[Bug] Apps removed from Neo Store are added back to Neo Store if installed via another method

[Chambz]

Guidelines

• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the feature request I want to file, without success.
• I'm on the latest version.
• I'm not using a test build (alpha/beta/release-candidate).
• This issue contains only one bug.

Describe the bug

Remove an app from Neo store.
Add the same app using Obtainium (for example.)
Neo Store is once again managing said app.

Expected Behavior

Once removed from Neo Store, apps should not be automatically managed by it unless installed through Neo Store.

Neo Store's Version

V1.0.5

Installation Source

Official F-Droid repo

Last Known Working Version

No response

Relevant information

• Device: S22 Ultra
• Android Version: 14
• Disabled battery optimization for Neo Store? Yes.
• What is your selected installer? Android package installer

[GfEW]

Remove an app from Neo store. Add the same app using Obtainium (for example.) Neo Store is once again managing said app.

I believe that's how "alternative app store" apps are designed to work. Basically, they fetch the list of available apps from the app repos they know (they may use other app repos aside from plain https://f-droid.org/repo/) and populate their list of installed apps on their own, based on the subset of available apps that happen to be installed(*) on your device.

Obtainium is different in that it doesn't work with "alternative app stores" (i. e. app repos) but with "single app"(*) source repos (e. g. https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Store/) instead, each of which you have to add in the first place, in order for it to show up in Obtainium's app list.

However, if you uninstall an app, e. g. by "removing it from" NeoStore, then reinstall it e. g. from a manually downloaded .apk or via Obtainium, it will end up in installed state again. Therefore, it will also be listed as installed app in NeoStore again, as it will in the official F-Droid app, in Droid-ify, in GDroid, in Auroradroid or whichever "alternative app store" app you choose.

Are you suggesting NeoStore should maintain its own, separate apps list that would keep track of whether or not apps have been "installed via NeoStore", and ignore all installed apps that haven't?

(*)

To be more precise, alternative app stores, as well as "single app" source repos, usually offer multiple versions of each app (including hardware variants), only one of which you then choose to install.

[Chambz]

Thanks for the explanation, I think I follow the logic. I think I can accomplish approximately the same thing using the "Ignore all new versions" option? That way it shows in NeoStore but won't automatically update?

[GfEW]

[...]

I think I can accomplish approximately the same thing using the "Ignore all new versions" option? That way it shows in NeoStore but won't automatically update?

If you wish Update all in NeoStore to update only some of the installed apps listed there, you may indeed mark the other ones as Ignore all new versions.(*)

You don't typically need to do that for apps "managed" via Obtainium though, if you develop the habit of running Update all in Obtainium (1) just before you Update all in NeoStore (2). If for a particular app, their versions differ, Obtainium has virtually always the newer one, because the process of pushing a new version to F-Droid takes time (for procedural and safety reasons). That way, "Obtainium managed" apps are generally updated in Obtainium, not in NeoStore.(**)

(*)

Just make sure you keep them updated by other means.

(**)

Unless in the unlikely event that after (1), you get distracted and end up postponing (2) for so long that an even newer F-Droid version shows up in the meantime. In such a situation, just do (1) again before continuing with (2).

[Chambz]

Thanks for the advice. The initial issue I encountered was even though Obtianium was managing itself, NeoStore was automatically changing its version without any user input. I think that's no longer happening.

…

On Monday, Jan 6, 2025, 8:34 PM, wrote: [...] I think I can accomplish approximately the same thing using the "Ignore all new versions" option? That way it shows in NeoStore but won't automatically update? If you wish Update all in NeoStore to update only some of the installed apps listed there, you may indeed mark the other ones as Ignore all new versions. You don't typically need to do that for apps "managed" via Obtainium though, if you develop the habit of running Update all in Obtainium (1) just before you Update all in NeoStore (2). If for a particular app, their versions differ, Obtainium has virtually always the newer one, because the process of pushing a new version to F-Droid takes time (for procedural and safety reasons). That way, "Obtainium managed" apps are generally updated in Obtainium, not in NeoStore.(*) (*)Unless in the unlikely event that after (1), you get distracted and end up postponing (2) for so long that an even newer F-Droid version shows up in the meantime. In such a situation, just do (1) again before continuing with (2). You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: