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ggsava / block-this

Block This - FREE DNS based Ad Blocker for Android
https://block-this.com
GNU General Public License v3.0
374 stars 63 forks source link

App still maintained? #33

Open IzzySoft opened 5 years ago

IzzySoft commented 5 years ago

Long time no commit – are you still maintaining this app, @ggsava? If so, I wonder if removing Crashlytics would be an option for you? Looks somehow strange if an app that should improve privacy itself comes with a tracker.

ggsava commented 5 years ago

Hey! The app was indeed not maintained for a long time due to personal issues, but I have plans for reworking it and changing a lot of things. Privacy options is one of them. It does take some time however as I do not work on this project full time, but you can expect a lot of changes in the coming months.

And yes, I'm also thinking about removing Crashlytics, but I still need to find a solution to detect and debug errors and crashes.

IzzySoft commented 5 years ago

Wow, that was fast! Thanks! And very good news (indeed doubly so). Looking forward to the changes then!

Besides: Your app is listed in my repo. As soon as you tag a new version and attach the APK to the tag, it should be fetched and auto-updated (the APK will be integrated) – and then my updater will alert me to drop the "Tracking" AntiFeature as it can find the tracker no longer 😄

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

PS: For crash detection/reporting, you might wish to take a look at ACRA. It's privacy friendly by default – so when it detects a crash, it asks the user to hit the "send" button, for example.

Do you meanwhile have an idea when you'll pick up the project again?

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

@ggsava how are your plans doing? Any (hopefully good) news?

Laicure commented 4 years ago

Are you still alive @ggsava?

ggsava commented 4 years ago

Definitely still alive @IzzySoft and @Laicure. While I can't say much yet, you can expect a bigger update by the end of the year with added a few new features and a new website!

Also instead of the forum which was swarmed by bots and spammers, I will be opening a discord server so we can chat there and discuss bugs and future development.

p.s. Sorry for long time w/o any info, I've just had way too much to deal with IRL this year.

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

That's great news! If by "year" you meant 2019 (you didn't specify end of which year :rofl:)

Glad to see your back and kicking!

bereldhuin commented 4 years ago

Great news ! I love this program. I recently changed my smartphone for a Samsung S10e and it still working fine (that's the first programm I reinstalled on it ;-) )

NathanDurst2 commented 4 years ago

@ggsava I just found a link to this and it looks awesome. Any news on the re-work that you're planning?

AccessDenied420 commented 4 years ago

Please update the app. I loved the way it worked before it was left in exile with no updates.

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

you can expect a bigger update by the end of the year

@ggsava could you please specify which year? :wink:

AccessDenied420 commented 4 years ago

@ggsava Please let us know if you will be maintaining and updating this app. Thanks

ggsava commented 4 years ago

Hi guys! I know at this point this is probably becoming a meme, but due to unforeseen real life issues the development has slowed down a bit.

I am also in the process of changing the hosting service of all DNS servers and websites as their level of support has deteriorated over time and currently my hosting service response time is over 2-3 weeks per ticket, which is just a no go. Provisioning the new machines and getting the networking configurations sorted out correctly and in a stable manner takes some time.

This also means that the old version of the app will no longer function as before and everyone will have to upgrade to the new version that is going to be released (by the end of March 2020 the latest). Probably sooner. And this time it's something I can say for sure.

Thanks for your patience and sorry for the delay.

mica123 commented 4 years ago

No problem at all Sava, life is busy and it sounds like you have had other priorities!

I really enjoy using your app. To me, it is amazing that audio ads in a streaming audio app can be blocked, allowing for ad-free music!

I have just sent you a donation as a show of appreciation for your app. Thanks for your work! :-)

AccessDenied420 commented 4 years ago

Near the end of April and still no updates. :(

ggsava commented 4 years ago

Near the end of April and still no updates. :(

I couldn't finish the larger update I'm preparing, but I was able to successfully migrate the entire backend infrastructure behind Block This to a much more stable system and was also able to automate a lot of things in setting it up and deploying. I also fixed some critical bugs and removed the affiliate links from within the app.

With that said the first update (3.1) is live. I know it's minor in the front end but the back-end has changed dramatically with migrating and optimising the DNS servers.

I expect to be able to launch the more front-end oriented stuff (Block This 4.0) including a completely new website by mid of May.

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

the first update (3.1) is live.

Will you create the release for it as well then? And the code here? Latest commit still says 12/2017. And your website also still says "3.0". Were can we find this 3.1 update?

I expect to be able to launch the more front-end oriented stuff (Block This 4.0) including a completely new website by mid of May.

That sounds great, congrats!

ggsava commented 4 years ago

the first update (3.1) is live.

Will you create the release for it as well then? And the code here? Latest commit still says 12/2017. And your website also still says "3.0". Were can we find this 3.1 update?

I expect to be able to launch the more front-end oriented stuff (Block This 4.0) including a completely new website by mid of May.

That sounds great, congrats!

Will do it soon, didn't have time yet.. worked on that update until 4 am in the morning yesterday. For now just download the app from the website, the link is updated.

IzzySoft commented 4 years ago

Thanks a lot for all the work! Please ping here again once the code is pushed here and the releases/ updated. Of course once you have time, no pressing; guess I speak for the rest saying we appreciate your dedication! :green_heart:

selw0nk commented 4 years ago

I just got a notification to update to 4.0, and when I clicked on update nothing happened. Anyway I just downloaded it from the website and it's all good now.

AccessDenied420 commented 4 years ago

The updated version seems to be working great! Thanks @ggsava

ghost commented 4 years ago

Hi everyone! 🙂 Is the latest version 3.1? I have gone to the website and the download link do provide the 3.1 version, I was just wondering about version 4. Thanks!!

IzzySoft commented 2 years ago

Will do it soon

Looks like the ™ was missing… Just wondering, almost 5 years after the last release, if you still see a chance? Not complaining, just a friendly heads-up…