F-Droid
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Screenshot
Screenshot of the Android client
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| Developer(s) | Ciaran Gultnieks, F-Droid Limited |
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| Initial release | September 29, 2010 |
| Stable release | 0.78 (January 2, 2015) [±] |
| Development status | Active / 1400+ apps (as of February 2015) |
| Written in | Python (server), PHP (site), Java (client) |
| Operating system | GNU/Linux (server), Android (client) |
| Type | Digital distribution of free software, Software repository |
| License | GNU GPLv3+ |
| Website | f-droid |
F-Droid is a software repository (or "app store") for Android applications. It functions similarly to the Google Play store, but only contains free-of-charge, free and open-source software, and does not require the user to register to download apps. The apps can be browsed and installed from the F-Droid website or directly from the F-Droid client app (which is not available in the Google Play store). The F-Droid client app will automatically offer updates for installed F-Droid apps. The website also offers the source code of all applications for download.[1][2] F-Droid flags applications that contain "anti-features", such as advertising, user tracking or dependence on non-free software.[3] The software running the F-Droid server is free software, and allows anybody to set up their own Android app repository.[4]
Contents
History[edit]
F-Droid was founded by Ciaran Gultnieks in 2010. The client was forked from Aptoide's source code.[6][7] The project is now run by the English non-profit F-Droid Limited.[7]
Replicant, a fully free software Android operating system, uses F-Droid as its default and recommended app store.[8][9] The Guardian Project, a suite of free and secure Android applications, started running their own F-Droid repository in early 2012.[10] In 2012 Free Software Foundation Europe featured F-Droid in their Free Your Android! campaign to raise awareness of the privacy and security risks of proprietary software.[11][12] F-Droid was chosen as part of the GNU Project's GNU a Day initiative during their 30th anniversary to encourage more use of free software.[13]
Scope of project[edit]
As of November 2014, the F-Droid repository contains a growing number of more than 1,400 apps, compared to over 1.3 million on the Google Play Store. The project incorporates several software sub-projects:
- Client software for searching, downloading, verifying and updating Android apps from an F-Droid repository;
- fdroidserver – tool for managing existing and creating new repositories.
- WordPress-based web front end to a repository.
Client application[edit]
To install the F-Droid client the user has to allow installation from "Unknown sources" in Android settings[14] and retrieve the APK (installable file) from the official site. Installation is not available through the Google Play store due to the non-compete clause of the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement.[15] This is the same clause that blocks the Amazon Appstore application from being available through Google Play.
In version 0.66 the client gained the ability to share installed apps with other devices via Bluetooth.[16] This feature functions independently of an Internet connection and has been tested in mesh networking environments.[17]
See also[edit]
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- List of mobile software distribution platforms
- List of free and open-source Android applications
- Replicant (operating system)
- The Guardian Project
References[edit]
- ^ "F-Droid is the FOSS application store for your Android phone". androidcentral.com. 27 November 2012.
- ^ Tom Nardi (August 27, 2012). "F-Droid: The Android Market That Respects Your Rights". thepowerbase.com.
- ^ "Client 0.54 released". F-droid.org. 5 November 2013.
- ^ "F-Droid Server Manual".
- ^ "FOSDEM 2014 F-Droid". 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ "F-Droid initial source code". F-Droid. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
- ^ a b "F Droid About". Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ^ "FDroid: a free software alternative to Google Market". Replicant Project. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ "FDroid". Replicant Wiki.
- ^ "Our New F-Droid App Repository". The Guardian Project. 2012-03-15.
- ^ Walker-Morgan, Dj (28 February 2012). "FSFE launches "Free Your Android!" campaign". H-online. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ "Liberate Your Device!". Free Software Foundation Europe. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ "GNU-a-Day". GNU Project, Free Software Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
Day 9: Have an Android phone? Install F-Droid, a repository with hundreds of free software apps.
- ^ "Android Open Distribution". 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
- ^ "Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement". 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
- ^ CiaranG (1 July 2014). "Client 0.66 Released". F-Droid. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ Russell Brandom (10 June 2014). "Your survival guide for an internet blackout". The Verge. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
Further reading[edit]
- Amadeo, Ron (29 July 2014). "The great Ars experiment—free and open source software on a smartphone?!". Ars Technica. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- F-Droid's wiki
- F-Droid Android package at the F-Droid repository
- Android markets at DMOZ
- Interview with Ciaran Gultnieks of F-Droid conducted by the Free Software Foundation
- F-Droid listing at the PRISM Break project
- F-Droid at FOSDEM - Daniel Martí presents F-Droid in a talk to attendees of FOSDEM 2014
