4mo ago

Syncthing for Android discontinued

github.com GitHub - syncthing/syncthing-android: Wrapper of syncthing for Android.

Wrapper of syncthing for Android. Contribute to syncthing/syncthing-android development by creating an account on GitHub.

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/14305957

Per the GitHub readme:
This app is discontinued. The last release on Github and F-Droid will happen with the December 2024 Syncthing version. Interactions (issues, PRs) are limited now, and the entire repo will be archived after the last release. Thus all contributions are preserved for any future (re)use. The forum is still open for discussions and questions. I would kindly ask you to refrain from trying to challenge the decision or asking "why-type" questions - I wont engage with them.
The reason is a combination of Google making Play publishing something between hard and impossible and no active maintenance. The app saw no significant development for a long time and without Play releases I do no longer see enough benefit and/or have enough motivation to keep up the ongoing maintenance an app requires even without doing much, if any, changes.
Thanks a lot to everyone who ever contributed to this app!
This is extremely disappointing news. I have been using the Syncthing-Fork version, but since it is based on this app, this may be the end for that app as well.

Android @lemmy.world

Matt @lemdro.id

4mo ago

Syncthing for Android discontinued

github.com /syncthing/syncthing-android

250 36

Android @lemdro.id

Matt @lemdro.id

4mo ago

Syncthing for Android discontinued

github.com /syncthing/syncthing-android

297 39

36 comments

Oh damn, I use it every day on multiple devices. I need this app. :/
Lets hope syncthing-Fork, which I use continues.
- A GitHub issue was opened for Syncthing-Fork, so it will be worth watching that to know whether it will continue to be supported.
  
  @Matt @mnmalst I've been using syncthing-fork for around two years. I'd hate to lose it.
- It should have no issue continuing as it looks to be a hard fork. I use it too, so hopefully it just becomes the de facto app.
  
  and the Fork doesn't publish to the GPlay store, so I hope the fork continues to be maintained even if it is just keeping up with the latest release of syncthing only

What a shame, I spent a lot of time working on syncthing-android (probably around four years). But in the end I stopped for the same reason, it's very demotivating to be so reliant on a corporation like Google which is entirely indifferent or even hostile to open source apps. Every year with the new Android version there are new required features or mandatory changes to implement, and if you don't comply they don't allow publishing new app versions. That's not a big deal for commercial apps with fulltime developers, but it's a lot of work for small apps maintained by volunteers. And it's never anything that would benefit syncthing-android or it's users, just busywork that takes away from bug fixes and feature development.
The good thing about open source is that someone else can always pickup and continue the work. Google's shenanigans were what drove me to server administration and backend development, which finally led me to work on Lemmy. The experience with syncthing-android definitely taught me a lot about how to run a popular open source project.
- Did not know you were also heavily involved in another project that I have relied on for many years now. For my part it really serves to show how few people in the open source space can really make an impact on other people's lives. Obligatory thank you for your effort o7. It mattered to me.
  
  You're welcome :)
- I am so grateful for your work on both of these projects.
  
  With pleasure :)

This is extremely sad. I use Syncthing a lot to sync documents between my phone an my computer.
The main benefit over client/server-based solutions are that it always works.
No network connection? No problem, the files are all stored locally.
I broke my home server again? No problem, the devices can talk directly to each other.

Well, this is going to mess up my whole setup. Especially my notes.

Well shit
- Yeah WTF happened?
  A tool I use daily!
  Edit: see screenshot posted on syncthings page on github about 6 hours ago.
  I'm hoping for a new fork comes along. If a new fork is only available on F-Droid/Github and not on playstore, then I'm ok with that. Fuck Google.
  Edit 2: Maybe Syncthing-Fork can pick this up as mentioned here.

Damn. That's really sad. I hope Syncthing-Fork doesn't get discontinued. I'll have to change how I do my password management if I can't use syncthing on Android
- sounds like it should be ok
- I used to use a thumb drive.
  Localsend is an option. Side of Burritos did a video about this recently.
  I have Proton Drive so I may give that a try.

I wonder if you can still have syncthing on Android just by using Termux, installing from the package manager (looks like syncthing is available) and installing Termux on boot app add on to keep syncthing running no matter what.
Obviously not as convenient but potentially a workaround
- Can confirm it definitely works!
- Probably.

Dang :(

Does anyone know of any alternatives? That run on my not google's or amazon's devices?
- have been using for years: https://github.com/Catfriend1/syncthing-android

Moved my stuff over a few months ago, ironically as a de-googling exercise to stop using Gdrive. :/
- have been using for years: https://github.com/Catfriend1/syncthing-android

This app was incredibly important to me. I don't really understand what the developer was saying about Google Play either. What does Google want from him?
I'll be saving this post for all the suggestions in the comments. Hopefully, a viable alternative presents itself. I've been making a lot of tech illiterate friends reliant on this app, and they're going to be asking me for an alternative.

@Matt damn. Last time I tried to install it it wasn't showing in play store search. Figured it's some bullshit new requirements as usual. Because there's always bullshit new requirements with google.
Hard to blame anyone for getting tired of this treatment.

Was just starting to play with Syncthing on Android a month or so ago, very sad :(

I'm wondering if syncthing in gplay can show some kind of warning that the app is discontinued pointing to use the fork version on f-droid, or, if that's prohibited by play's EUFOA (end-user fuckover agreement), discussion on the forums mentioning the existence of said fork... [addit: So, kinda like what termux folks did, but less covertly]

There was talk that the next version of Android will have a full terminal with some sort of Linux emulation. Would be cool if that allowed running the Linux version natively.