There's always a path

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This Week in F-Droid

TWIF curated on Friday, 18 Sep 2026, Week 38

F-Droid core

Thanks to @linsui, we’ve unlocked a new way to add developer signed packages to apps for which we already provide packages signed by us. Historically, we’ve had two ways to setup reproducible builds. The first way, we host only the upstream package after we verify it to be reproducible. The second way, we get the signature of an upstream package, combine it with our locally built package and if they verify reproducibility, we host both our signed package and the upstream one.

The first path works better when the app is freshly included in F-Droid, so all new installs get the same package. But if we want to switch from the F-Droid version to the upstream signed one via this method, users need to backup, uninstall, reinstall and restore. We regularly announce such switches in these weekly posts.

The second path allows us to add the upstream package alongside our own, so new users get the new upstream signed one and old users get updates from us as usual. No uninstall, no backups, nothing changes. One issue is that for each new version somebody needs to extract the signature and open a merge request, no metadata autoupdate available (for now, help welcomed!).

The new third path - announced on this post - is a combination of the above two. It adds the upstream signed package alongside ours, like the second path above, but we use it directly. There is no need to extract signatures and metadata auto-updates are available. We keep the upstream package intact, since it needs to verify reproducibility, but we modify our own package with a lower versionCode so they don’t conflict.

Packages that are setup like this today:

This is not all perfect yet unfortunately as this method kinda “hacks” our metadata structure. We are tracking an issue about the way the preferred first installs are offered. The first two methods prioritize upstream packages, this one needs a fix to do so.

For now, we can guide users that want to install these apps for the first time to expand Versions in F-Droid client and install the top most version that is compatible with their devices even if the “suggested” label points to a lower versionCode until we fix it.

Community News

Librera Reader was updated to 9.6.17-fdroid and if the previous update made the app crash we’ve now fixed our build recipe. This version also brings an updated UI design.

Archived Apps

2 apps were archived

  • duckAssist: Lightweight, privacy-focused WebView wrapper for Duck.ai (App will come back under a new appID)
  • NoProvider2Push: UP-distributor without provider

Newly Added Apps

46 apps were newly added

  • 508.dev Soundboard: Mix looping ambient sounds, each at its own volume. Offline, free, no ads.
  • Abstract Dots and Lines: Abstract Dots and Lines is a libre implementation of a pen-and-paper game.
  • Autometer: Track fuel economy and vehicle maintenance schedules
  • BoatSpeedy: GPS speedometer and waterway navigation for boats, with battery analytics
  • Cambium: NIP-55 signer that holds no keys: signing is proxied to a NIP-46 hardware bunker
  • CipherNotes: Notes. Encrypted. Local. Nothing more.
  • CloudSound - SoundCloud facilitator for Podcini.A: A service app providing SoundCloud contents to Podcini.A
  • Custom Routes: Mark custom climbing routes on gym photos and export shareable images.
  • DBase Downloader: Download video and music from 1,750+ sites with yt-dlp and FFmpeg
  • DeltaSync: Encrypted KeePass sync — requires your own self-hosted server.
  • Duper: Remotely ring or locate your phone via SMS, no internet needed.
  • DuressUltimate: Duress Password trigger via length with ultimate protection
  • Fairy Mahjong: Clear a layered garden board with a four-slot matching hand
  • GPA Whiz: Offline academic tracker: GPA, CGPA, timetable, and scholarship deadlines
  • How2Vote: See how parties’ real parliamentary voting records compare with your views.
  • Husk: Turn a spare device into a remote camera and control rig
  • Janken (Rock Paper Scissors): Modern offline Rock Paper Scissors with private Pass & Play, Bot AI and RPSLS.
  • Kasette: Offline music player. Import local files, no accounts, no servers.
  • KFZ-A: Offline lookup of Austrian vehicle registration identifiers
  • KFZ-D: Offline lookup of German vehicle registration identifiers
  • Lens HRV: Measure heart-rate variability with your phone camera, no extra sensors
  • LocReminder: An alarm that rings when you arrive, not at a set time.
  • Lplanner: Mixed-gas decompression planner: ZHL-16C, VVAL-79 and VPM-B. Works offline.
  • Ludo: Multiplayer Board Game
  • Magpie: Tamper-evident incident journal with encrypted, self-proving exports
  • Message487: Forward notifications and SMS to n8n or your own webhook
  • Nonius: Eight measuring instruments. No ads, no trackers, no network.
  • Notes Tech: Encrypted Markdown notes, 100% local. No Internet permission.
  • OnStop2FinishAndRemoveTask: If change other app, Auto close task in prev app. Required Shizuku APP.
  • Open TeleScope VR: A VR-based digital telescope camera application for people with low vision
  • Orion Master: Native 1oom port of Master of Orion (1993). Requires your own LBX files
  • PanOSP: Lightweight, configurable AOSP-style quick settings panel
  • PeerPop - PeerTube facilitator for Podcini.A: A service app providing PeerTube contents to Podcini.A
  • Pocket Prose: A writing app for a folder of Markdown notes, filed by tag.
  • Pulse: Plan your own weekly workouts and keep every exercise offline
  • ReadBear: A cute&chill CBZ, PDF, EPUB reader that’s ridiculously configurable!
  • ReminDiary: Offline daily journal that surfaces what you wrote this day in past years
  • Rowtine: Knitting and crochet companion: patterns, stash, counters. Offline.
  • Sherpr: Drive your Herdr AI-agent fleet from your phone, over SSH — no cloud
  • Shikaku: A minimalist block logic puzzle game
  • Simple File Manager: No bloat simple file manager
  • Tents: A logic puzzle game where goal is to place tents in the grid
  • UnlicenseLauncher: Simple and secure FOSS launcher with fully FREE🐍 license
  • Wind Bubble: See where the wind hits you, on top of your navigation app.
  • WM Keyboard: A private, offline keyboard: 350+ languages, smart typing, themes, and tools.
  • Zaelio: Offline tracker for custom sessions and measurements

Updated Apps

418 more apps were updated

(expand for the full list)

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