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F-Droid 2.0

1465 points · 420 comments · daveoc64

  1. jjice · · focus · HN ↗
    What does the future of something like F-Droid look like once Google does their lock down next year?
    1. pritambaral · · focus · HN ↗
      Since F-Droid (i.e., the repositories, not the app) builds all apps, a practical solution would be for the repositories (i.e., their signing keys) to be recognized by El Goog. Whether and how much help / obstacle the "maybe we do evil" company puts up for / against this is a different question.
      1. trinsic2 · · focus · HN ↗
        It seems to me this is a blocker to use if google can restrict sideloading like this. Its not going to end with just get people requiring to register their app with an identity. Wont they be able to put presser on f-droid devs to lock out software they consider a threat to some business model?
        1. McDyver · · focus · HN ↗
          > sideloading

          That newspeak term should just disappeared. It only contributes to the image that downloading and installing an app is something that is outside the "happy path". Installing software of your choice on a device you own shouldn't be demonised

          1. ragequittah · · focus · HN ↗
            Surely you see how installing unvetted software on a device that holds your entire life, bank info, photos, etc. probably shouldn't be part of the "happy path" for most people. You shouldn't even install software you haven't fully vetted from the google play store. This should be drilled into non-technical people.

            Those of us who want to can easily bypass it. My mom who doesn't know what she's doing and gets a phishing email with a fancy apk attached should probably have a hard time using it.

            1. g-b-r · · focus · HN ↗
              > a device that holds your entire life, bank info, photos, etc

              That device was called personal computer for decades, and the world didn't end for the simplicity of installing software on it.

              1. charcircuit · · focus · HN ↗
                The world may not of ended but to of people have been hurt by malware ruining their computer, cryptolocking all of their company's files for ransom, stealing all of your login credentials, stealing cryptocurrency, taking secret photos with your webcam, screen recording what you are doing on your computer, etc.

                The "personal computer" has a terrible track record.

                1. Vrondi · · focus · HN ↗
                  For many decades, people have been mistakenly putting diesel fuel into their gasoline cars, yet we never outlawed diesel vehicles. You can only do so much to protect people without destroying their rights to their property.
                  1. charcircuit · · focus · HN ↗
                    Society moved to having it so diesel fuel pump would not fit into gasoline cars.

                    Society didn't ban doing it, but put up barriers that help the average person from doing something dangerous.

                    1. g-b-r · · focus · HN ↗
                      The slight difference is that no one in their right mind would ever want to put diesel in a gasoline car

                      I think the pumps still fit where I live, btw

                      1. bryankaplan · · focus · HN ↗
                        Rent or borrow a vehicle, and mistakenly fill it up according to habit. It's an easy mistake to make.

                        Making the nozzle shapes incompatible is a smart solution, but in the US at least I'm pretty sure they're interchangeable.

                  2. dogmatism · · focus · HN ↗
                    the pump handles are green tho
                    1. m4rtink · · focus · HN ↗
                      Many people are partially color blind, with IIRC most people having issues with properly seeing the green color.
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