"Now"? Are you referring to the future developer signing requirements that won't begin until 2027 globally? It's trivially easy to sideload on Android right now:

1. Flip one switch in settings to enable sideloading

2. Download and open an APK

3. Flip one more switch (which you get automatically redirected to and it's highlighted at least on Samsung phones) the first time installing from whichever app source (Chrome/FDroid/etc).

4. Click install

Other than step 1, the user is led through the process via prompts, and step 3 only has to be done once per source. i.e. the first time you install from FDroid, after that you just click install without any nags or scare screens.

As far as I remember the "enable sideloading" switch in settings has always been a thing, and the per source setting was added at least 5+ years ago.

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kulahan 6 days ago | parent [-]

Yes, I meant that upcoming change. I suppose I could’ve said “now that the decision has been made to…”, as if that’s somehow better.

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ewoodrich 6 days ago | parent [-]

Well even then it will be better than iOS which makes the user jump through absurd hoops like having to re-sign every 7 days plus another MacOS device (other than in Europe, but even there Apple still requires approval at the individual app level vs a developer account).

	▲	kulahan 6 days ago \| parent [-]
		Nope! I’ve never had to sign anything every seven days as a user. This is a weird and completely unfounded lie.