After the news cycle recently exploded with the announcement that Google would require every single Android app to be from a registered and verified developer, while killing third-party app stores …
Done. I’m not a dev, but I use apps from github/gitlab/etc. Requiring developer verification is absolutely retarded. And only allowing ADB to install without verification is not the olive branch they’re treating it as. It’s a slap in the face to anyone who actually knows what they’re doing.
Yeah, it’s bad. At the very least there should be a dev option on the phone itself to enable the existing functionality. Ask the user to accept an agreement if you want but it should be possible to all do on-device, without access to the internet.
After I made that comment, I thought about it some more and realized an existing metaphor already fits:
Say you see a BMW 316d but with M3 badges. Those who don’t know cars, don’t care. Those who do know cars, know that the owner is full of shit.
Relating this to Android:
People who don’t use 3rd party app stores, or other apps, don’t care about the developer verification. People who do use those things, already know that Google’s excuses are horseshit.
This verification bullshit will not only affect the developers who will be forced to register with google, but also the very people who made Android what it is today. Custom ROMs brought many features to Android that are now considered core elements:
Night mode
Bubble conversations
Widgets
Always-on display
Caffeinate
Quick settings
Split screen/multitasking
…and that’s not even scratching the surface. There is so, so much more.
Link to the official blog post: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-security-answering-your-top.html
Link to the feedback form shared on the blog post: https://goo.gle/Android-verification-feedback
Make use of that second link.
Done. I’m not a dev, but I use apps from github/gitlab/etc. Requiring developer verification is absolutely retarded. And only allowing ADB to install without verification is not the olive branch they’re treating it as. It’s a slap in the face to anyone who actually knows what they’re doing.
Yeah, it’s bad. At the very least there should be a dev option on the phone itself to enable the existing functionality. Ask the user to accept an agreement if you want but it should be possible to all do on-device, without access to the internet.
Bingo.
After I made that comment, I thought about it some more and realized an existing metaphor already fits:
Relating this to Android:
This verification bullshit will not only affect the developers who will be forced to register with google, but also the very people who made Android what it is today. Custom ROMs brought many features to Android that are now considered core elements:
…and that’s not even scratching the surface. There is so, so much more.
Done, thank you
I get that participation is important, but why does it feel like google is outsourcing good, sane management decisions?
Because they are.