Surprisingly Simple SMS Messenger is currently unavailable on the Play Store "due to some policy issues" since at least the 7th. Still on F-Droid though.
[The current version has not been updated since 2021 (2+ years ago).](https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms)
There has been one update (2 months ago) after no activity for 2 years, but the update was made to a side branch of the project (not the main branch). Its unclear what this update is, and unusual and unknown as to why the update was pushed to a side branch, not the main active branch.
Because its unclear and unusual you should do you due diligence. And because its only received a single update in the past 2+ years, I wouldn't assume the project is active based on this one single unusual update. (though I really hope that it is being revived and actively developed)
That's the main reason i moved to Simple SMS, simple UI but at least it is maintained and has material you...
I think dev. of qksms just pushed an update just so that the community would stop asking questions about new release
Github version has 4 trackers in the latest release, so unless you use fdroid one, it is just another usual sms app
Thanks so much for the linked explanation. (doesnt explain the side branch thing, but it does explain (sortof) the multi year gap and the developers mindset)
https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms/releases
Is it really that unclear? Also, it was updated on f-droid as well, so I'm not so worried about due diligence.
>*\[Link to side branch\] Is it really that unclear?*
Yes. To me at least. Unclear doesn't mean bad (or good) it just means unclear.
You either unwittingly or intentionally linked to the side branch where this update was pushed to. Not the master/mainline branch for this project. Look at the master branch/main github page it still shows the most recent version as being 2 years old. With the exception of this last update the other updates have been to the main branch of the project. So yes, I'd consider that unclear.
Is it that difficult to understand software development practices?
The master branch is considered stable. Recently, some improvements were made to the code, however they are not yet considered stable, hence the latest release being marked as a pre-release and the changes not yet merged into the master branch.
Qksms dont get updates because is not needed. sms is from 20 years old do you think sms service gets any updates? why should an sms app get updates? if it works it works if you dont like the app design that is another question but its open source you can make your desired changes.
Sure it needs updates. It can't send contact attachments or file attachments of any kind. It doesn't allow you to add or remove people from group conversations. There's a lot that can be improved.
Interesting! Looks like it's been a few months since the last update, but not bad. It's based on QKSMS, which is cool, but it makes me wonder how QKSMS dropping support will affect this one. Still, could at least be a cool interim option if not a more permanent solution as I learn more about it. Thanks for sharing!
SMS is a text size limited payload and encryption adds more to the payload size and SMS is metered so that will cost more. Depends on your plan of course.
The recipient would also need to be able to decrypt and manage keys. So likely have the same compatible app installed. Might as well just use signal messaging.
If you're only encrypting locally and it's clear in transit and on their mobile what's the point.
Android encrypts storage by default locally (FBE) and has TEE on the SoC and moving more to HSM (Strongbox) for keys.
The best alternative is to stop using SMS, SimpleSMS is good QKSMS is fine to, in regards to updates theres not really going to be much to update when it comes to SMS the technology hasnt changed in literally decades. Encrypting SMS on the local side is pretty pointless since the carrier still has full unencrypted access to all your texts anyway.
where are you located, if you qualify for free service of any kind, Snap, Midicare, etc, then you probably can get free data and internet using ACP if you're in the US.
I still use QKSMS, but I heard Simple SMS Messenger is the best option
one thing I hate about simple sms is no ability to copy part of the message, it's either all or nothing.
I think QKSMS is the better option
Switched to Simple SMS Messenger because it has scheduled sms.
QKSMS has scheduled messaging (for some time too)
Well my bad then. I searched for it at the time and couldn't find it. Still happy with my choice though.
Surprisingly Simple SMS Messenger is currently unavailable on the Play Store "due to some policy issues" since at least the 7th. Still on F-Droid though.
Given the subreddit, most people probably have an F-Droid client installed, so that shouldnt be too big an issue.
Not an issue, just thought that was interesting.
