F-Droid 2.0 is a major rebuild of the open Android app repository
F-Droid 2.0 modernizes the client after a decade, with a Kotlin/Compose rewrite, expanded discovery and search, richer filtering, and a more integrated Android install/update flow. The release is rolling out gradually after 14 test releases, and its maintainers say an independent security review was completed; they plan to publish the audit after clearance.
The redesign also makes trade-offs worth noting: the app-wiping response to panic triggers did not make the initial release, and F-Droid’s old calculator-style disguise now only changes its icon and name, so the app remains visible in system settings and forensic inspection. Users who depend on app wiping are advised to defer upgrading while maintainers assess whether to restore it.
HN’s discussion was mixed on the redesign: some criticized rough UI details in the screenshots, while others argued usability is part of functionality. That debate is separate from the release’s broader changes to discovery, installation, privacy, and maintenance.