VideoLAN @videolan App Stores were a mistake. Currently, we cannot update VLC on Windows Store, and we cannot update VLC on Android Play Store, without reducing security or dropping a lot of users… For now, iOS App Store still allows us to ship for iOS9, but until when?

  • shortwavesurfer@monero.townEnglish
    221·
    9 months ago

    I don’t think app stores are the problem. I think big company app stores are the problem, such as the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. I think something like F-Droid where you can add your own app sources or Droid-ify that has a ton of sources by default you just need to enable is the way to go.

      • Kindness@lemmy.ml
        6·
        9 months ago

        Probably beating a dead horse, so… sorry, but look into the Gab fiasco or FreeTusky.

        F-Droid does ‘censor’ or moderate their app repository. However, they do not control which sources or repos you may install from.

        If there’s an app you want that f-droid doesn’t stock, see if the app has a private repo, like Bitwarden, or is in another repo, like IzzyOnDroid.

        • TWeaK@lemm.eeEnglish
          6·
          9 months ago

          That’s right. Fdroid the app is just a program that accesses repositories. It’s not even the only one, Aurora has a similar version of their own called Aurora Droid.

          Fdroid the repo is a repository of FOSS apps maintained by the Fdroid team with apps they’ve reviewed and compiled themselves, to provide an element of trust that you might not get from every random developer.

          There’s no fool proof way of handling app trust other than developing your own understanding of the code. Otherwise you have to trust someone. Fdroid seem pretty trustworthy, more than the big corporations, and more than many unknown small time developers - however you can get app updates quicker direct from the developer, through the Fdroid app, if you’re willing to trust them.

        • lengau@midwest.social
          31·
          9 months ago

          Theoretically yes, but in practice for the vast majority of users it makes no difference. Very few people are going to go through the trouble of vetting another source, adding it, etc. That’s what the tyranny of the default is all about.

        • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          9 months ago

          There’s plenty of examples of FOSS devs selling out to corps who dramatically change the apps they produced. Not saying that would happen to Fdroid, but ultimately, unless you yourself control the software and its updates, you can never be 100% sure.