this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2024
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F-Droid

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F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.

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When I visit the f-droid website, my browser offers me to save a file with a random name. I cannot view the website at all. Any hints?

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[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Is it F-droid.apk?

Can you take a screen record?

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I cant. I'm on my phone right now. Just picture a save file dialog from 3 browsers with a random string dot something as filename. I noticed on my phone the file is named something like downloads.bin.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Actualy, downloadfile.bin.

[–] leanleft@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

thats very strange

[–] chevy9294@monero.town 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

That could be your browser saving html instead of showing it.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

Well... just saved one of those files, renamed it to file.html and opened it with the browser. Seems to be the f-droid homepage lacking the css.

What could it be? That doesn't happen on any other website.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

The content seems html but the name is something else. On android the suggested filename is downloadfile.bin. creepy.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 years ago

I have never had this issue

[–] GoOnASteamTrain@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I don't know if this useful, but the link works in the UK... I would be interested to hear if you have any luck with it, sorry I can't be any use beyond this.

I had the thought of trying a VPN set to other countries if you can, or different DNS settings, but I imagine you already thought of it but can't think of much else.

Best of luck with it :)

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I tried to use some webproxy to test other locations and had the same result - only difference is the name offered for the file to download.

Thanks.

[–] GoOnASteamTrain@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Curses! That's incredibly strange

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

<drumroll...>Tada!....

It suddenly is working. I didn't change a thing.

@catloaf@lemm.ee suggested I get suspicious about my country or ISP. Should I worry, now?!... :-(

Seriously, did the f-droid folks change anything on their end?

[–] GoOnASteamTrain@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

That's bizarre! Glad it's working, but what the Dickens made it behave so strangely? I imagine it wouldn't be anything nefarious, especially since its only fdroid, but... Damn that's odd!

Glad it solved itself at last :)

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

On my desktop, the name is something like <random>.ptrom. Im from Portugal. Could ptrom have anything to do with it?

[–] bizdelnick@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Both hosts and resolv.conf are ok.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I have no issues going to the website.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Just a thought: could it be hsts?

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Ahha! With a blank bowser profile directory it works as expected. It has to be HSTS, right? Now, how do I fix this?

[–] paradox2011@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Checked on mobile, doesn't happen for me. I'll try on my desktop Arch setup.

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Try it on your phone. F-Droid is an android app.

Also if the random file you're getting is F-Droid.apk, that's the file you need to install it on your phone.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

No no no. The app seems to work ok. It's the website that seems broken.

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Works fine for me on firefox.

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Forgoy to say: firefox, chromium, epiphany on debian with gnome

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

ask on a linux community

[–] Ninguem@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago

Bang! Firefox on windows - same thing!