Comment by franga2000
15 hours ago
So just don't let developers push updates targeting old SDKs? Show a scary permission dialog on every app launch for dangerous permissions? Delist only the apps that actually use or at least register those permissions?
There are many possible solutions and none of them are "you have to recompile once per year or we ban you".
Ehm, that's EXACTLY what happens now.
Noone is being banned because of this. You can't publish an update if it targets old Sdk and old sdk targeting apps don't appear to users (unless the user has already installed that app before).
That's it. Google is directly following your recommendation. Developers have usually more than a full year to comply (e.g. Android 16 has just released, developers will have to target Android 15 at the end of August. Android 15 beta was released around march 2024 giving developers ability to prepare and test).
What part of what I said suggested "old sdk targeting apps don't appear to users (unless the user has already installed that app before)" would be fine?
If the app works and doesn't do anything bad, there's no reason to delist it.