Discussion about underrated Open source applications Vol.1

Privacy and Security Discussions
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I found some underrated apps and i thought it would be a nice thing to put them in a spotlight and talk about them from differant prespectives.

First one is Netbird which is used to make a virtual VPN making local network and i found it useful in games that have local co-op mode, And this is their official website

Second one is RustDesk The open source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk, It is used to display and control your PC, Android and IOS devices from anywhere at anytime. Works out of the box, no configuration required, And btw “Mental Outlaw” Talked about them earlier, And this is their official website.

Third one is FreeFileSync which is a folder comparison and synchronization software that creates and manages backup copies of all your important files. Instead of copying every file every time, FreeFileSync determines the differences between a source and a target folder and transfers only the minimum amount of data needed, Btw the donations version has some extra features, And this is thier official website.

Fourth one is Safe Space, Which is an app that creates a separate place on your android device to store valuable files. This storage location is not visible to other apps and is encrypted by the system by default.

And finally Web Check which is a website that helps you getting an insight into the inner-workings of a given website: uncover potential attack vectors, analyse server architecture, view security configurations, and learn what technologies a site is using, And that is their official website.

Disclaimer:
This thread is not sponsored and i don’t even know any of these apps’ developers, Those are just some great applications i found.

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The list

:trophy: - My personal favourites
:snowflake: - Discontinued (probably)
:question: - Shady
:hourglass_flowing_sand: - Can’t rate it yet
:1st_place_medal: - Well-made
:2nd_place_medal: - Decent
:3rd_place_medal: - Has a long way to improve

  • :trophy: Canta (LGPLv3.0+, F-Droid) - You all know Universal Android Debloater? Canta is the same thing, but without the requirement of a PC. Though bootlooping your device becomes a more serious threat, it’s VERY useful if you don’t have a computer. If there’re no UAD lists, download v1.2.0, it should work. This is fixed since v1.4.1

  • :trophy: FlorisBoard {Beta} (Apache2.0, IzzyOnDroid) - I have high hopes for the future of this keyboard. I appreciate the amount of customizablity here. Here’s my setup with Floristyle.

  • :trophy: FUTO Voice Input (Custom, Droid-ify) - Really underrated. A superior and privacy-respecting alternative to Google Voice Input. You need to pay $10 for it if you find it valueable and useful. You can use it without paying, but this is on your conscience, it’s their honor system. The definition of freedomware.

  • :trophy: Gadgetbridge (AGPLv3.0, F-Droid) - You know about smart watches and bracelets and how they need to connect to your phone via their proprietary application that requires an account? They could and would store and share your geolocation, phisique, HWIDs, etc. without you knowing. The main feature of Gadgetbridge - the lack of Internet access permission. Altogether. Yeah, it supports a limited set of devices, not all features are present here, but hey, you can use your “Smart” “IoT” “BLE” wrist band!

  • :trophy: Heliboard (GPLv3.0, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - The most matured FOSS Android keyboard without internet permission. I didn’t expect for it to be so close to Gboard experience. Though glide typing requires additional setup with this proprietary library.

  • :trophy: KeePass {DX} (GPLv3.0+, IzzyOnDroid) - Password manager without any internet dependency or access. I never understood how people trust any cloud-based PMs. Yeah they has cross device sync, but after using KPDX their UI seems to be utter garbage.

  • :trophy: Orbot (BSDv3-Clause, Droid-ify) - Tor Browser, but without the Browser part, makes ALL your traffic go through their Onion relays. When all VPNs are unreachable it’s always there, will never leave you behind.:saluting_face:

  • :trophy::question: Shizuku (Apache2.0?, IzzyOnDroid) - Basically a fraction of functionality of root now on every device and solves some compatibility issues. Has some weird licensing issues.

  • :trophy: Syncthing (MPLv2.0, F-Droid) - I use it for the sync of my KeePass vault and some random files between my devices. There’s also a Fork, but I didn’t test it yet.

  • :trophy: Tor Browser (MPLv2.0, Droid-ify) - A middle finger to internet сДnsĐŸrshiр, relatively anonymous, just works.

