The Register reports that F-Droid released version 2.0 of its Android client, its largest overhaul in a decade, even as a banner on the project’s site warns that Google’s pending developer verification rules threaten the free and open source app store. Version 2.0 brings a Material Design interface, better app discovery and search, and key components rewritten in Kotlin with a Jetpack Compose UI. Google’s plan requires developers who distribute apps outside the Play Store to register, verify their identity, and pay a one-time $25 fee under its Full Distribution option, while a free Limited Distribution tier caps distribution at 20 authorized devices, requirements F-Droid says it cannot satisfy for the thousands of apps it builds from source.
F-Droid 2.0 Ships as Google's Developer Verification Rules Loom
The Register reports that F-Droid released version 2.0 of its Android client, its largest overhaul in a decade, even as a banner on the project's site warns that Google's pending developer verification rules threaten the free and open source app store. Version 2.0 brings a Material Design interface, better app discovery and search, and key components rewritten in Kotlin with a Jetpack Compose UI. Google's plan requires developers who distribute apps outside the Play Store to register, verify their identity, and pay a one-time $25 fee under its Full Distribution option, while a free Limited Distribution tier caps distribution at 20 authorized devices, requirements F-Droid says it cannot satisfy for the thousands of apps it builds from source.
Source: Slashdot