GitHub-Store 1.6.0 introduces a cross-platform open source app store that automatically discovers installable GitHub software, positioning itself as an alternative distribution platform amid concerns over Android ecosystem restrictions.
GitHub-Store version 1.6.0 has been released, introducing new Linux support and multiple usability improvements for the cross-platform app store dedicated to open-source software. Despite its name, GitHub-Store is not an official Microsoft product.
The free platform aggregates open-source applications hosted on GitHub and automatically indexes repositories that provide installable binaries. Unlike traditional stores such as the Google Play Store or F-Droid, GitHub-Store relies on the GitHub Search API and Releases API to discover projects with installation files such as APK, EXE, or DMG packages.
Developers do not need to submit their applications manually. Users can download and install software directly from the store and monitor installed applications for updates.
Built using Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform, the application operates from a unified codebase across Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, automatically identifying and delivering the correct downloadable assets for each platform.
Version 1.6.0 introduces several new capabilities. Users can now view their GitHub-starred repositories directly within the store, while developer profiles and deep linking improve project discovery. Linux support has expanded with AppImage files and Debian packages for Debian 12. Additional improvements include dynamic proxy support for restricted networks, improved caching for faster content loading, manual APK installation, and native splash screens.
User interface updates add “Liquid Glass Chips”, revised icons, and community-contributed translations in Polish, Turkish, Bengali, and Hindi. The codebase has also been modularised, the search function revised, and multiple bugs fixed, including APK architecture detection issues.
The release arrives amid controversy surrounding Google’s planned Android policy changes. The project warns in its release notes, “Free and Open-Source Android is under threat.”
Google plans to introduce developer registration requirements for distributing apps outside the Play Store on certified Android devices from autumn 2026. An open letter opposing the move has been signed by organisations including the Free Software Foundation, Chaos Computer Club, Tuta, Vivaldi, and Codeberg.
Positioning itself as an alternative distribution channel, GitHub-Store also supports the keepandroidopen.org initiative advocating an open Android ecosystem.
