Github Store: A Cross-Platform App Store Experience for GitHub Releases

This article answers the core question: What is Github Store, and how does it transform the way users discover, install, and manage installable binaries published through GitHub Releases?

Github Store is an open-source, Kotlin Multiplatform application that turns GitHub Releases into a polished, app-store-like interface for Android and desktop platforms. It intelligently filters repositories to show only those that provide real, platform-specific installable assets, delivering a seamless discovery and installation experience in one unified place.

Image source: Project official repository

Image source: Project official repository

What Problem Does Github Store Solve?

Core question this section answers: Why do we need a dedicated tool like Github Store when GitHub already hosts releases?

Many open-source projects distribute ready-to-install binaries through GitHub Releases, but finding and installing them often requires manual searching, navigating to the correct repository, locating the latest release, and selecting the right asset for your platform. Github Store eliminates this friction by automatically surfacing only repositories that ship genuine installable files and providing a consistent, store-like interface across platforms.

Consider a common scenario: as an Android enthusiast exploring new open-source tools, you previously had to open multiple browser tabs, check each repository’s Releases page, and verify the presence of an APK. With Github Store, you open a single app, browse curated sections like Trending or Recently Updated, and see only projects that actually offer an APK for your device. One tap downloads and installs the latest version—complete with its changelog—streamlining what used to be a time-consuming process.

Section summary: Github Store addresses the scattered and manual nature of installing GitHub-hosted binaries by creating a focused, platform-aware discovery and installation hub.

Key Features That Define the Experience

Core question this section answers: What specific capabilities make Github Store feel like a real app store?

Github Store delivers a refined set of features centered on discovery, reliability, and platform-appropriate behavior, all built with a modern Material 3 aesthetic.

• Intelligent discovery sections
  The home screen organizes content into Trending, Recently Updated, and New categories with time-based filters. Only repositories with valid installable assets appear, and ranking favors platform-relevant topics so Android users see mobile-focused projects first, while desktop users prioritize relevant desktop builds.

• Always-latest installation
  Every install pulls directly from the repository’s latest published release via the /releases/latest endpoint. Users see the exact changelog for the version they are installing.

• Comprehensive details view
  Each app page shows name, version, install button, repository statistics (stars, forks, open issues), a fully rendered README as “About this app,” markdown-formatted release notes, and a complete list of available installers with platform labels and file sizes.

• Platform-specific installation flow
  On Android, APKs open directly in the system package installer, installations are tracked locally, and a dedicated Apps screen displays installed applications with update indicators. On desktop platforms, files download to the user’s Downloads folder and open with the default handler.

• Visual polish
  Material 3 design with Expressive components, dynamic Material You colors on supported Android devices, and an optional AMOLED black dark theme.

Application example: Imagine discovering a new desktop utility. You browse the Recently Updated section on your Linux machine, find a project with an AppImage in its latest release, view the rendered README and changelog directly in the app, then click “Install latest.” The AppImage downloads to Downloads and opens automatically—ready to run without manual extraction or permission tweaks.

Author’s reflection: Building a tool that respects platform conventions while maintaining a shared codebase reminds me how much user trust depends on predictable, native-feeling behavior. Getting the small details right—like where files land and how installers launch—matters as much as the core discovery logic.

Section summary: Github Store combines smart filtering, rich metadata presentation, and native installation handling to create an experience that feels both familiar and purpose-built.

How to Download and Get Started

Core question this section answers: How can users obtain and begin using Github Store on their devices?

Installation is straightforward and follows typical open-source distribution channels.

Direct download options include the official GitHub Releases page and, for Android users, the F-Droid repository.

On macOS, first-time launch may trigger a security warning because the app is not yet notarized and is distributed outside the Mac App Store. Users can bypass this by navigating to System Settings → Privacy & Security and selecting “Open Anyway.”

Operational example: An Android user searching for alternative app sources opens F-Droid, searches for “Github Store,” installs it, then immediately browses trending Android projects—all without leaving the open-source ecosystem.

Section summary: Github Store is available through trusted open channels (GitHub Releases and F-Droid), with clear guidance for common platform gatekeeping issues.

How Projects Appear in Github Store

Core question this section answers: As a developer, what must I do for my project to be discoverable in Github Store?

No manual submission or curation is required—discovery is fully automatic based on public GitHub data.

A repository will be indexed if it meets these objective criteria:

1. The repository is public.
2. At least one non-draft, non-prerelease Release exists.
3. The latest Release contains at least one supported installable asset:

   • Android: .apk
   • Windows: .exe, .msi
   • macOS: .dmg, .pkg
   • Linux: .deb, .rpm, .AppImage
4. Automatically generated source archives (zip/tar.gz) are ignored.

Visibility in featured sections improves with relevant topics (e.g., android, desktop, compose-desktop) and a moderate number of stars.

