TXs for the additional details, Menion.
I think you have to take the bull by the horns head-on!
The whole scoped storage thing is for the Instagram world, only good enough for images and videos.
All other big data sets suffer by deadly performance issues.
So, to summarize your (and similar apps) scenario:
- huge data sets
- random access needed (database and alike)
- shared between different apps
Forgot something?
If I were Asamm, I would create a dummy geo app with request for MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, with above justification. Hence no danger to Locus itself, just for the battle with Google.
Quote from :
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10467955#zippy=%2CexceptionsGoogle Play may provide a temporary exception to apps that do not qualify as permitted use designated above, when;
Use of the permission enables the app’s core functionality; and
There is currently no alternative method to provide the core functionality; or
use of the privacy friendly alternatives (e.g., MediaStore API, or Storage Access Framework) has a substantially detrimental impact on the critical features of the app that are tied to the core functionality.
The impact on user privacy is mitigated by security and privacy best practices
The developer must justify in their Console declaration why the Storage Access Framework or MediaStore API is not sufficient for their app’s purpose.
You can fulfil all three conditions. And if Google finally comes up with an enhanced framework that goes beyond Instagram (and alike) use cases, such exception can be ceeded. But not before!
Good luck and kind regards
Michael