proprietary components

[IzzySoft]

We can no longer update your app at IzzyOnDroid, for quite a while now, because:

Offending libraries:
--------------------
* BillingClient (/com/android/billingclient): NonFreeComp,NonFreeNet
* Cloud Audit Logs (/com/google/cloud/audit): Tracking
* Crashlytics (/com/crashlytics): NonFreeComp,Tracking
* Fido (GMS) (/com/google/android/gms/fido): NonFreeComp
* Firebase (/com/google/firebase): NonFreeNet,NonFreeComp
* Firebase Analytics (/com/google/firebase/analytics): NonFreeComp,Tracking
* Firebase Installations (/com/google/firebase/installations): NonFreeNet
* firebase-firestore (/com/google/firebase/firestore): NonFreeDep,NonFreeNet
* Google Ads (/com/google/ads): Ads,NonFreeComp
* Google App Engine (/com/google/appengine): NonFreeNet
* Google Cloud Logging Client for Java (/com/google/cloud/logging): NonFreeNet
* Google Mobile Services (/com/google/android/gms): NonFreeComp
* Google Play Core (/com/google/android/play/core): NonFreeNet,NonFreeComp
* Google Play In-App Reviews API (/com/google/android/play/review): NonFreeComp
* Play Integrity API (/com/google/android/play/integrity): NonFreeComp,NonFreeNet
* Play Services Places Placereport (/com/google/android/gms/places_placereport): NonFreeComp,NonFreeNet

16 offending libraries found.

Can you please provide a libre build flavor again, as you did in the past? Until then, we'll have to disable updates entirely, including the Reproducible Builds. Thanks in advance for your help!

[IzzySoft]

Hi @JLindemann42, as there was no reply at all, and we're still stuck at v2.5.1 (as the release following it already introduces Crashlytics – and for later versions, see above, the "no ads or other nonsense" would definitely have to be dropped from the app description), we've now marked Atomic for removal.

We still have a little hope left this can be resolved (and you'd provide a libre APK again), so the removal process can be canceled. But without even a response, we must assume failure, sorry.

[JLindemann42]

Hi @JLindemann42, as there was no reply at all, and we're still stuck at v2.5.1 (as the release following it already introduces Crashlytics – and for later versions, see above, the "no ads or other nonsense" would definitely have to be dropped from the app description), we've now marked Atomic for removal.

We still have a little hope left this can be resolved (and you'd provide a libre APK again), so the removal process can be canceled. But without even a response, we must assume failure, sorry.

Hello!

I completely understand that you can't update the app. This is my passion project that I develop when I have spare time and only generate a small amount of money from that mostly goes into hosting the website providing the back-end for images etc. Due to this I have limited time to make the app work correctly without some of the dependencies that you list.

The old version also have some problems as the older version can't load some of the images for several elements.

I just want to point out that the app doesn't have any ads in it and never will. The PRO and PRO+ provide additional tools in the app and are used to pay for the project domain/ website. Libraries relating to this is only used for analytics. The app still has and always will have to goal of no nonsense, meaning only useful features in a clean user interface that doesn't get into your way.

I have opted to use analytics (users are able to opt out) to better understand which features users use the most to improve the experience. E.g. latest update has revamped navigation which provides quicker access to parts of app that most users used.

In the future I hope to have a version without those dependencies but currently I don't have time to manage that. But I will surely let you know when I have a version for that!

Thanks,
Jonatan Lindemann

[IzzySoft]

Thanks for your reply, Jonatan! That sounds like currently, we'd better remove the app from IzzyOnDroid (as you state the version we have, has issues – and a "fixed" version without the "offending libraries" will not be available "soon").

As for "has no ads", I'm a bit irritated, seeing it ships a.o. with the library of Google Ads (/com/google/ads)); might have been dragged in by a dependency, but it is there.

I understand your wish for analytics – but the frameworks you've chosen are proprietary, and their providers are not exactly known for "good privacy". Our documentation on Replacing proprietary libraries has an Analytics section, in case you'd consider a replacement.

So which way forward would you suggest? No pressure here, of course – our entire team consists of volunteers, we know we can "only do so much", and the same applies to you here. We just seek to find a way to handle that. For some brain storming:

• should you say an update meeting our App Inclusion Policy (like, coming without the above offenders) could be available within the next ~3 month, and it's OK if we stay with that old version until then: fine with us (and we'd not taking offense should "real life" make it impossible in the end – Murphy always shows up at the most unfitting times).
• should you say that is totally unrealistic, and we should better remove that old version. we'd go and "unlist" the app for now; you'd then be welcome applying for inclusion again once you're ready (which would mean opening an issue here).

Which path would you say is the one to pick?