Add Android app to F-Droid or put releases in Github #25

Open
opened 2026-02-16 12:26:39 -05:00 by yindo · 16 comments
Owner

Originally created by @GanimanSwift on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026).

Please add this app to the F-Droid app store, or put the release APKs in Github so it can be installed through Obtanium or manually. Please do not limit access to this app to the Google Play Store.

Originally created by @GanimanSwift on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026). Please add this app to the F-Droid app store, or put the release APKs in Github so it can be installed through Obtanium or manually. Please do not limit access to this app to the Google Play Store.
Author
Owner

@Crystalwarrior commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026):

I am unable to download it off of google play store, it does not show up in the search and the direct link to the page doesn't work

@Crystalwarrior commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026): I am unable to download it off of google play store, it does not show up in the search and the direct link to the page doesn't work
Author
Owner

@Rua commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026):

Alternatively, or in addition, consider adding it to the IzzyOnDroid repo?

@Rua commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026): Alternatively, or in addition, consider adding it to the IzzyOnDroid repo?
Author
Owner

@tdadvocate commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026):

Definitely needs releases outside of just Google Play since they have the code here already. Would much rather install this through Obtainium or an F-Droid client instead of Google.

@tdadvocate commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2026): Definitely needs releases outside of just Google Play since they have the code here already. Would much rather install this through Obtainium or an F-Droid client instead of Google.
Author
Owner

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2026):

Perhaps the APKs can be hosted here on github, as releases?

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2026): Perhaps the APKs can be hosted here on github, as releases?
Author
Owner

@divnyi commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2026):

Its not even running when installed from Aurora Store. The app is hard-locked into Google ecosystem at this point 😒

Image
@divnyi commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2026): Its not even running when installed from Aurora Store. The app is hard-locked into Google ecosystem at this point 😒 <img width="1080" height="2392" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/91cad3fe-e2a8-44bb-9ef2-5cbdb133ebfd" />
Author
Owner

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026):

I can't recommend stoat to my smartphone-wielding wierdos all googled up like this.

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026): I can't recommend stoat to my smartphone-wielding wierdos all googled up like this.
Author
Owner

@Happ1ness-dev commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026):

+1

My friend is struggling to download the app because it's "Not available in their country".
F-Droid and/or GitHub releases would be nice to have in this case.
Also, having a hard dependency on Google services like that might end bad imo.

@Happ1ness-dev commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026): +1 My friend is struggling to download the app because it's "Not available in their country". F-Droid and/or GitHub releases would be nice to have in this case. Also, having a hard dependency on Google services like that might end bad imo.
Author
Owner

@Revenciel commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026):

+1 Please release it without Google! The whole draw for me is to get away from closed source tech. Trying to switch away from Discord but there's no point if I can only get the app through Google Play or while using Google Play Services.

@Revenciel commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2026): +1 Please release it without Google! The whole draw for me is to get away from closed source tech. Trying to switch away from Discord but there's no point if I can only get the app through Google Play or while using Google Play Services.
Author
Owner

@Twig6943 commented on GitHub (Feb 12, 2026):

This prevents me from giving stoat a shot

@Twig6943 commented on GitHub (Feb 12, 2026): This prevents me from giving stoat a shot
Author
Owner

@KevinRunforrestt commented on GitHub (Feb 12, 2026):

Stoat seems like a good replacement for discord, but it's a shame that it's limited to the play store and that its app depends on play services,for those of us with degoogled phones, this is a limitation and somewhat pointless

@KevinRunforrestt commented on GitHub (Feb 12, 2026): Stoat seems like a good replacement for discord, but it's a shame that it's limited to the play store and that its app depends on play services,for those of us with degoogled phones, this is a limitation and somewhat pointless
Author
Owner

@pudup commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026):

Consider UnifiedPush as an alternative to GMS for notifications for the foss variant if it ever comes to be

https://unifiedpush.org/

@pudup commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026): Consider UnifiedPush as an alternative to GMS for notifications for the foss variant if it ever comes to be https://unifiedpush.org/
Author
Owner

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026):

I might be able to make a shell "app" that is pretty much a web-browser that launches Stoat's web client and enables notifications (most "apps" are basically this anyway). Would anyone be interested in this?

@janEntikan commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026): I might be able to make a shell "app" that is pretty much a web-browser that launches Stoat's web client and enables notifications (most "apps" are basically this anyway). Would anyone be interested in this?
Author
Owner

@Pecacheu commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026):

I might be able to make a shell "app" that is pretty much a web-browser that launches Stoat's web client and enables notifications (most "apps" are basically this anyway). Would anyone be interested in this?

A Progressive Web App that can be installed on the home screen is an easy way of doing this. I tried this with the current web app but I get a weird 404 error when I try. Checked and there is a bug report for this here: https://github.com/stoatchat/for-web/issues/548

With that said, packing the web release as if it's a full app like you're suggesting may make it easier to understand how to install it for users who don't know they can click the install button in their mobile browser to add it to the homescreen. think a lot of people only check their phone's app store and if it's not there they assume there is no mobile app.

@Pecacheu commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2026): > I might be able to make a shell "app" that is pretty much a web-browser that launches Stoat's web client and enables notifications (most "apps" are basically this anyway). Would anyone be interested in this? A Progressive Web App that can be installed on the home screen is an easy way of doing this. I tried this with the current web app but I get a weird 404 error when I try. Checked and there is a bug report for this here: https://github.com/stoatchat/for-web/issues/548 With that said, packing the web release as if it's a full app like you're suggesting may make it easier to understand how to install it for users who don't know they can click the install button in their mobile browser to add it to the homescreen. think a lot of people only check their phone's app store and if it's not there they assume there is no mobile app.
Author
Owner

@ChloeThePuppyGirl commented on GitHub (Feb 15, 2026):

+1
definitely needs to not rely on google by being only on play store, im really not a fan of the idea that i have to use spyware, to download something foss, so i would also like an fdroid release, for newer features and bug fixes faster, or even possibly nightly builds

@ChloeThePuppyGirl commented on GitHub (Feb 15, 2026): +1 definitely needs to not rely on google by being only on play store, im really not a fan of the idea that i have to use spyware, to download something foss, so i would also like an fdroid release, for newer features and bug fixes faster, or even possibly nightly builds
Author
Owner

@DeclanChidlow commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2026):

Just to give some info, distribution methods other than Google Play are planned.

We'd appreciate if you don't keep commenting on this thread if you having nothing to add to avoid unnecessary noise.

@DeclanChidlow commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2026): Just to give some info, distribution methods other than Google Play are planned. We'd appreciate if you don't keep commenting on this thread if you having nothing to add to avoid unnecessary noise.
Author
Owner

@Bsd-us commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2026):

#31

@Bsd-us commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2026): #31
Sign in to join this conversation.
1 Participants
Notifications
Due Date
No due date set.
Dependencies

No dependencies set.

Reference: stoatchat/for-android#25