Nope, side load
Same as F-Droid isn't available on Play Store :-/
More unusual though as F-Droid was *never* on the Play Store, nor are any other "app store" type apps like Epic's or Amazon's
[QKSMS isn't abandoned.](https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms/issues/1881#issuecomment-1383404956)
QKSMS was updated mid-January, sounds decidedly unabandoned to me.
[The current version has not been updated since 2021 (2+ years ago).](https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms) There has been one update (2 months ago) after no activity for 2 years, but the update was made to a side branch of the project (not the main branch). Its unclear what this update is, and unusual and unknown as to why the update was pushed to a side branch, not the main active branch. Because its unclear and unusual you should do you due diligence. And because its only received a single update in the past 2+ years, I wouldn't assume the project is active based on this one single unusual update. (though I really hope that it is being revived and actively developed)
That's the main reason i moved to Simple SMS, simple UI but at least it is maintained and has material you... I think dev. of qksms just pushed an update just so that the community would stop asking questions about new release Github version has 4 trackers in the latest release, so unless you use fdroid one, it is just another usual sms app
https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms/issues/1881#issuecomment-1383404956
Thanks so much for the linked explanation. (doesnt explain the side branch thing, but it does explain (sortof) the multi year gap and the developers mindset)
https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms/releases Is it really that unclear? Also, it was updated on f-droid as well, so I'm not so worried about due diligence.
>*\[Link to side branch\] Is it really that unclear?* Yes. To me at least. Unclear doesn't mean bad (or good) it just means unclear. You either unwittingly or intentionally linked to the side branch where this update was pushed to. Not the master/mainline branch for this project. Look at the master branch/main github page it still shows the most recent version as being 2 years old. With the exception of this last update the other updates have been to the main branch of the project. So yes, I'd consider that unclear.
Is it that difficult to understand software development practices? The master branch is considered stable. Recently, some improvements were made to the code, however they are not yet considered stable, hence the latest release being marked as a pre-release and the changes not yet merged into the master branch.
Qksms dont get updates because is not needed. sms is from 20 years old do you think sms service gets any updates? why should an sms app get updates? if it works it works if you dont like the app design that is another question but its open source you can make your desired changes.
Sure it needs updates. It can't send contact attachments or file attachments of any kind. It doesn't allow you to add or remove people from group conversations. There's a lot that can be improved.
Partisan-SMS but I think it's still not on F-Droid
Interesting! Looks like it's been a few months since the last update, but not bad. It's based on QKSMS, which is cool, but it makes me wonder how QKSMS dropping support will affect this one. Still, could at least be a cool interim option if not a more permanent solution as I learn more about it. Thanks for sharing!
How do you get encryption to work??
tbh I am not sure. I struggled myself so I personally use Silence, but anytime I suggest it people shit on it for not being maintained
Thanks
SMS is a text size limited payload and encryption adds more to the payload size and SMS is metered so that will cost more. Depends on your plan of course. The recipient would also need to be able to decrypt and manage keys. So likely have the same compatible app installed. Might as well just use signal messaging. If you're only encrypting locally and it's clear in transit and on their mobile what's the point. Android encrypts storage by default locally (FBE) and has TEE on the SoC and moving more to HSM (Strongbox) for keys.
P-SMS [P-SMS (partisian sms)](https://github.com/wrwrabbit/Partisan-SMS) Last update: 9 Oct. 2022, not avaible on F-Droid
P-SMS (Partisan-SMS) https://github.com/wrwrabbit/Partisan-SMS
The best alternative is to stop using SMS, SimpleSMS is good QKSMS is fine to, in regards to updates theres not really going to be much to update when it comes to SMS the technology hasnt changed in literally decades. Encrypting SMS on the local side is pretty pointless since the carrier still has full unencrypted access to all your texts anyway.
I get free SMS but not free data
where are you located, if you qualify for free service of any kind, Snap, Midicare, etc, then you probably can get free data and internet using ACP if you're in the US.
Silence on F-Droid
It hasn't been updated since 2019. :/
Neither has SMS. /S
My apologies, I didn't realise.
Using spamhound now , but no update after 2022 june