PACKAGE SEARCH release notes

Features & improvements

Understanding the options to sync applications to a remote server may not be in the best interests of organisations, guards have been added to give admins control of these features.

1. A managed config has been provided for version tracking, in addition to system app sync in 1.0.6.8.
2. Whenever PACKAGE SEARCH detects any managed config, it will disable the toggles in Settings for both options, mandating this is set via policy only, and cannot be overridden.

If user-override is desired, simply clear the managed config. Platforms like Intune support this by unchecking the respective configurations no longer desired, other platforms allow unsetting a config within the options of the configuration itself. If this is a friction point, please let me know.

Fixes

• Minor improvement to worker behaviour

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Added the PING UUID under all sync-enabled states
• Cleaned up the viewmodel to work a little more efficiently
• Added additional metadata for the system app database sync

Fixes

• Refactored workers to correctly start/stop based on state

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Added the correct logic to show the 'Set by policy' message on the system app sync card.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Package search can now sync system apps to the system apps database and help build the most complete system app library available.
• Added the first managed configuration to enable system app sync remotely. Admins struggling to locate system apps required for system features can enable the config, wait several minutes, and find the system apps of that device in the system apps database
• Added a link to release notes in app settings
• Improved version sync (beta) logic & reliability
• Added translations
• Refactored the settings top nav bar to match MANAGED INFO.

Fixes

• Sorted some logging inconsistencies

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Added a PING UUID to app details (settings) for debugging

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Improved redundancy of package version sync when the app is closed.

Fixes

• Cleaned down unnecessary imports.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Fixed up a poorly-placed sentence in settings. Now it makes sense.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Added translations for beta functionality

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Added beta API version (10000) - this is commonly used during early Android version development before the final is committed (e.g. 34 for Android 14, etc).
• Updated gradle
• Added an experimental application sync function
• Created a scheduled worker to handle regular package sync

Fixes

• Adjusted preferences helper to be a singleton
• Fixed loading spinner in the application details page

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Refactored the search UX. I know it's been less-than-perfect on smaller devices given the size and stickiness of it. Now search lives behind a much less obnoxious button, and slides in and out as required. Please send me feedback in-app with your thoughts!
• Removed and optimised some unused/unnecessary functions.

Fixes

• Resolved an issue with modals closing on device rotation.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Rotated out test keys with production.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Added app uninstall for user apps. You'll notice a small red bin (trash can) on the bottom-right of user application cards from this release. It allows quick and easy app uninstallation directly from PACKAGE SEARCH.
• From 1030 the versioning increments are changing, with the minor version moving a step to the left, allowing for patch versions in the last number column. Patches will in future also increment beyond x.x.x.9 and into double digits until it makes sense to bump to a new minor version.

Fixes

• Fixed keyboard blocking app cards when open. Now the virtual keyboard is factored into the scroll area, and apps scroll correctly to the bottom of the list.

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Added a card for applications identified as DPC-like. This new card will provide the registered Device Admin Receivers as well as the Admin Signature Checksum, two fields required for creating a provisioning QR code for a custom DPC. Feel free to test it out with my QR generator.

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Refactored PING service. Improves how usage analytics are sent to the PING service.

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Optimise imports and remove old commented code
• Add a private space permission (for later)

Fixes

• Fix tablet min-size layout issues
• Fix up the placeholder / loading wireframe

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Fixed a dark mode theme colour mismatch

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Adjusted permissions string to more accurately reflect permission state
• Added build flavours for safer debugging

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

N/A

Fixes

• Turned off some verbose network logging erroneously retained after a debug session

Known issues

N/A

Features & improvements

• Implement app grid & large screen support
  • Though some aspects of PACKAGE SEARCH aren't yet fully optimised for tablet/large screen use (see: settings) the main app grid should now be fully responsive. Feedback welcome!
• Enable long press on app detail page for copying
  • Though first starting with card exports, it's now possible to just touch & hold to highlight & copy data too. The cards supporting long-press to copy still only do this
• Add credits for volunteers
• Add French (thanks Thomas!)
• Update German (thanks Daniel!)

Fixes

• Fix layout for small DPI devices
  • The dual-column approach wasn't working well on devices with very small screens, large display rendering, or too-large fonts. For these scenarios the card should now switch back to single-column
• Fixed the DPM receiver

Known issues

N/A

New features

• PACKAGE SEARCH can fetch and display assigned managed configurations for installed apps
  • Tap and hold the managed config card in app details to copy the key value pairs
  • Managed config data is present in app details exports
• Language support!
  • German translations provided by Daniel
  • Want to submit a translation? Check out the repo!

