"Google is supposed to begin distributing third-party app stores inside the Play Store and mirror Play Store content in other stores."

arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/1

Should @fdroidorg be added to Google Play?

@grote @fdroidorg Missing option, though that would probably be unrealistic: "Only if signed by F-Droid".

Why? When Google signs, it adds proprietary BLOBs to the APK as well (keyword: DEPENDENCY_INFO_BLOCK, FROSTING_BLOCK). So the APK as it would then be distributed via PlayStore would no longer be fully FOSS.

Why unrealistic? As for new apps, Google no longer accepts APKs signed by their devs.

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@IzzyOnDroid @grote @fdroidorg What about having "F-Droid installer" or something similar on Google Play?

@elgregor It is against Google's TOS at the moment to distribute apps outside of play store. In such case, an Installer wouldn't be allowed as they can limit the TOS to only allow app stores not their installers.

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