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SOFTWARE OVERVIEW

Tern

Tern monitors app releases from configured sources and checks candidate update files before offering them for installation.

About Tern

Tern monitors app releases from configured sources and checks candidate update files before offering them for installation. Users can paste a link or share one from a browser, and Tern identifies the type of release page or file. It checks that an update is signed with the same certificate as the installed app, validates a publisher-provided checksum when available, and confirms that the file is the requested app and not an older version. For known apps, the developer’s signing certificate can be available for first-install verification. Tern reads the version and signer information from a small part of a remote file before offering an update. It can run periodic background checks, with intervals as frequent as every 15 minutes, and users choose whether checks may use mobile data or only run while charging. On newer Android versions, updates can install without a prompt after Tern has been granted the required authority; other installations may request confirmation. The app organizes monitored apps with sorting, groups, filters, categories, a home-screen widget, and a Quick Settings tile. A television mode can exchange links or an app list with a phone using a displayed code. Optional routing through Tor is available. Tern works over HTTPS, requires no account, and reports nothing to an operator. It is designed for users who want to follow app updates and verify package identity before installation.

Categories

System Utilities

Platforms

Android

Website & Downloads

Trusted package or store listing

Open store:fdroid listing ↗

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