Minetest Forums

*** NOTE *** While we always need help with Android, we are not really looking for an Android developer anymore.

Current Situation

The Android port was originally developed by sapier, but he is no longer active due to lack of time.
We are very understaffed and existing devs cannot spare time for Android, and are not particularly interested in it.

Some of us feel Android support should be dropped if we can't find a dedicated dev.

An ideal dev/contributor

• C++ is required
• A physical Android device is required
• Actual Android dev experience isn't necessary, but is good
• You will need to be able to use Git and work with the official repos at Github, be able to fork and submit pull requests. This can be learnt, however.

You can chat to the devs at IRC freenode network, channel: #minetest-dev
You need a dedicated IRC client to chat in that channel.

I wish I could help, but regarding dropping support; is there lots that has to be done to the Android port each release? Or for the most part can it stay the way it is and keep working?

I have made some improvements in MultiCraft https://github.com/MultiCraftProject/MultiCraft and I could transfer changes.
However, my code style can be a little wrong, I'm not a programmer.
This will release 0.4.14 in the Play Store.
---
Edit.
Among the main changes:
I changed touchscreengui (very messy code, but very comfortable for the players), reduced the size of the APK, added static link for depends, add LuaJIT, cross-compile freetype2, OpenAL-soft, OGG, Vorbis instead of using very old port. I did the PC-version of MainMenu and fixed sizes for small screens (it was difficult, I had to buy a lot of phones and tablets).
And also I made a lot of small bug fixes, which can be found by comparing the code (I like WinMerge) :)

It's more a case of general maintenance. Sapier may have more time for it later in the year so we might as well keep it around until then.

How about non-official Android builder?

What's the point of having a "non-official" builder ?
If anyone can come and contribute to the mintest code base and maintain that part of the code ?

paramat wrote:It's more a case of general maintenance. Sapier may have more time for it later in the year so we might as well keep it around until then.

In this case, my help is not needed, right?

Your help will probably always be needed and will be much appreciated. It's not certain Sapier will have much spare time for Minetest.

paramat wrote:Your help will probably always be needed and will be much appreciated. It's not certain Sapier will have much spare time for Minetest.

Then my question is: who will decide, merge PR, or not? None of the existing recognized developer (except est31 and ShadowNinja?) don't use the Android version

Can't help much there as all I can do regarding the Android client is run and enjoy it, but I do hope it can be maintained. It's great how well it runs on even small devices.

I would like to help, I compiled Minetest 0.4.14 for Android. 0.4.14 GitHub repo

I added info to the first post about how you can chat to us in IRC. Also info on skills needed.

@Martin_Devil
Congratulation, your Android GUI for MultiCraft(/Minetest) is awesome, im sure players love it! :)

Minetestforfun wrote:@Martin_Devil
Congratulation, your Android GUI for MultiCraft(/Minetest) is awesome, im sure players love it! :)

One of my server's players had been using an app called "MultiCraft" and his device was stopping every now and then and showing second-long fullscreen ads that were unskippable.

I've only just noticed this thread.

I am very interested in the Android version and may be able to assist.

As an entrant into the Global XPRIZE for education and beyond I have a vested interest in having an excellent Android version.

I've reviewed some of @Martin_Devil 's changes and understand how to integrate them.

Currently I have my own server creating builds (under the eidy branding).

Happy to discuss.

Feel free to chat to us in IRC dev channel, many devs don't follow the forum closely so IRC or Github Minetest engine issues / PRs are the place for discussion. In Github Minetest engine issues / PRs you can filter the list by 'Android'.
If you make many good contributions then eventually you may be invited to be a core dev.

Ok, will do.

I'd love to help, not a dev. :( I think that the Android port has its place, but the controls need improved. Something similar to the game Survivalcraft? Honestly, I would not mind playing, as long as the controls are changed a bit. :)

You can help without being a dev, feel free to contribute PRs.

Ok, well, even though I am terrible at coding, I have successfully compiled an Android port of 0.4.15! :) If anyone wants it, here's the link. Still working on it... viewtopic.php?f=42&t=16539

Umm there are minetest apps out there on android. But I highly advise you folks to stay away from these apps. i ended up downloading one of them and it froze my device but eventually the device stopped freezing and was back to normal.

You can use this apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... t.minetest
or just download from Minetest website.

We're still very much in need of a developer to improve the official Android app, or even just contributors who can work on and test the code.
Servers are increasingly having problems with often troublesome unofficial apps, but Android players are choosing the unofficial ones because the official one has bad controls and has many other issues.

paramat wrote:We're still very much in need of a developer to improve the official Android app.
Servers are increasingly having problems with often troublesome unofficial apps, but Android players are choosing the unofficial ones because the official one has bad controls and has many other issues.

I would think the iOS players are using apps that are even more troublesome, but I could be wrong.

because the official one has bad controls and has many other issues.

performance is the big issue!
I have render distance of 4 chunks and the game still lags like crazy
I use a Google Nexus 7 2013 edition and a Samsung Galaxy tablet and both are struggling to even get 10 frames.