Direct APK download is buggy on kiwix.org

[jayb-g]

Describe the bug

The direct download link for kiwix android listed on https://kiwix.org/en/applications as Direct APK sometimes starts download as kiwix-3.7.1.txt sometimes as kiwix-3.7.1.zip and sometimes as kiwix-3.7.1.apk

Expected behavior

Should download latest version as .apk file every time.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Open https://kiwix.org/en/applications on latest versions of firefox and android(14) (I'm using Firefox, but maybe same behavior for chrome)
2. In the 'Kiwix for Android' section, click on 'Direct APK' button
3. The download prompt will show the filename before starting the download.
4. Make note of the filename and extension, cancel the download and repeat from step 2

   Environment

   • Version of Kiwix Android : kiwix web (kiwix.org)
   • Device :
   • OS version :

   Logs I have the screen recorded but don't know how to upload here. It just shows option to link to online media file.

[kelson42]

@jayb-g Thx.... very very weird. I will try to reproduce.

[jayb-g]

Although now that i try to reproduce it, its not happening. Giving .apk every time. Forgot to mention earlier that file size was always correct even though extensions were different.

How do I share the screen recording ?

[jayb-g]

Also why fdroid version is so old? v2.4 ? And github apk releases are discontinued after version 3.6.0

Should I create a separate request for that?

[gouri-panda]

How do I share the screen recording ?

@jayb-g you can just drop the file here in your prompt. I tried to reproduce it with Firefox but it always gives .apk.

[kelson42]

Transferring to the « operations » repository.

[rgaudin]

Probably one or several mirrors not serving APK with the appropriate Content-Type

[rgaudin]

Indeed

https://md.mirrors.hacktegic.com/kiwix-md/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Missing CT

https://mirrors.dotsrc.org/kiwix/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk content-type: text/plain

https://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/kiwix/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

https://ftp.fau.de/kiwix/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Content-Type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

https://mirror.download.kiwix.org/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk content-type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

https://mirror-sites-in.mblibrary.info/mirror-sites/download.kiwix.org/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Content-Type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

https://mirror-sites-fr.mblibrary.info/mirror-sites/download.kiwix.org/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Content-Type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

https://mirror-sites-ca.mblibrary.info/mirror-sites/download.kiwix.org/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk Content-Type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

I suppose the culprit is ftp.nluug.nl. I'll contact them. @jayb-g @gouri-panda can you test the first two mirrors (those not setting a Content-Type at all) to see how it behaves?

[kelson42]

can you test the first two mirrors (those not setting a Content-Type at all) to see how it behaves?

On iOS, download starts properly.

[gouri-panda]

@rgaudin it works with the firefox(mac) but it doesn't work with the firefox(android). The first content type shows zip and the second content type is .txt.

[rgaudin]

Thank you @gouri-panda ; I am writing to them as well then

[artiommocrenco]

For the hacktegic mirror, I added these two lines to Caddyfile (the config):

@apk path *.apk
header @apk Content-Type "application/vnd.android.package-archive"

Apologies for the inconsistency it was introducing.

[artiommocrenco]

Still, for Firefox Focus on iOS I get this for all the mirrors.

[rgaudin]

Works fine with every other browser I tested on iOS (including Firefox). Looks like a FF Focus bug. You shall report it.

[jayb-g]

@rgaudin all first 3 links return .apk download now on chrome.

2nd link still results into .txt download on firefox

[AndersTrier]

I just fixed it for dotsrc.org:

$ curl --silent --head https://mirrors.dotsrc.org/kiwix/release/kiwix-android/kiwix-3.7.1.apk | grep content-type
content-type: application/vnd.android.package-archive

[jayb-g]

@AndersTrier Now its downloading apk on FF

[rgaudin]

Thank you @AndersTrier ; we're all good now.