The next generation of Skit
Monday, Oct 19, 2020 · 4 min read · 716 words
The second half of this year will mark the release of new generations of my main applications - Castro and Skit. But I already showed and released Castro, so it’s time to talk about Skit.
Features
In this update, I heavily reworked the functionality associated with extracting applications and updated the tools with new ones.
Extraction process
You may have noticed that previously when extracting some applications, you might receive an APK file that cannot be used for installation. All of this was due to the use of a new setup file format called “App Bundle” (or “Split APK”). It consists of many APK files that are collected in one archive. I am happy to say that Skit now successfully extracts and packs such files for you. However, I want to note that at the moment Skit is not able to install or analyze such files, this functionality will appear in updates later. You can use the SAI app to install such files.
Android 11
This update adds full support for Android 11, as well as all the new information that is available to users of this version, namely:
- New permissions;
- New foreground services definitions - “Camera” and “Microphone”;
- Flags for each activity.
Smaller changes
This update also introduces a lot of changes that I can’t really categorize.
Apps list The “Simple backup” tool has been renamed to the “Apps list”. It doesn’t change its essence, it just makes understanding what it does a little easier. But there are also several improvements in this tool: when deleting files, a confirmation dialog appeared and it became possible to import the lists that you extracted earlier.
Manifest The “Manifest” component has added full syntax highlighting support and asynchronous loading to improve the performance of this screen.
Other
- Ability to search by package name and title simultaneously;
- Full backup configuration for the system (Google Drive) backups;
- Ability to reset settings in the “General settings” screen;
- Descriptions to all links in the “About” screen;
- Special version for the “AppGallery” additional release;
- Sharing of the extracted apps now uses the app title properly;
- “Settings” screens reorganized;
- Algorithm of the “memory usage” permission granting, to show detailed memory usage;
Design
I already presented you with a completely updated version of my theme engine, Penza, when I released the big updates for Castro and Graphie. But this time I made some minor changes to the use of fonts, information dialogs, and bottom dialogs.
In addition, all the changes previously made to Castro are also present here, namely: new icons, card designs, and much more. Full support for “Edge-to-Edge” systems is also available here and is available for Android 10 and newer. Two more innovations that were not available in my other applications are the updated animation system, which has become much smoother and the “Follow system” theme control mode is set by default for everyone.
All-new design features will be carried over to my other applications by the end of the year.
Fixes
- “Batch extraction” was not working in some cases.
- “Reset settings” didn’t work for the “Hide undetected permissions” checkbox in the “Settings” screen.
- “Back button listener” now properly working in all “components” screen - if the search is opened, it will be closed first, then you will leave the screen.
- “Back button listener” now properly working in all “settings” screen - now it closes the current screen and opens previous (instead of closing whole settings).
- Remove unused “Settings” button in the “Services” screen.
- Colors for the “Activity” and “Sensor” permissions.
- Some “bottom dialogs” were not tinted properly.
- Animations flickering in the “Statistics” screen.
- Some items in the “Statistics” legend can be empty.
- Some apps with the “Ice Cream Sandwich” Android version could be displayed as “Jelly Bean”.
What’s next?
Update already available to download from the Google Play - Skit and Skit Premium.
I would like to take a little rest now, then I will port all design improvements in Castro and Graphie and will start prototyping my next app, which is a total secret now :)
As always, I invite you to send a description of all the problems you may encounter by e-mail: pavlo.rekun.development@gmail.com or join a group in Telegram, where I always answer user questions and participate in the discussion of applications.