F-Droid

[Bibi56]

This app could be published on https://f-droid.org/

[MayeulC]

This issue was brought up in #1 and #76 as well, it seems. I am very much in favour of this, please don't close the issue, as there is an obvious demand for it. It could be used to track progress instead.

From what I gathered, it seems that the analytics library fabric.io would need to be replaced, at least for F-Droid builds.

[loicortola]

Hello @Bibi56 and @MayeulC
I hear your feedbacks and although this would mean that we couldn't get analytics on a part of our audience, that would also bring this tool to more users which is good.

I am open to PRs on that issue, and I would suggest to implement a no-op version of fabric in the bundle. This might be the easiest way, alternative being to create a whole abstraction...

Anyone?

[Bibi56]

@loicortola No time to write a PR for that but it makes sense to me.

@MayeulC I didn't check closed tickets as I couldn't imagine the ticket to be closed without being solved. Good catch.

[rugk]

we couldn't get analytics on a part of our audience

Not true. You only have to meet two criteria's:

• opt-in, i.e. ask the user whether they want to enable it/disable by default. That is required by GDPR and other law's anyway, and as for FLOSS apps also just a good behaviour. Everything else is rude.
• the tracking library must be FLOSS, too (obvious as the app should be completely FLOSS, otherwise it cannot be trusted)

Of course, your app would still get the "tracker warning" though, as it actually tracks. If you don't like this, just don't track your users. It's simple. 😄

[pantierra]

Google is behaving more and more evil regarding the Google Play Store. There are many good reasons why user may prefer the Open Source store F-Droid instead.

Quoting the Free Software Foundation Europe:

It is recommended to not use this market [Google Play Store] at all.

Please consider to move this to be usable without exposing ourselves to censorship and surveillance. I'd be very happy to use the app, if possible without going through Google.

[loicortola]

@rugk @xamanu Agreed.
As I said, we are more than open to PRs, we want this to happen as much as you do.
Regarding analytics

1. We need opt-in. GDPR is clear on this and we haven't made id happen by lack of time.
2. I agree that users should be able to say no to tracking.
3. I agree that F-Droid is becoming a must and that we need to be there.
4. As for switching for a FLOSS analytics library, I am against it because there are simply no good enough FLOSS solution out there yet. The current Fabric.io is great as it is (yes I do know it was bought out by Google).

@rugk I fully understand your concerns although you have to understand that I am not against closed source solutions. Some businesses need closed source to exist. Jawg has some closed source products for instance.
OpenSource shouldn't be just a "black or white, evil or good" thing. OpenSource is a commitment and has a cost: documentation, community mgmt, etc...
Now if you think all closed-source solutions are evil, and that nothing can be trusted, then I cannot help you and I guess that it would be a debate that goes way beyond the scope of this small Android app anyway ^^.

As actions, I created 2 issues:

• Create analytics-free flavor #169 : Creating an alternative android flavor without the Fabric.io library
• GDPR Compliance opt-in #170 : Adding an opt-in allowing the user to disable the use of analytics in its app

This issue will remain the main thread for it.

@ALL contributors, we are happy to help you get onboard with the app code if you are willing to help the community implement those features.

Best wishes to all,

Loïc

[nicolasmaia]

Really hoping this happens! Just found out about this app on the latest OSM Weekly newsletter. #169 seems like a good idea.

[alex9099]

Any news on this?

[tuxayo]

A bounty has bee started in the issue about getting an analytics-free flavor: #169 (comment)

[tuxayo]

If the devs prefer switch to libre/open source analytics. I can create an issue for that.
I don't know what NewPipe and OsmAnd use, but when there is a crash, an UI pops up with what will be sent and asking to send the report with an email app.
For one of them, it even asks for GDPR consent before switching to the mail app. Really a great way to get crash reports.

[loicortola]

Hello @tuxayo we are currently unable to provide any more dev time on this, if you would like to make a Pull Request we would be super happy :)

[tuxayo]

Thanks for the feedback.

So I guess the situation means the only solution the core team could handle would be a patch for a flavor without the non-libre components. It doesn't seems possible to switch to libre/open source analytics by just sending you patch ^^"

Is that a correct understanding?