cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/12270789
Now that Apple has been forced to allow alternative App Stores, are there already similar stores like F-Droid emerging for iOS?
These guys have been around for a little while: https://altstore.io/
I don’t think this is feasible via Apple’s “official” “sideloading” method for the EU because of the Core Technology Fee.
I think it would be feasible for most apps given that it’s a million annual FIRST installs for free, but one would definitely need to find a way to monetize if the app gets too popular, which might be hard if your goal is to provide FOSS for the benefit of the community.
Yes it would, but afaik there’s no mechanism in place that prevents your app from going over 1 million installs. So if it explodes overnight, you have a potentially large bill all of a sudden.
Why? FOSS apps can still charge money. Remember its free as in freedom not free as in free beer.
A lot more of them probably should as the alternative usually ends up in some company buying them out, such as what happened to mobile tools set of apps.
I hope the EU will nuke that