TL;DR
F-Droid has replaced a key piece of infrastructure — its core build-and-publish server — using community donations. The new machine, hosted under a transparent arrangement with a long-time contributor, has already increased repository publishing frequency and reduced build times.
What happened
F-Droid announced that it has swapped out one of its central servers after a long delay driven by supply-chain difficulties. The replacement was funded by donations and is intended to support the project’s build-and-publish workflow for the main F-Droid repository. Rather than placing the new system in a typical third-party data center, F-Droid arranged for the server to be physically held by a long-standing contributor with an established record of secure hosting; the project says it can control the box remotely and knows who has physical access. The previous server used 12-year-old hardware and had been in active service for about five years. Since the upgrade, F-Droid reports measurable speed gains: index publishing has become more frequent and build cycles compressed, allowing automatic updates to be handled in a morning cycle (UTC) and newly included or manually updated apps in an evening cycle.
Why it matters
- Faster core builds reduce the delay between app updates and delivery to users.
- Upgrading aging hardware lowers ongoing maintenance risk and operational overhead.
- A transparent hosting arrangement supports the project’s independence and threat model.
- Improved capacity lets developers receive timely builds and reduces queueing for publishes.
Key facts
- The server replacement was paid for with community donations.
- Sourcing parts took longer than expected due to global trade tensions and supply-chain unpredictability.
- The previous system was based on 12-year-old hardware and had been running for about five years.
- The new server is physically held by a long-time contributor; F-Droid can control it remotely and knows who has access.
- Publishing frequency increased after October 18, 2025, according to the F-Droid transparency log.
- Published update cadence: Jan–Sep 2025 roughly every 3–4 days; October every 2 days; November daily; December approaching twice daily.
- Build workflow now runs automatic updates in a morning (UTC) cycle and newly included/fixed/manual updates in an evening cycle.
- F-Droid emphasizes caution despite performance gains, noting real-world infrastructure can still present surprises.
What to watch next
- Whether the increased publish frequency and stability persist over coming months (not confirmed in the source).
- Plans for additional infrastructure refreshes or further hardware changes (not confirmed in the source).
- F-Droid’s transparency log for continued evidence of index publishing cadence and build frequency.
Quick glossary
- F-Droid: An independent repository and client for free and open-source Android applications.
- Build-and-publish: The automated process of compiling app source code, creating distributable packages, and updating the repository index so users can download new versions.
- Transparency log: A public record that tracks key repository events such as index publishing and changes made to the build process.
- Data center: A facility used to house computing infrastructure, often operated by third parties to host servers and services.
Reader FAQ
Who paid for the new server?
The upgrade was funded by donations from the F-Droid community.
Where is the new server hosted?
The server is physically held by a long-time contributor with a proven record of securely hosting services; F-Droid can control it remotely and knows who has access.
What are the hardware specifications of the new server?
not confirmed in the source
Has the upgrade already improved update delivery?
Yes; F-Droid reports faster build and publish cycles and increased index publishing frequency, shortening the gap between app updates and their availability.
A faster heart for F-Droid. Our new server is here! Posted on Dec 30, 2025 by F-Droid Donations are a key part of what keeps F-Droid independent and reliable and…
Sources
- A faster heart for F-Droid
- A faster heart for F-Droid. Our new server is here
- News | F-Droid – Free and Open Source Android App …
- F-Droid build servers can't build modern Android apps due …
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