Using Kivy and Buildozer, I created an Android secrets manager app in pure Python3 syntax. Inspired by Piggydb, I wanted the software to help users securely encrypt and export their data, leading to easy transfer between devices. To develop an effective and privacy-oriented solution, I solved issues such third-party package compatibility, encryption implementation, and database choices along the way.
This blog post explains how I turned my SailfishOS phone into a WiFi hotspot that shares its internet and even a VPN connection with other devices. I go over how wpa_supplicant manages WiFi, how I set up a second WiFi interface, and how I built a custom DHCP server to assign IP addresses. In the end, I not only got my hotspot working but also discovered a way to route VPN traffic through it, making it even more useful for remote work and travel.
In my free time, I explored using Kivy to create mobile applications. However, the current state of Kivy's tooling, specifically Buildozer, presents significant challenges for beginners. Buildozer relies on legacy dependencies and specific tools, which makes it incompatible with modern systems like Ubuntu 24.04 (as of December 2024). This guide aims to resolve that challenge by leveraging Docker to streamline the Buildozer setup process. We’ll use a modern Docker image containing a pre-configured version of Buildozer and walk through the steps to compile your Kivy app into an Android .apk file.