Fuck Android Developer Verification Program
Google's Android Developer Verification Program and aggressive inactivity account closures are outraging indie developers facing fees, mandatory identity verification, and hurdles to publish small apps.
summary is enough The short post captures a common developer grievance, while the comment thread details the frustrating realities of Google's current Play Store policies.
summary
A developer laments losing an inactive Google Play account and facing mandatory identity verification, fees, and strict hurdles just to share a small hobby app. The ensuing discussion highlights widespread frustration with Google closing finished apps for inactivity and imposing burdensome requirements like the twelve-tester rule for independent creators. Commenters debate whether these friction points improve app quality or destroy Android's historic openness, driving some toward progressive web apps.
key points
- Google closes developer accounts for inactivity if apps are not continuously updated, even if the software is finished.
- New individual developers face strict hurdles, including mandatory identity verification, a fee, and a requirement to secure twelve beta testers for fourteen days before publishing.
- Strict policies and fees are eroding Android's reputation as an open platform, pushing some developers toward progressive web apps or alternative ecosystems.
who should read it
Android developers and independent software creators dealing with app store compliance.
discussion hostile
consensus
Commenters universally condemn Google's hostile developer policies, noting that aggressive inactivity closures and strict verification rules punish independent hobbyists rather than deterring bad actors.
pushback
A minority argues that requiring continuous maintenance or testing effort helps filter out millions of abandoned, broken, or low-quality apps from the store.
I don't know why Google Play Store/Android in general has a good reputation - in my opinion they got worse than Apple. I recently created apps for both stores, and the Google experience is so bad. Because I am an individual (sole trader) I cannot go down the business route - but need to go through the 12 testers route. That is, I need to find 12 people willing to join a google group, opt-in to beta testing, and have my app installed for 14 days at the same time before I can publish the app on the Play Store. This is ridiculous. I'd rather pay a lump sum as I did for the Apple Store: 99€/year, …
It details the exact burdensome multi-step gatekeeping individual developers face before they can even submit an app for review.
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