Apps

There are 3 different ways to share apps from a Butter Box.

Method	Supported Apps	Security	Guidance
Option 1: F-Droid Repo	Android	Best	Most Secure
Option 2: Static Website	Android, iOS, Desktop	Limited (does not offer ease for distributing app updates)	More Curated
Option 3: Files organized in folders	Android, iOS, Desktop	Limited (does not offer ease for distributing app updates)	Easiest

To get an app store tile to display in your Butter portal, you need to put a folder in your USB directory called appstore . The folder must contain the required F-Droid files for an F-Droid Repo or a Static Website that links to application files (eg. apk, exe, etc.)

Option 1: F-Droid Repo

Learn more about creating a F-Droid repo at https://gitlab.com/likebutter/butterbox-rpi/-/blob/main/docs/en/README.md#premade-content-packs-and-content-pack-recipes.

• Docs for F-Droid webdash

• Docs for fdroidserver

Option 2: Static Website

Visit the Content Packs section for information on Using Static Websites.

Option 3: Files Organized in Folders

If option 1 or 2 will not work for you, you can simply share application files on the USB drive. Refer to the Load USB section for details. If you do this, users will navigate to the apps from the Explore USB tile in the Butter Box portal rather than from the App Store tile.

Things To Know

• If you are sharing apps from Butter Box, you will need to download the app files you want to share. Apps are updated frequently. Be sure to manually update all of the app files frequently to ensure you are providing the highest security for the people who connect to the box.

  • You’ll need a copy of the app’s .apk file — make sure it’s from a safe and trusted source.

  • Butter won’t automatically verify the source, so it's up to you to confirm it's clean and legal to share.

• How to get apk files: There are mobile apps you can use to get access to apk files on an Android phone. Alternatively, you can download app files directly from the developer's website.