on your device from your passwo
A developer has launched a portfolio and spending tracker designed so the company cannot view users' financial figures. Encryption keys are generated on the user's device from their password, meaning portfolio and wallet data reach the servers already encrypted. The maker openly acknowledges the main limitation: users must still trust the code being served, since the app is not open source.
- 40F-Droid app gets complete visual redesign●Vor rund zwei Monaten überraschte mich der Aurora Store mit einem deutlich hübscheren UI, kurz nachdem bereits der Linea
The F-Droid app has received a complete redesign, following a wave of visual overhauls in the open-source Android ecosystem. The Aurora Store introduced a notably improved interface around two months ago, shortly after the LineageOS updater was reworked in both looks and functionality. Users are noting how several popular free-software Android tools are now modernising their designs in quick succession.
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