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F-Droid Repo

You can build your own curated F-Droid repo using your computer's terminal. Once set up, users can connect their F-Droid app to your Butter Box and start downloading apps.

Step 1: Install F-Droid Server Tools​

Before you begin, you need to install a tool called fdroidserver. This helps you create and manage your app store.

On Mac (using Homebrew):

 brew install fdroidserver

On Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):

 sudo apt install fdroidserver

Step 2: Check that it's installed correctly​

After installation, run this command:

 fdroid version

If everything is working, you will see a version number printed on the screen.

Step 3: Create Your Repo Folder​

You need to create the folder where you will save the repo files in your computer, choose a name that aligns with the project or purpose of the apps in it, and replace my-fdroid-repo for that name in the command.

mkdir -p ~/my-fdroid-repo
cd ~/my-fdroid-repo

Step 4: Initialize the repo​

fdroid init

This creates the following directories in your repo file:

Config.yml 
repo/
metadata/

Step 5: Add your APKs​

Copy your signed APKs into the repo/ folder. Ensure you only use apps from trusted sources like the official F-Droid library or verified developers.

Security Note: Avoid downloading APKs from "mirror" sites or unknown sources, as they can contain malware or trackers that compromise your users' privacy.

cp /path/to/your/*.apk repo/

Example:

cp ~/Downloads/myapp.apk repo/

Step 6: Generate (and Update) the Repository Index​

Every time you add a new APK or a new version of an app to your repo/ folder, you must run the following command to "publish" those changes:

fdroid update --create-metadata

What this command does:

  • Scans APKs: It reads the new files in your repo/ folder.
  • Generates Metadata: It creates YAML files containing the app's name, version, and permissions.
  • Creates index.v1.jar: This is the "catalog" file that the F-Droid app downloads to see what is available.
  • Signs the Repository: It uses your secret key to sign the index, proving to the Android app that the files haven't been tampered with.

Step 7: Test your Repo locally​

To test your repo locally and ensure everything works before you share it on the Butter Box, you can serve its content locally and add it to F-Droid using a URL.

cd repo
python3 -m http.server 8000

Once your repo is live, open the F-Droid app on your device and navigate to Settings > Repositories > "+". Select "Enter repository URL manually" to add your new source.

Adding the repo manually allows you to verify the user experience by checking:

  • App Visibility: Are all your apps appearing in the list?
  • Visual Assets: Are icons and screenshots displaying correctly?
  • Categorization: Are apps appearing in the correct sections (e.g., Internet, Security)?
  • Functionality: Do the downloads and installations complete without errors?
  • Metadata: Does the version number and description match your repo/ files?

Your repo will be available at:

http://YOUR-IP:8000/repo

Find your IP:

macOS:​

ipconfig getifaddr en0

Linux:​

hostname -I