Accrescent is a secure, privacy‑focused, open‑source Android app store designed to streamline app distribution for developers and users on Android 10 and higher. The platform emphasizes robust source code security, leveraging best practices like app signing key pinning, signed repository metadata, and automatic unprivileged updates for Android 12+. Developers retain control of their signing keys—there is no remote APK signing—while users can install and receive updates without needing an account. Accrescent also supports split APKs to optimize bandwidth and device performance, with quality control gates ensuring the safety and integrity of each app download.
Security and privacy are at the core of the Accrescent source code structure. The platform is implemented entirely in Kotlin, using Jetpack Compose and Material 3 for a modern UI experience. This architecture enhances readability, maintainability, and rapid iteration. The open‑source code is licensed under the ISC license, providing permissive usage rights while disclaiming warranties and limiting liability. Third‑party contributors are welcomed and guided by a CONTRIBUTING.md document, which describes how to set up development environments, run Gradle builds, and integrate repository workflows.
Recent releases include 0.25.0 (October 21, 2024), which adds app archiving support on Android 15, updates the settings UI, and enhances the installer interface in Private Space environment. Earlier updates (0.24.0) improved accessibility, bumped SDK targeting to Android 15, and fine‑tuned back navigation using predictive Compose navigation . The consistent update cadence highlights a community‑driven development model that values rapid bug fixes, usability enhancements, and multilingual support.
The Accrescent app store does not require user accounts, aligning with privacy‑first principles, and it ensures that apps are delivered in a safe, transparent way. The platform’s source code security extends beyond installation: repository metadata is cryptographically signed to prevent tampering, and the system verifies APKs against pinned certificate hashes to combat man‑in‑the‑middle attacks.
With 1.4K stars and dozens of forks, Accrescent has gained traction among open‑source and privacy‑conscious users. The codebase is modular, with backend services (e.g., console backend “parcelo”) written in Kotlin and TypeScript, and frontend UIs in Jetpack Compose. Localization is facilitated via Weblate, supporting multiple languages. The project also maintains community channels on Matrix, Mastodon, Bluesky, and Twitter, and is actively looking for contributors to enhance features or security audits.
C. Project Details
- Author / Maintainers: Accrescent community (accrescent organization on GitHub)
- Programming Language: Kotlin (100%) + supporting TypeScript/HTML in related modules
- License: ISC license — permissive, disclaims warranty, preserves copyright, no liability
- Usage Constraints:
- Name and branding are common‑law trademarks; unauthorized forks or use of logo/name prohibited.
- Use source code following ISC terms: include license, retain notices, no warranty.
- Repository Link: https://github.com/accrescent/accrescent