APK Download?

[IzzySoft]

Would you consider to also attach the (signed) *.apk to your Github releases – for users without Play Store? App Bundle (*.aab) is not really easy to deal with for the "average Joe" (or Jane). Thanks in advance!

[5seunghoon]

Sure! I'll upload it soon. Thank you

[IzzySoft]

Great, thanks! Please let me know when it's available. I'll spread the word then :wink:

[5seunghoon]

https://github.com/5seunghoon/PreviewMaker/releases/tag/1.4.2

I uploaded it! You mean this, right?😄 My reply is too late, sorry😓

Thank you.

[IzzySoft]

I uploaded it! You mean this, right? :smile:

Yes, exactly – thanks!

My reply is too late, sorry :sweat:

Not at all – rather perfect timing. Next sync is in about an hour, and then my spreading the word starts. So as long as you keep up tagging and attaching APKs, users outside of Play Store (like us "tin-foils") will be able to install your app not only via their web browsers from here – but also to use the F-Droid client to install it and keep it up-to-date (if they have my repo enabled, which many have)! My updater will grab new versions within 24h after your attaching it to a new tag, and the F-Droid client on their devices will notify them of the update being available (like you know it from Play Store – just more privacy-friendly :wink:).

Hope you like that! If you wish, I can also help you getting your app listed in the "official repo" (mine is rather a mix of "staging" and "non-free" – and it seems like your app meets the stronger criteria of the official one). Just let me know, and I'll get you started.

Thanks again for your fast solution! :tada:

[5seunghoon]

Wow, i didn't know 'F-Droid', but it is amazing🤩 As you say, It is ok to list this app on "official repo". And also, I have one question.

• I download F-Droid client app but I can't find my app, so I wonder; How F-Droid users can download my app. As you know, I just know F-Droid a moment ago 😉 Do I need to upload my app to F-Droid? Or your repo is doing auto uploading to F-Droid?🤔

Thanks for your comment😁

[IzzySoft]

As you say, It is ok to list this app on "official repo".

Thanks! Then I'll initiate the necessary steps. May I suggest you to add Fastlane file structure to your repo, so screenshots show up in the client (and you can maintain the app description yourself, even in multiple languages)? I've prepared an intitial set for you: previewmaker-fastlane.zip (just unpack into the root of your repo) provides basic data for English and German; Korean you better add yourself as I cannot even read it :smile: Please complement that as you see fit (e.g. adding changelog details). en-US is the default line at F-Droid (and fallback for everything missing from other languages – so in my example data, a German visitor would see the German description but the screenshots from the English one).

I download F-Droid client app but I can't find my app

Quoting myself from my previous comment: "if they have my repo enabled". You first need to add my repo, e.g. by scanning the QR Code at https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/ (or by entering that URL and its fingerprint manually (see here for details). By default, only the main/official repo is active in the client. For a general "intro", may I recommend you my article F-Droid: The privacy-friendly alternative to Google Play Store?

PS: disclosure: I'm one of the F-Droid maintainers :smiley:

[5seunghoon]

May I suggest you to add Fastlane file structure to your repo, so screenshots show up in the client (and you can maintain the app description yourself, even in multiple languages)?

Ok, I will do. 😄 Thanks for your detailed explanation 👍

[IzzySoft]

Cool, thanks! Now for F-Droid to pick that up it needs to be covered by a tag. Please let me know when you created a tag that includes the fastlane data, so I update the F-Droid metadata accordingly.

[5seunghoon]

https://github.com/5seunghoon/PreviewMaker/releases/tag/1.4.2-fdroid

I did it! Thanks😄

[IzzySoft]

Thank you! Before I now can push it further, I need clarification on the tag name (for the F-Droid update checker): will the tag names for F-Droid always follow the pattern <versionName>-fdroid, as the last tag does – or was that an exception just to cover fastlane, and you will rather stick to <versionName> as with previous tags? Background: the updater needs to identify the version from the tag name and match it to versionName from the gradle – so we need to tell it how that's done. Hence tag names must keep their "pattern".

[IzzySoft]

@5seunghoon I've just processed the request at F-Droid, so your app should show up there in a few days (see my review here. It would be great if #31 could be addressed soon: with an English translation available, other volunteers could stand up providing more languages. Thanks!

PS: please keep the tag name schema with the -fdroid suffix for future releases, so they will be found automatically.