A small shift initiated by a large company can lead to a huge issue sometimes, and that's what is occurring with the F-Droid project. Google has put some new rules on developers who are registering apps, and it is causing issues for F-Droid. If you are not aware, F-Droid is a free, open-source app store that offers apps for Android without advertisements or tracking, and now it may be very difficult to survive.
• Higher Expenses to Verify Developer: It costs money to verify developers. F-Droid does not have an abundance of funding.
• Privacy Issues: Many open-source developers do not want their personal information disclosed.
• Fewer New Developers: Developer hobbyists and small developers may choose not to develop for Android because they feel like they have to jump through even more hoops.
So, instead of improving the situation, new rules may deter valuable developers from investing their time back into the community.
Imagine that if your favorite music web app, for attending indie music appreciation, has to shut down because they are unable to pay the new fees, that would create a void for you as a user. This is an equally valid concern.
What are Google's new rules?
Google's recent rule change for developers publishing apps has made it a requirement to provide a greater amount of personal information when registering (for instance, a working telephone number and email address) and subjected to stringent verification. The measure is purported to prevent scams and fake apps, which certainly has an appealing ring to it. However, for smaller, open-source projects such as F-Droid, it is not so straightforward.Why This Hurts F-Droid
F-Droid is different from the Google Play Store. It is community driven and focused on user privacy. These new rules create three major issues:• Higher Expenses to Verify Developer: It costs money to verify developers. F-Droid does not have an abundance of funding.
• Privacy Issues: Many open-source developers do not want their personal information disclosed.
• Fewer New Developers: Developer hobbyists and small developers may choose not to develop for Android because they feel like they have to jump through even more hoops.
So, instead of improving the situation, new rules may deter valuable developers from investing their time back into the community.
The Bigger Picture
F-Droid brings freedom and choice to users. It shows that some android applications can be an alternative to the Play Store. If rules like this continue to go on and are negative towards groups like F-Droid, then Android will become even less open and more of Google's playground.Imagine that if your favorite music web app, for attending indie music appreciation, has to shut down because they are unable to pay the new fees, that would create a void for you as a user. This is an equally valid concern.