  • :trophy: URLCheck (CC-BY-4.0, F-Droid) - Captures URLs into a menu allowing you to change it with tools like removing tracking parameters, link unshortner, open with specific browsers, etc. All in less than 15MB.

  • :1st_place_medal: Breezy Weather (LGPLv3.0, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - Integrates well with Gadgetbridge, wonderful UI, wide range of weather providers, lightweight. Nothing to ask more.

  • :1st_place_medal: Droid-ify (GPLv3.0+, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - A simple F-Droid repositories client.

  • :1st_place_medal: Feeder (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - RSS reader with everything I need from it.

  • :1st_place_medal: FFShare (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Compresses media before sending it. Basically a more convenient FFMPEG, hence the name.

  • :1st_place_medal: Image Toolbox (Apache2.0, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - Rapidly developing picture editor.

  • :1st_place_medal::question: Kiwi Browser (Custom, GitHub) - Currently the only Chromium Android browser to support extensions. I mean, it’s FAR better than Microsoft Edge
 I had a great experience using it, but switched due to the slow response to the WEBP vulnerability. It’s development is really weird, despite having the last commit months ago it still provides releases. Is it proprietary now
?

  • :1st_place_medal: Kvaesitso (GPLv3.0+, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid / Droid-ify)- Widgets and searchbox options are my favorite things about this launcher.

  • :1st_place_medal: Mindustry (GPLv3.0+, F-Droid) - I didn’t even know this game was open source.

  • :1st_place_medal: MJ PDF (GPLv3.0+, IzzyOnDroid) - Solid and reliable PDF reader.

  • :1st_place_medal: Obtainium (GPLv3.0, IzzyOnDroid) - Update apps directly from source, useful for people who really hate F-Droid’s app updates delay.

  • :1st_place_medal: Shattered Pixel Dungeon (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Same story as Mindustry here.

  • :1st_place_medal: Shelter (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Utilizes work profile on Android.

  • :1st_place_medal: Translate You (GPLv3.0, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - Supports 11 engines, though only 2 work for me out of the box. I couldn’t find anything better than this translator.

  • :1st_place_medal: Tubular (GPLv3.0, IzzyOnDroid) - Previously known as NewPipe SponsorBlock, which speaks for itself.

  • :1st_place_medal: Unexpected Keyboard (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Good.

  • :1st_place_medal::snowflake: Vendetta (OSLv3.0, GitHub) - Third party client for Discord with plugins support. You can run DOOM in it!

  • :1st_place_medal: Xtra (AGPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Clean Twitch client with extended functionality. Not a Twitch fan, but it doesn’t mean this app is bad.

  • :2nd_place_medal: Camera {GrapheneOS} (MIT, GitHub) - It just works. Built-in EXIF remover is a nice addition, though it doesn’t remove the capture date on the file name for some reason
 And not everything in your phone’s cameras is supported, obviously.

  • :2nd_place_medal: FluffyChat (AGPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Matrix client. I appreciate multiple accounts support and MDY.

  • :2nd_place_medal: Key Mapper (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Niche use cases. I used it for additional Minecraft buttons - F5, F1 and Q. It’s not the only purpose, you can mess around with it.

  • :2nd_place_medal: LibreTube (GPLv3.0, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - Piped client, useful to watch country-specifically blocked videos.

  • :2nd_place_medal: Seal (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Download videos from various social medias. Introduced me to F-Droid because I didn’t know how to download releases from GitHub.

  • :2nd_place_medal: Smart AutoClicker (GPLv2.0+, F-Droid) - I didn’t find any other FOSS autoclicker, but I’m happy with this one.

  • :2nd_place_medal: SuperImage (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Completely local AI image resolution enchancer. The quality is pretty decent.

  • :2nd_place_medal: WallFlow (GPLv3.0+, F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid) - I use it mainly for separate wallpapers for light/dark device themes. Such a simple thing, why it’s still not implemented by manufacturers on system level?

  • :3rd_place_medal: Ceno (MPLv2.0, F-Droid) - Yet another censorship-resistant browser, but this time based on BitTorrent protocol. If your area doesn’t have strict websites blocking, you have unlimited bandwidth and you’re ready to sacrifice a fraction of your privacy, please use Reddit, Proton services, Quora and other oftenly geoblocked websites for some time in this browser and leave it open, you’ll mean a lot for us, people from restrictive countries. There’s more you can do, but I won’t get in the details.

