Switch to app bundle

[bekuno]

New apps have to be in the Play Store in the app budle format (*.aab) since August 2021.
So it is now the default format.

With app bundle, the app size should be smaller and with the bundling format it can be easier divided in parts for different device configuration (eg. architectures). Optionally it is possible to use Play Feature Delivery.

On a first test, the package size got reduced from 54,6 MB to 48,3 MB.

I see some points to do/to check

• necessary changes in our gradle tasks (local/CI)
• is this format useable for FDroid

References:

• https://developer.android.com/guide/app-bundle/
• https://medium.com/googleplaydev/what-a-new-publishing-format-means-for-the-future-of-android-2e34981793a

[SammysHP]

Bundle files cannot be installed directly on the device, so at least for the Nightly and direct download link we have to keep an APK release.

F-Droid does not support app bundles AFAIK.

For AAB to work, Google Play has to sign the generated APKs. I guess it has to use the previously used certificate. Do we already have it uploaded to Google or is it still in our possession?

[bekuno]

Decision in dev meeting: let's stay with current approach for now, no app bundle