Show HN: Gander, an Android file viewer that asks for no permissions(github.com)
200 points by mokshablr 1 day ago | 72 comments
tl;dr: Gander is a small (~15MB) open-source Android file viewer that renders PDFs, Office documents, images, video, audio, Markdown, and code entirely on-device, without requesting any permissions—including INTERNET. It uses the Storage Access Framework and "Open with" intents to receive files, with Office formats rendered in a locked-down WebView using bundled JS libraries (docx-preview, SheetJS, PPTXjs). Available as a sideloaded APK or via Obtainium; legacy .doc/.ppt aren't supported due to lack of a viable offline renderer.
HN Discussion:
  • ~Skepticism about whether lacking INTERNET permission truly prevents outside communication
  • Praise for the app and appreciation of its no-permissions approach
  • Requests for additional format support like ODT/ODS and dark mode for documents
  • Suggestions to distribute via F-Droid or Google Play for easier access
  • Questions about technical implementation and Android SDK filesystem restrictions