This is meant as a cautionary note regarding open source software forks. And by this I mean hard forks, namely that one project goes a different way than a previous version. Both are a bit different, but happened within six months of each other to important (to me) open source projects:
- Syncthing-Fork --> syncthing-android
- KeePassXC --> KeePassChi (or is it ChiPass?)
Syncthing-Fork fork
This is more of a rename/redirection of the repository to syncthing-android, the original name before syncthing-fork.
The background is somewhat murky, as follows:
- Why syncthing-fork no longer available on github? - a long thread with a lot of info.
- Fork in this sense is more of a redirection (to a differently-named repository, and new accounts to control them)
- The keys were given, which prevents people from have to choose to install a new app, or not, as what they previously approved now points to other people and code.
- Obtainium path for updates is vulnerable because bad things can be done to the code that is then auto-installed.
- The new account running things is only days old, with no history to rely on regarding code quality and behavior.
TLDR;
In my estimation, not just with the glitches in handover, but the lack of attention and care to viable feedback and locking issues --> abandon syncthing-fork/syncthing-android. It can't be trusted, and it doesn't allow for much if any collaboration. There are three other options for running syncthing on Android.
Other syncthing on android options
- syncthingtray - see esp. how to run the Android app, this has an experimental Android app, and also works well on Linux for managing syncthing. I don't need it as the basic start and web admins are sufficient for my use case.
- BasicSync - by far the best replacement option, and the one I now use.
- Syncthing on Termux on Android - but cannot access sdcards, so not usable for my use-case.
KeePassXC --> ChiPass
This fork is a hard fork based on a severe case of algorithm aversion with an overly healthy ego, and clearly too much time on their hands.
More to come on this...