FOSSPicks
FOSSPicks
This month we explore the top FOSS, including the ultimate FTP client, a 6502 Assembly Environment, and open source levels for Doom.
An Android Identity Crisis
While Google pushes its Play store as the one-stop solution for Android apps, since 2010, F-Droid has offered an alternative repository of only free and open source apps. The server software itself is also open source, and users don't have to register an account to install software.
Unfortunately, F-Droid and other third-party stores may now be under siege due to Google's announcement that Android apps on certified devices must now be associated centrally with verified developers. This can involve paying a fee, uploading government identification, and potentially publishing their address publicly on app stores, so it's understandable why some programmers may be reluctant. The resulting backlash is being spearheaded at https://keepandroidopen.org/, which points out that Google shows no sign of backing down and that, as of September 2026, unregistered apps could be blocked on certified devices.
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Digital Autonomy
• How the Fediverse Found Parts for Its Platforms
• The Answer Was Already on the Shelf
• Changing the Chip Industry: How Public Investment Has Grown Open Silicon
• United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
• EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
• France Says “Au Revoir” to Microsoft
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