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Fixed a typo in the UI

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Added an Android version utility
• Redesigned the application cards
• Implemented a disabled state for when the export button is hit too soon after loading

Fixes

• Fixed Android 15 cutout margins

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Replaced Topbar icon with a transparent version

Fixes

• Updated gradle
• Matched theme colours to the global style guide
• Adjusted layout for project consistency
• Resolved a scroll issue when results aren't found

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Target API 35 (Android 15)
• Add scaffolding to accommodate the changes in 15 for edge-to-edge
• Updated icons

Fixes

• Tweaked toast messages
• Updated link to new feedback form

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Added a tactical loading animation to hide list rendering delays

Fixes

• Replaced appitem action icons to better match the OS

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Added a tactical pause to reduce jank between screens
• Added toasts for when apps install/uninstall
• Updated viewmodel to add several more app details
• Added search/filter based on install source
  • Try source:shell for ADB installed apps, or source:com.android.vending for Google Play Apps
• Added app details screen
  • Added permissions, intents, services, receivers, and more
• Added a check for Google Play app category
• Added a settings screen
• Adjusted the top bar and search bar layout
• Adopted nav and status bars in theme
• Moved export action to settings.
• Adjusted layout of footer in different pages

Fixes

• Fixed a typo in the theme colour settings, allowing me to remove many explicit colour states on layout items
• Removed package changed intent watcher, as it caused too many reloads
• Refactored the update monitor to debounce, avoiding duplicate notifications
• Removed unneeded Min SDK check, unused functions
• Refactored installsource for crashes
• Removed unnecessary import
• Refactored viewmodels for fewer calls
• Reorganised fields & layout, and export format
• Fixed an unresponsive action. Unavailable apps can't be opened, so will now toast as such
• Converted file export name to simpledate
• Removed unnecessary calls
• Resolved deprecation warnings

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Detect & badge applications that are available in other user profiles (work profile, secondary user)
  • Android doesn't guarantee which user exists under which ID, and while it's a reasonable assumption to assume userID 10+ for work profile users, I'm intentionally avoiding mislabelling applications that may be running in secondary, guest, ephemeral, or work profile users.
• Added sort by package name
• Add a loading state to reduce initial app launch delay
  • This includes placeholder cards with a loading animation, and two new states of dataReady and fullyLoaded to support milestones on loading large application catalogues
  • On a device with 550 applications, loading takes about 4 seconds for all information to filter through
  • It's configured to begin showing available apps from about 50% processed, so for devices with several hundred more apps installed than the 550 I've tested, the delay will be shortened at the cost of minor UI jumps as items continue to load in
• Show user-installed apps in unavailable state
  • This accounts for applications installed via other users/profiles from Google Play
• Export to CSV

Fixes

• enabledState is the correct colour again
• Attempts to improve performance
  • Moved application card loading to a background handler
  • Added a catch for critical errors accessing packages
• Improved readability in unavailable search results text
• Prevent DOS from application state changes (installs, uninstalls, updates)
• Removed logic waiting for a minimum number of apps to show the app list, as in some filters the number shown is legitimately below that of the minimum set to view app cards
• Fixed a bug using case as a valid sort component
• Fixed a bug causing incorrect package names to be assigned to cards on long-press (copy) activity

Known issues

N/A

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Increased resiliency to incorrect state declarations from Android (👋 JV)
• Removed unnecessary dependencies

Known issues

1.0.1.2 source tag has a fix for the missing enabledstate colour in this release, however this release was built from main before said additional commit was merged. This'll be pulled into 1.0.1.3.

New features

• Replaced the unavailable apps search with proper filter & sort support
• Sorting will work with or without filters applied

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Implement basic wide-screen support with multi-column
• Support app list update on package changes

Fixes

• Fixed dark mode colours

Known issues

N/A

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where scroll position maintained across queries & views

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Added support cards with actions for obtaining support in the app footer
• Made the TopBar PACKAGE SEARCH app icon clickable, now it brings up app info and support options

Fixes

• Rectified colour state on the unavailable app icon
• Cleaned up dependencies

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Updated the unavailable app icon and colours
• Added a distinct card colour for unavailable apps
• Added a clear search icon in the search bar
• Added app-not-found messaging when search returns no results
• Added additional messaging and resources around unavailable apps
• Monospace font for package name

Fixes

• Limited search bar to a single line
• Removed erroneous variables
• Fixed list reset on rotation
• Adjusted positioning

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Redesigned TopBar with device details
• Added PACKAGE SEARCH app details into the footer

Fixes

• Resolved dependency mismatches (no more crashing)

Known issues

• Results are blank if a search doesn't match a record
• App list jumps back to top if screen is rotated
• Search doesn't work as expected if a new line is introduced

New features

• Added filters in search for all searchable fields, ie min: for min Target API
• Added full text search fallback

Fixes

• Adjusted the layout
• Adjusted colours for status (👋 Josh)
• Adjusted help text (👋 Sirack)

Known issues

• Crashing on some devices due to lib mismatches

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Refactored dependencies
• Fixed app name in system
• Added catches for null values

Known issues

N/A

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Added hold-to-copy for unavailable apps

Known issues

N/A

New features

• Added applications unavailable to the current user
• Moved some functionality to a viewmodel to try to speed the app up
• Improved search with more targets

Fixes

• Added several catches to avoid crashes interfacing with packagemanager
• Added a catch for lack of browser

Known issues

• Hold-to-copy doesn't work for unavailable apps

New features

N/A

Fixes

• Internal release (not published) due to stability issues

Known issues

N/A

New features

This is the initial release, so all features are documented on the project homepage.

Fixes

N/A

Known issues

N/A