this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2025
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If I wanted to donate a few dollars a month to the future development of a phone OS that will allow users to continue "sideloading". What is your recommendation, and why? (startrek.website)
submitted 20 hours ago by Kirk@startrek.website to c/android@lemmy.world
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Will LineageOS, Graphene and /e/OS be affected by Google's changes to prevent sideloading? Is UbuntuTouch or Sailfish OS promising in the long term?

I understand that right now we are in a bad place, but in your opinion, what OS do you think people who care about freedom should rally around?

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[–] Eagle0110@lemmy.world 8 points 5 hours ago

This question shows you do not seem to understand what is actually going on.

It's not the OS that need to be supported it's the phone who's manufecturer isn't contractually bound by Google to implement developer verification for blocking installation, otherwise they lose access to Google's proprietary suite including Play Store.

There are already a LOT of existing, established and technological mature OSes that are open source and don't need to block anyone for installation applications, including Android AOSP itself.

But the problem is you canNOT use a smartphone OS without a smartphone which allows you to run it on, with unlockable bootloader so you can install the desired OS, or is designed to run the desired OS instead of Google's garbage out of the box.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 43 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Although this is the Android community I would support Postmarket OS. They (along with projects like Mobian or Plasma Mobile) are the closest we have to running completely open source mainline Linux on mobile devices.

Ubuntu Touch is doing its own thing. And Sailfish's UI and infrastructure although nice isn't open source. In that regard Nemo Mobile is leading the effort of open source Sailfish. Plus you can easily support Sailfish by buying one of their devices or the OS for an Xperia.

But really, the biggest hurdle towards true freedom (appart from locked bootloaders) are device drivers. No idea who you can support in that regard. I think Postmarket is the best contender to have people working on that area, but that's just a hunch going off of vibes. I doubt any project is employing a full time kernel developer.

[–] DJDarren@sopuli.xyz 12 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I have a Pixel 9 running GrapheneOS, so I've been interested in something non-Android. Postmarket seemed like the obvious choice, but it doesn't officially support any Google phone since the Pixel 3.

I don't much of anything about these things, but it's kinda weird that GrapheneOS can leverage Pixel drivers and such, but no non-Android OSs can.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 13 points 19 hours ago

That's because the Linux kernel in Android is very different from the normal Linux kernel. And device manufacturers often only make drivere available for specific Android kernels that are incompatible with normal Linux.

Hallium (I think it's called) makes it possible to use an Android kernel and drivers with normal Linux but that probably comes with its own set of problems. One being that you miss out on newer security patches and features of normal Linux.

It's a mess.

[–] ksp@jlai.lu 16 points 19 hours ago

Something like postmarketOS sounds appealing

[–] eleitl@lemmy.zip 9 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Alternative ROMs have multiple software sources, so this will encourage use of degooglified devices. While a niche, it is a net good thing.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 5 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Which alternative ROMs will work with F-Droid after the changes to Android go through?

[–] eleitl@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 hour ago

Any ROM with ships a degoogled version as an option as the changes are in Google Play. So e.g. LineageOS and GrapheneOS are not affected.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 2 points 5 hours ago

I assume any that don't have Google Play Services, which would be those you have mentioned already plus any forks (iodéOS, for example). They would all die if they were made subject to these changes, so the fact that they aren't panicking about it suggests they are safe for now.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 7 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

AOSP allows sideloading.

It's only* phones with Google Services that will have the signing issue.

Even if Google decides to include the functionality in AOSP, anyone who compiles it themselves can leave it out (Graphene, Lineage).

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 2 points 16 hours ago

I understand. Graphene seems like the best place to invest. It's a shame they are available on so few devices.

[–] disevani@lemmy.world 9 points 19 hours ago

App and OS developers need to go hand in hand here, i believe. So, also support app(store) developers, because without them, any good deGoogled OS / Linux will still be worthless.
I think the best way to invest for the long run is to start using any OS without any Google API on it (so, completely Google free, not even use spoofservices such as MicroG) and use alternatives for the stuff you use now. Then, when you find software you like, simply start donating / supporting them.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 6 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Anything android based will be affected. Any hardware targeted to run Android is going to become increasingly locked down and non-viable for people that want to customize.

The best option is to invest in libre hardware and open source software. If someone could come up with two or three-year-old flagship hardware that was unlocked. Which I could run, plasma touch, or some other similar Linux touch-based environment. I would be set.

I have an old 10 inch chrome tablet that I put post-market OS on. If all the hardware on it worked and it had more than four gigabytes of memory, the thing would be perfect.But even with all the flaws it currently has, it's still excellent.

[–] berty@feddit.org 2 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

Is it safe to say that Google gets away with that sideloading restrictions? Will the EU have a word here or can they just decide it like that?

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 hours ago

Google won't be violating the law, because they are just doing the same thing that Apple does. They do technically allow third party stores, but the devs have to get Google/Apple to sign their keys.

Epic games will be allowed, because they have money to sue. Your average volunteer dev isn't gonna have the money, nor time, to sue.

I think most devs are just gonna publish in F-Droid and let F-droid handle it. F-droid will sign all the apps under their banner, but if Google sees a Youtube alternatibe client in there, I'm guessing they're gonna revoke the signature. And I don't think F-Droid has the money to file a lawsuit. (Do they?)

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 4 points 11 hours ago

I think it will take some adapting of the legislation. IIRC it was a very apple specific decision. Though I don't really know as I'm not European. So take this all with a grain of salt. The fact google is thinking about doing this means they think they will get away with it. They have plenty of lawyers to suss it out for them. Likely they will try to use the fact that they aren't the only manufacturer of android phones etc. Unlike apple and iPhone. Also there technically are alternatives so again not technically a monopoly. All bulshit. But possibly legal bullshit.

The main takeaway is that these companies don't want customers. So we shouldn't give them our business.

[–] MantisToboggon@lazysoci.al -5 points 20 hours ago

Just send me the money I will get on that shit.