Android File Viewer 'Gander' Requires No Permissions for File Access

Android Users Now Have a Secure File Viewing Option with Gander

Android users have long been faced with a dilemma when it comes to viewing files sent by others. The available options have typically been either to install a large office suite or use a small, free viewer that requires storage access and may upload the file to a server for rendering. However, a new Android file viewer called Gander has been developed to address this issue. Gander is a lightweight, 14 MB app that is designed to open a wide range of file formats, including PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, images, videos, audio files, Markdown documents, and code, without requiring any permissions.

The app achieves this level of security by utilizing open-source libraries such as Pdfium for PDF rendering, Media3 for media playback, and bundled JavaScript libraries in a WebView for Office format rendering. This approach ensures that no requests are made to external servers, guaranteeing that the file remains on the device. While Gander is not perfect, it is a significant step forward in providing a secure and hassle-free file viewing experience for Android users. The app is currently available on GitHub releases under the MIT license, and the developer is actively seeking feedback from users to improve the app's performance and support for various file formats.

As the developer notes, Gander is still a work in progress, and some file formats may not render correctly or may require additional support. However, with its lightweight size and secure design, Gander is definitely worth trying for anyone looking for a reliable and permission-free file viewer for Android. The developer is eager to hear from users about any issues or areas for improvement, and can be reached through the comments section on Hacker News.