What GSF provides and why it is needed by Google Camera?

fossenjoyer

Could someone briefly explain me the functionality of GSF? I would like to use Google Camera but before that I would want to understand GSF's role.
I just bought Pixel. It is my first Android phone after using Pinephone for 2,5 years. I haven't used Google Services since 2014 so I am really lost in Google and Android scene.

Does GSF do any functionality on its own? For example ping to Google servers or something?

fossenjoyer

I see. Thanks for the info. I prefer reimplementation over GSF itself. I'll grab that one and GCam (from somewhere). I'll provide them the least permissions so I think that the GCam would be isolated enough so that I can live with it. I suppose GCam with that reimplementation is pretty much just an camera app without any permissions or way to connect to any networks etc. unless I specifically grant the permission.

abcZ

fossenjoyer Yes, with GrapheneOS, you will be prompted during installation about whether or not to grant network permission. Just say no to that and you're set.

You can install gcam through AURORA STORE, which itself can be installed from F-Droid.

Kevab

fossenjoyer keep in mind that GrapheneOS doesn't recommend that gcam provider app and if you use gcam then might aswell use GSF without network permission. Unless you're scared of the app.

abcZ

Kevab I wouldn't say that grapheneos recommends gsf either. The fact that they've built a compatibility layer to mitigate some of the dangers is less a recommendation and more an acknowledgement that its a deal breaker for a lot of people.

fossenjoyer

Kevab is there any reason to use GSF over the reimplementation if one doesn't plan to use any Google services? I would much more prefer that small reimplementation over the whole GSF since I don't like to use proprietary software if I have an option. Also the reimplementation seems pretty simple and the code place is small so it's pretty easy to check what it roughly does. I am extremely suspicious over any Google software even though I do trust GOS's sandboxing and restriction features

fossenjoyer

fossenjoyer code base is small*