IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

AnkiDroid: Google Play no longer allowing Open Collective donation link

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Four Prevalent Themes in the Hacker News Discussion

1. Confusion and Criticism of Google Play's Donation Policy

Users debated Google's restrictive policy regarding "tax-exempt donations," particularly whether 501(c)(6) organizations like Open Source Collective qualify. Many found Google's communications inconsistent and unclear, arguing the policy conflates tax-exempt status with tax-deductibility.

"We've been seeking official clarification from Google on this for over a month. That's what we're seeking here." - david_allison
"Their emails are confusing, but they came after the alleged violation in private communication... is anything else actually confusing or inconsistent?" - dataflow
"The policy is far from clear cut, and even having read your comments I am still not sure what you think it's trying to say." - NoboruWataya

2. Growing Restrictions on Android App Installation

Commenters expressed concern about Google increasingly limiting users' ability to install apps outside the Play Store, citing mechanisms like the 24-hour wait for unknown sources, Play Integrity checks, and warnings about sideloaded apps as evidence of creeping control.

"Google is making it increasingly difficult to freely install software from app stores that they don't control and tax." - amiga386
"I'm sorry, I thought I owned the phone I bought, and had a right to decide what software I want on it whenever I want." - brainwad
"Starting in 2027*, a silent update, nonconsensually pushed by Google, will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google..." - Flimm (quoting keepandroidopen.org)

3. F-Droid as a Valued (Though Imperfect) Alternative

Many users advocated for F-Droid as a privacy-respecting, open-source alternative to the Play Store, highlighting its lack of tracking and adware while acknowledging limitations like update reliability and fewer available apps.

"You can install from other stores (AnkiDroid is on F-Droid, for example), or from direct file download on Android already." - brainwad
"From a user perspective I think F-Droid is really good too, mainly because it only allows FOSS apps by default..." - Ajedi32
"F-Droid was a blow of fresh air. Nice apps that help me do something, instead of exploding ads in my face." - neves

4. Systemic Concerns About Mobile Platform Duopoly

Beyond the specific AnkiDroid issue, users framed the problem as part of a broader pattern where Google and Apple exert excessive control over mobile ecosystems, calling for regulatory intervention to restore user freedom and competition.

"This duopoly has fucked over America and the EU by training us to think only these two companies have the right to decide what gets to be on your phone that you pay for." - echelon
"We need governments to mandate both Apple and Google to allow web installs of apps. No requirement for Apple/Google pay, Apple/Google login, or Apple/Google services." - echelon
"When do we stop this instinctive response of 'well you can still do it in an only slightly convoluted way' everytime a corporate does something bad." - devsda

🚀 Project Ideas

DonationPolicyChecker

Summary

  • A web tool that analyzes an organization's tax status (EIN, 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(6), etc.) and tells developers whether linking to a donation page is allowed under Google Play's "tax‑exempt donation" policy.
  • Core value: eliminates guesswork and helps open‑source projects stay compliant while keeping donation links visible to users.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Open‑source app maintainers, indie developers, nonprofit tech teams
Core Feature Input EIN or organization name → returns Play‑Policy verdict (Allowed/Not Allowed) with citation of relevant guidelines and suggested next steps
Tech Stack Node.js/Express backend, React frontend, IRS‑Public‑Data API (or cached EIN lookup), hosted on Vercel/Render
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters expressed confusion over whether their 501(c)(6) fiscal host qualifies; this tool would give a clear, citeable answer (see wafflemaker, dataflow, ajross threads).
  • Could spark discussion on app‑store policy fairness and serve as a practical utility for projects like AnkiDroid deciding whether to keep or remove donation links.

PlayDonateBridge

Summary

  • An Android library that abstracts donation flows: automatically uses Google Play Billing when the org qualifies for tax‑exempt donations, otherwise falls back to a user‑friendly external donation page (OpenCollective, GitHub Sponsors, etc.).
  • Core value: lets developers keep a single donation button in their app while staying compliant with Play Store rules, reducing user friction.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Android app developers who rely on donations or crowdfunding
Core Feature Runtime check (via DonationPolicyChecker API or local config) → choose Play Billing intent or open external URL; includes customizable UI toast/dialog
Tech Stack Kotlin/AndroidX, optional Play Billing Library 5, Retrofit for policy check, MinSDK 21
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: "Freemium – free for open‑source apps; paid tier for closed‑source apps with analytics dashboard"

Notes

  • Many commenters noted the hassle of maintaining separate links and fear of accidental policy violation (lokar, dataflow, ajross). This library removes that manual overhead.
  • Provides a concrete library that could be published on MavenCentral, encouraging adoption and discussion on HN about fair monetization paths for FOSS.

AltDroid Storefront

Summary

  • A curated alternative app store client that aggregates F‑Droid, Aurora Store, and trusted direct APK repositories, offering seamless auto‑updates, clear provenance badges, and reduced security‑warning fatigue.
  • Core value: gives power users a Play‑Store‑like experience for free/open‑source apps without the scary warnings or manual repo management.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Android enthusiasts, privacy‑conscious users, developers distributing via F‑Droid/Aurora
Core Feature Unified catalog, one‑tap install/update, trust signatures (shows if APK signed by recognized key or verified via reproducible builds), integrated changelog
Tech Stack Flutter (for cross‑platform Android/iOS future), Dart, uses F‑Droid index API, Aurora API, custom repo metadata; backend via Firebase or Superset for caching
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN users complained about the burden of enabling unknown sources, frequent warnings, and painful update loops (FDroid toast errors, Aurora issues) – this client would mitigate those pain points (see fdroid, microG, Aurora threads).
  • Could become a focal point for discussion on reducing Google‑Play dependency while maintaining security and usability.

PWAify for FOSS

Summary

  • A service that takes an existing open‑source Android APK (or its source) and produces a installable Progressive Web App with offline caching, push notifications, and a native‑like shell, distributable via any web host.
  • Core value: lets developers bypass Play Store restrictions entirely while retaining an app‑like experience for end users.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience FOSS developers who want distribution freedom, users seeking installable web apps
Core Feature Upload APK or Git repo → service extracts manifest, generates service‑worker, web‑app manifest, and optionally wraps with Capacitor/Tauri for enhanced native hooks; provides a deployable URL with install prompt
Tech Stack Python/Flask for build pipeline, Workbox for service‑worker generation, optional Capacitor plugin host; static hosting on Netlify or Cloudflare Pages
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: "Pay‑per‑build – $0.01 per MB of APK processed; subscription for private repos and priority builds"

Notes

  • Many commenters dreamed of web‑based distribution to avoid Play Store gatekeeping (amiga386, echelon, ajross). This service makes that dream practical, turning any FOSS Android app into a PWA that can be installed from a simple link.
  • Enables conversation about the viability of PWAs as a true alternative to native app stores, especially for donation‑supported projects that hit policy walls.

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