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support uploading releases to Google Play

Though Google Play may be the arch-rival here ;) it is also the giant we cannot ignore. If we can provide tools to make it really easy to manage releases in Google Play, that will bring Android developers closer to F-Droid, and get them hooked into the ecosystem. That means that then we will have more contributors, since this will lead to more people maintaining their own apps in fdroiddata, as well as working on the tools in fdroidserver as well.

"The Google Play Developer Publishing API allows you to automate frequent tasks having to do with app production and distribution. This provides functions similar to those available to a developer through the Developer Console, such as:"

  • Uploading new versions of an app
  • Releasing apps, by assigning APKs to various Tracks (alpha, beta, staged rollout, or production)
  • Creating and modifying Google Play Store listings, including localized text and graphics and multi-device screenshots

"Those tasks are performed using the new edits functionality, which take a transactional approach to making changes; you bundle several changes into a single draft edit, then commit the changes all at once. (None of the changes take effect until the edit is committed.)"

"We have provided Java and Python libraries on the Client Libraries and Code Samples page. You can use these libraries to manage interaction with the Publishing API. If you are using other languages, you can access the REST APIs directly via HTTP."

Here are some more resources:

Another approach is providing a common data format and various uploaders:

To upload designs, you'll need to enable LFS and have an admin enable hashed storage. More information