  • :3rd_place_medal: FFUpdater (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Update Android browsers swiftly.

  • :3rd_place_medal::question: Home Button Launcher (GPLv3.0?, F-Droid) - Changes the functionality of long-pressing home button to something more useful. The origin of it is really shady, the Play Store latest version is 8.7 while F-Droid’s 4.1, also source code website is not reachable.

  • :3rd_place_medal: Lawnicons (Apache2.0, IzzyOnDroid) - Icon pack for launchers, 4000+ icons.

  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: App Manager (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - A massive range of app manipulation tools. It’ll take months to learn it


  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: Briar (GPLv3.0+, Droid-ify) - I appreciate the offline messaging feature via WLAN or Bluetooth. Hope it’ll extend its functionality in the future, it really lacks file sharing (as of 2024.02.21 it only supports pictures).

  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: Collabora Office (MPLv2.0, Droid-ify) - It’s better than nothing. Office tools for Android are all bad in general all because of .docx, .pptx and .xlsx monopoly.

  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: Hypatia (GPLv3.0+, F-Droid) - Antivirus from FOSS space, I use it on my rooted phone. Time will tell.

  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: KryptEY (GPLv3.0, F-Droid) - Basically enables E2EE messages everywhere via a keyboard. But you need to somehow share your keys for that encryption without compromising it. I can’t escape the feeling that I’ll need it someday


  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: LibreOffice Viewer (MPLv2.0, F-Droid) - Pretty mid in its purpose, but it’s better than nothing.

  • :hourglass_flowing_sand: LinkSheet (GPLv3.0, IzzyOnDroid - While URLCheck allows you to open links “just once”, LinkSheet also provides an “always” option. It’ll remember what websites you’ve opened in which browsers and will open them automatically in the future upon clicking the link. It’s not a replacement for URLCheck, on the contrary, they work especially well together.

Honorable mention, not an app but still:

  • :trophy: NextDNS (MIT, GitHub) - DNS-level adblocker with a wide range of supported systems.
Edits
  1. Removed
  2. Recovered
  3. Fixed markdown issues
  4. Updated Kiwi Browser info
  5. Updated Canta info
  6. Fixed typo
  7. Added LinkSheet
  8. Moved edits under a spoiler
  9. Added Heliboard. Added F-Droid link to Breezy Weather
  10. Tried to add horizontal lines between different tiers, unsuccessful
  11. Removed mentioning of Syncthing Lite as it is long dead
  12. Rearranged the blocks of text

I actually did one of those lists of FOSS Android apps some time ago, though it’s not only underrated ones. It was just sitting there without going to the public view. Time to unveil it.

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Great work bro, I really appreciate your work but i found two wrong things:

● Kiwi browser is so outdated as the last update was 7 months ago and the last release was in 2021.

● Vandetta is still going on and the last update was 5 days ago.

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  • (I provided the link to the old repo, sorry for this) Kiwi Browser’s development is weird. You could argue it’s proprietary now, as you don’t know what is in each release. Maybe I’ll remove it from this list because of this. Or give a shady :question: mark. Here’s what I found in their Telegram:

Once a while like every year or let’s just say after some time the dev actually updates the code and commits . Most of changes are there but hidden and not commited on the repo . It’s just really hairy but what is important is that dealing with such complexity is actually efficient for the dev which is doing this alone , there are some choices he made and we have to kind of respect that. Considering also topics like kiwi clones , server builder , merging complex code like extension support etc it’s really so big that is hard to explain :sweat_smile:

  • I provided a link to Vendetta Manager, which is still updating. The core Vendetta app is the one that got an end of life. Manager can install forks of Vendetta with some additional setup, like Revenge, but it wasn’t here long enough for me to trust it.

edit: well, Revenge got discontinued, Pyoncord is the only one remaining.

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The top one for me is [GrayJay | grayjay.app]. It’s an awesome client for Youtube, Odysee, PeerTube, Kick, Rumble, Subscribestar, Nebula, Patreon and more, all at the same time!

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