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Comparison

Comparison of App Fair with other app distribution networks

F-Droid

F-Droid is an app store and software repository for Android, serving a similar function to the Google Play store. The main repository, hosted by the project, contains only free and open source apps. Applications can be browsed, downloaded and installed from the F-Droid website or client app without the need to register for an account. "Anti-Features" such as advertising, user tracking, or dependence on non-free software are flagged in app descriptions.

The following table attempts to summarize some of the similarities and differences between the App Fair and F-Droid1.

Comparison of F-Droid and the App Fair

App Technology

Tech F-Droid The App Fair
Platforms Android iPhone, iPad, macOS
Primary App Dev Languages Java, Kotlin Swift, Objective-C, C
App UI Framework Any Android SwiftUI and UIKit
Catalog Input Metadata YAML YAML
Catalog Output Metadata JSON2 JSON3
Catalog Transmission HTTPS HTTPS

Build System Technology

Tech F-Droid The App Fair
Platform Debian, Ubuntu, etc. macOS
Build Automation Mostly Fully
Build Manager Python4 Swift
Build System Gradle, Ant, + Swift Package Manager, Xcode
Build Host Debian, Ubuntu, + (various locations) macOS 12 (GitHub runner hosts, various locations)
Catalog Metadata YAML JSON
App Signing Manual(?) Automatic
Build Initiation Semi(?) automatic Automatic (GH action triggered by PR)
Build Automation Mostly(?) automatic Fully automatic
Distribution Channels F-Droid, G-Droid5, + App Store, AltStore6, App Fair
Artifacts .apk (F-Droid build) .ipa (developer's GitHub release, re-signed)
Catalog Indexing Periodic(?) Hourly GitHub Action

Gatekeeping

Tech F-Droid The App Fair
Platform Android iPhone
App Approval Manual Semi automatic
Build Replication Optional Required
Remediation Proactive, Retroactive Retroactive
App Signing Key F-Droid Project (manual) App Fair Project (automatic)
Open Source Required (transitive) Required (transitive)
License Requirement OSS (transitive) AGPL+ (non-transitive), OSS (transitive)
Code Scanning SUSS7 VirusTotal, GitHub

App Behavior

Tech F-Droid The App Fair
Sandboxing Required Required
Device Rooting/Jailbreaking Unnecessary Unnecessary
Device Service Access Play Services Unavailable iCloud Semi-available8

Policies

Key:

  • 🟩 Required
  • 🟢 Encouraged
  • 🟡 Neutral
  • 🔴 Discouraged
  • 🟥 Forbidden
Tech F-Droid910 The App Fair
Platform Android iPhone, iPad, macOS
Source Code Availability 🟩 🟩
Ongoing Maintenance 🟩 🟩
Permission/Entitlement Disclosure 🟩 🟩
Transitive Source Code Availability 🟩 🟩
Tagged Releases 🟢 🟩
Publicly Accessible Version Control System 🟩 🟩
Non-Free Dependencies 🔴 🟥
Tracking/analytics 🔴 🟥
Advertisements 🔴 🟥
Upstream Non-Free Source 🔴 🟥
In-App Executable Binary Downloads 🟥 🟥
Non-Free Network Services 🔴 🟡
Non-Free Add-ons/Extensions 🔴 🟡
App Clones / Rebranded Forks 🔴 🔴
Cryptocurrency Apps 🟡 🔴
NSFW or Extreme Content 🔴 🔴
Trademark Infringement 🟥 🟥

Footnotes

  1. Please help correct any errors, omissions, or outdated references to https://f-droid.org materials by submitting a pull request. ↩

  2. https://f-droid.org/repo/index-v2.json ↩

  3. https://appfair.net/fairapps-ios.json ↩

  4. https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroidserver ↩

  5. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.gdroid.gdroid/ ↩

  6. https://altstore.io ↩

  7. Suspicious or Unwanted Software Signatures. https://fdroid.gitlab.io/fdroid-suss ↩

  8. iCloud and other services are likely only to be available when apps are distributed through the official App Store. E.g., independently notarized macOS apps cannot use iCloud services. ↩

  9. https://f-droid.org/en/docs/Inclusion_Policy/ ↩

  10. https://f-droid.org/en/docs/Anti-Features/ ↩