Apk self updates [see official response from GrapheneOS]

quill8552

Hi, just wondering how you know whether an apk self updates? I know from this forum signal does but how can you tell if others do besides periodically checking the version?
I'm struggling to get the correct pages for updating proton calendar and standard notes uploaded to Obtanium so just wondering if they update themselves regardless.
Thanks!

Dumdum

Add these links to Obtainium

quill8552 proton calendar

https://protonapps.com/protoncalendar-android

standard notes

https://github.com/standardnotes/app/releases

Make sure "include pre-releases" is checked for Standard Notes to work in Obtainium.

GrapheneOS

quill8552 Apps need to request the request install permission from you before they can update themselves.

raccoondad

Some apps can pull new versions using an internal updater, still requires you to install it manually.

No, they can certainly install the update themselves if they obtain the permission from you and they can do it fully automatically.

APKs themselves can not auto update, they always need an updater. Either manually downloading the new APK, the application pulling the new APK themselves (for you to manually install), or an app repo client (such as the play store, f-droid, etc.)

No, they can auto-update. Play Store can update itself automatically on GrapheneOS and our app repository client can update itself automatically outside GrapheneOS too.

quill8552 It's not correct.

raccoondad

They don't by themselves, ever

Some apps can pull new versions using an internal updater, still requires you to install it manually.

Most apps do not have this, and its the application itself, not the APK.

APKs themselves can not auto update, they always need an updater. Either manually downloading the new APK, the application pulling the new APK themselves (for you to manually install), or an app repo client (such as the play store, f-droid, etc.)

quill8552

raccoondad Understood, thankyou for the clarification!

quill8552

Dumdum Ah perfect, thanks! Standard notes behaving now but proton calendar is showing 116984220 as the version which doesn't seem right and that a Pseudo version is in use, perhaps there's a toggle I've not clicked right?

Dumdum

quill8552 proton calendar is showing 116984220 as the version which doesn't seem right and that a Pseudo version is in use, perhaps there's a toggle I've not clicked right?

Not really knowledgeable on this, but I'm pretty sure the pseudoversion is simply because there's no actual APK version on the page detected. Not sure how the pseudo code is created, but I'd imagine it should still change the code when a new APK is released. Unfortunately, I don't have any apps installed that use this update method (majority are done through github) so I can't confirm how reliable this pseudocode thing is.

zzz

Heads up, the protonapps.com domain has proven unreliable in the past:

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/3605-cant-reinstall-update-or-open-proton-calendar/

Has anyone had success with a Proton Calendar setup updated with Obtainium via the proton.me domain?

Dumdum

zzz Has anyone had success with a Proton Calendar setup updated with Obtainium via the proton.me domain?

You can use this link with Override source set to Direct APK link:
https://proton.me/download/CalendarAndroid/ProtonCalendar-Android.apk

Again, no idea if this is reliable for updating. It seems to use the same 116984220 pseudocode as the other protonapps method, so its possible it has the same troubles updating (if these troubles are still an issue after almost a year from the post you linked).

quill8552

zzz doesn't seem to have been fixed since then...

quill8552

Dumdum I'll give it a go and if not can just download in a secondary user with play services and update from that user, seems to be the best solution until it plays nice with obtanium. Thanks for the help!

43t34fg4

@Dumdum @quill8552 Been over a month. Any update on this? Was that a good URL to keep ProtonCalendar updated? Any issues? Bonus: what about a direct URL for ProtonVPN?

Dumdum

43t34fg4
I'm afraid I can't tell you. I don't actually use any Proton apps besides ProtonMail, which updates from the Github APK.

As for ProtonVPN, you can just update (via Obtainium) from the APKs on their github releases page.

43t34fg4

Dumdum Hmmm, how come that GitHub URL (https://github.com/ProtonMail/proton-mail-android/releases/tag/3.0.17) is last updated Oct. 2023 but the one on AuroraStore updated just today? Does PM just not keep the GitHub as updated or is there a better source for the APK, or?

Dumdum

43t34fg4
Seems this is the reason.

[deleted]

43t34fg4 in case you haven't noticed the version on Google Play is 3.0.16 while the one on GitHub is 3.0.17 so they're actually ahead. Take everything with a pinch of salt.

raccoondad

GrapheneOS (I never claimed the Play Store nor the GOS repo client couldn't update automatically, for clarification)

GrapheneOS

raccoondad The point is that they can update themselves automatically, which any app can do.