F-Droid Apps "unknown" in /e/-Apps Client
- /e/ version: 0.19-q
- Device model(s): all
Summary
F-Droid Apps are shown with "unknown" in the Author field. For first time users, this is a negative signal as it undermines trust, contrary to their real value.
The problem
Steps to reproduce
search for any F-Droid App in the e-Appclient, for example "Nextcloud"
What is the current behavior?
Apps shown with unknown author Tag
What is the expected correct behavior?
No "unknown" entries (I understand this is difficult for a diverse dataset). Get the name in the by field in F-Droid. If there isn't any, see if feasible to get the developer pseudo (like the one displayed when clicking on "Donate" in F-Droid).
Technical informations
Relevant logs
as an example where improvment is already available: this is the cleanapk response for "Nextcloud Deck". It has an unknown author, despite the info being available in fdroids build metadata.
"_id": "5ce1d7ae13907a02a7d5988b",
"package_name": "it.niedermann.nextcloud.deck",
"name": "Nextcloud Deck",
"author": "unknown",https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroiddata/-/blob/master/metadata/it.niedermann.nextcloud.deck.yml
AuthorName: Niedermann IT-Dienstleistungen
AuthorWebSite: https://www.niedermann.it/but a lot of fdroid apps do not have this field.
Relevant screenshots
"Trying to install Nextcloud, but the Apps, logos, “unkonwns”, the “Dev” in the Appstore confuse me.
Solutions
For f-droid packages it can be better to show the whole appid instead, if lots of Apps haven't AuthorName info in their build. The appid often contains the initial publisher. Alternatively the apk signature Common Name can be used or other means embedded in the Apk. Even reusing the author field als "publisher" and displaying F-Droid is an improvement (related to #713 (closed)), as it gives FOSS Apps a positive signal. The F-Droid client itself uses the second line for a summary on the apps function.