For those familiar with Syncthing, its reputation as a reliable tool for secure file synchronization across various devices is well-deserved. Utilizing peer-to-peer networking, it has carved out a niche as one of the premier solutions for syncing files between computers and smartphones. However, a recent announcement has cast a shadow over its Android app users.
Syncthing Android App To Be Retired
Simon Frei, the maintainer of Syncthing, has confirmed that after December 2024, the Android app will no longer receive updates. This decision stems from two primary concerns. Firstly, there has been a noticeable lack of contributions to the app, with only a small group of developers, including Simon himself, actively working on the code. Secondly, Google’s publishing policies have increasingly complicated the app’s availability on the Play Store. Earlier this year, the app was removed from the platform due to insufficient communication from Google regarding its unpublishing.
Despite Simon’s efforts to address the issues, repeated rejections of release submissions led to a frustrating cycle of unproductive correspondence. In his closing remarks, Simon expressed his sentiments clearly:
The app saw no significant development for a long time, and without Play releases, I do no longer see enough benefit and/or have enough motivation to keep up the ongoing maintenance an app requires even without doing much, if any, changes. Thanks a lot to everyone who ever contributed to this app!
This situation reflects a broader trend; the Google Play Store has tightened its regulations, ostensibly for security reasons. While enhancing security is commendable, it raises concerns about the potential alienation of quality developers from the platform.
Do We Have Any Alternatives?
For those eager to continue using Syncthing on Android, the most recent version can still be downloaded from F-Droid before the final release in December. Alternatively, users might consider the Syncthing-Fork app, a direct fork of the original with added enhancements. If a different approach is desired, FreeFileSync and Rsync present viable options for file synchronization.
For manual file transfers between devices, LocalSend is a commendable choice, and many users, including myself, can attest to its effectiveness.
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LocalSend: An Open-Source AirDrop Alternative For Everyone! It’s time to ditch platform-specific solutions like AirDrop!
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