Scenario example: A developer releases a new Compose Multiplatform desktop tool. They publish a Release containing AppImage, DMG, and MSI files, add topics like compose-desktop and linux, and within hours desktop users browsing “New” see the project appear—no further action needed.

Author’s reflection: An automated, criteria-based inclusion model levels the playing field. Small or new projects can gain visibility purely on merit and technical readiness, without gatekeepers or approval queues.

Section summary: Automatic discovery rewards projects that follow standard release practices and provide real binaries, removing barriers for both developers and users.

Technical Implementation Overview

Core question this section answers: How does Github Store technically achieve its filtering and platform-aware behavior?

The architecture relies on public GitHub APIs and careful asset validation at each stage.

1. Search phase
   Queries use the GitHub /search/repositories endpoint with platform-tuned keywords and topic scoring. Archived repositories or those with weak signals are filtered out.

2. Release validation
   For each candidate, the app fetches /repos/{owner}/{repo}/releases/latest and inspects the assets array for supported extensions matching the user’s platform.

3. Detail aggregation
   Repository metadata, latest release details (tag, date, body), and README from the default branch are collected and rendered.

4. Installation handling
   Upon user request, the best-matching asset is streamed, then handed to the OS installer (package installer on Android, default handler on desktop). Android additionally records the installation locally and monitors package changes for updates.

Operational example: When a user on Windows views a project, the app checks the latest release assets, identifies the .exe or .msi, highlights it as the primary option, and downloads it directly to Downloads—ensuring users never install outdated or mismatched files.

Section summary: A multi-step pipeline of search, validation, and platform delegation ensures only valid, current, and appropriate installers reach the user.

Underlying Technology Stack

Core question this section answers: What technologies enable Github Store’s cross-platform consistency and modern feel?

Github Store is built entirely on Kotlin Multiplatform with a minimum Android SDK of 24.

Application example: Rendering a project’s README works identically on Android and desktop because the markdown renderer and Coil image loader are shared modules—developers write the parsing and display logic once and get native performance everywhere.

Author’s reflection: Choosing a fully multiplatform stack reflects a deliberate bet on long-term maintainability. Maintaining separate codebases for each platform multiplies effort; sharing UI, networking, and business logic dramatically reduces bugs and speeds feature delivery.

Section summary: A modern, cohesive Kotlin Multiplatform stack with shared UI and platform-specific optimizations delivers high-quality experience and consistent experience with manageable code overhead.

Real Benefits for Everyday Users

Core question this section answers: What tangible advantages does Github Store offer over browsing GitHub directly?

• Eliminates hunting through repositories that only provide source code.
• Guarantees installation of the actual latest release with visible changelog.
• Provides update notifications for installed apps (Android).
• Offers consistent interface and native installation behavior across Android and desktop.
• Remains fully open-source and extensible.

Scenario example: A power user who has installed several tools via Github Store receives an update badge on the Apps screen. Opening it reveals new versions for two apps, complete with changelogs. Updating requires only a tap—far simpler than periodically checking each repository manually.

Section summary: Github Store delivers efficiency, reliability, and continuity that transform occasional GitHub release browsing into a manageable app ecosystem.

Practical Action Checklist

1. Download Github Store from GitHub Releases or F-Droid.
2. Launch the app and explore Trending, Recently Updated, or New sections.
3. Select an app, review README and latest release notes.
4. Tap “Install latest” to download and install.
5. On Android, check the Apps tab for installed applications and updates.

One-Page Overview

Github Store is a Kotlin Multiplatform application (Android + Desktop) that creates an app-store experience for GitHub Releases. It automatically discovers public repositories with real installable assets (APK, EXE, DMG, AppImage, etc.), presents them in curated sections, and enables one-tap installation of the latest version with full changelog visibility. Android users gain local installation tracking and update notifications. Built with Compose Multiplatform, Ktor, Koin, and modern Kotlin tooling, it is fully open-source under Apache 2.0. No manual submission required—projects appear based on public release criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a GitHub account to use Github Store?
   No, but optional sign-in via OAuth device flow increases API rate limits and reduces throttling.

2. Why can’t I find my favorite project in Github Store?
   Verify that the repository is public, has a published (non-draft, non-prerelease) latest release, and includes at least one supported asset file for your platform.

3. Are downloaded files scanned for malware?
   No. Github Store only facilitates downloading assets published by project authors; users are responsible for evaluating safety.

4. Where do desktop installers save on my computer?
   Files download to the standard Downloads folder and open with the system’s default handler.

5. What should I do about the macOS security warning?
   Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and choose “Open Anyway” for Github Store.

6. How are update notifications implemented on Android?
   Installations are recorded locally, and the app periodically checks the source repository’s latest release for newer versions.

7. Can developers pay or apply to be featured?
   No. Inclusion and ranking are fully automatic based on public data and release assets.

8. Is iOS support planned?
   Current support is limited to Android and desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux).