Just because an app is old, does not mean that it is not usable or bad. Let's look at games for example.
this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2024
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The big difference is that old games run on the same hardware with no OS or no new updates to the OS. Droid is supposed to work with new phones on constantly updated OS. It’s just like it’s OK for a CNC machine to work with floppy disks since it’s not a connected device that needs to work with new hardware/software to function.
games don't necessarily need internet access though
That’s my point.
You're thinking that every Android device is reasonably new. This is not the case.
There's devices running Android from >12 years ago that can't get apps any other way than F-Droid because Google Play Services no longer work.
Arguably, those older devices are what the archive repo is for, though.
I see OP's point but I think it's unlikely that there will be any house cleaning or improved organisation principles in F-droid. The project maintainers have it set up the way they like and they don't seem bothered to change it for others.
Also all these cheap Chinese android devices all running between Android 8 and 10. Or android go.
I run an android lower than that and still every updated app work for me.
You run an Android device older than 12 years that is running Android 11? That's pretty good, what device? I didn't think they were designed with 8 years of OS forward compatibility (Android 11 released in 2020 and you mentioned it as the version you're having issues with playing a game on).
We don't do planned obsolescence in the software freedom world. We keep old software and hardware usable way past its intended expiration date. If something is usable and does the job there's no reason to throw it away - and, remember, since it's free software anyone interested can fork it and bring new life to it.
Of course, with old software and hardware there are security considerations to keep in mind - I wouldn't use an abandoned web browser, for instance. But for any app that has no network access and no or very little attack surface there's no harm in using it as long as it suits your needs.
That is the job of the archive repo isnt it?
As I understand it, the archive repo hosts old versions of apps that are in the main repo, it does not itself host old apps.
I also made one there because of your suggestion but i don't think anyone from fdroid is associated with that /c/
Cross posting is appreciated
Please no
This whole post is so funny, because by reading the comments I think OP tried installing GL Tron of all games and it didn't work for some reason, spotted that it was last updated 12 years ago and thinks that's why it doesn't work on modern phones and now everybody here (me included) is having a great time playing GL Tron on their even more modern phones. 😂
Also this is the exact reason, F-Droid shouldn't remove apps. Because the algorithm cannot know if the app is just completed and works even 12 years later or whether it's abandoned and stopped working 2 months later.
Edit:
Just for the record, I have looked through droidify because of their "all apps by last updated"-list and scrolled all the way down.
The "most abandoned app" is Trolly. A shopping list app with too many permissions.
The "most abandoned game" is DroidAtomix which seems unplayable on my phone. The next "better" game is Replica Island which does still work, but is not that much fun to play tbh.