What do people think of new Android requirements for apps that open binaries/engines

[adams161]

I discovered when working on one of my apps that now when you target API level 29 the app can no longer open a binary file or engine unless it was installed with the app to a directory that cant be modified after install. API level 29 is required for updates and new installs of Android apps as of November 2020. If the app doesn't update it can keep opening engines i think as my OpeningTree app can still open engines on Android 10. But if a app developer has more to do and wants to update he will be under the new binary rules as updates require API level 29 or higher. It's a thing google is doing now increasing the API level you have to target every year and they can do whatever they want in one of these changes and you will either support it or find you cant update. One work around for app developers is they can continue to target a lower API level for an APK only release.

[Ras]

That has hit Droidfish already. Quote from https://github.com/peterosterlund2/droidfish/issues/59:

As far as I know it is not possible to implement all functionality currently in DroidFish using targetSdkVersion 29, so the only option is to use targetSdkVersion 28 and don't distribute the app in the play store.