[AlexandrB]

I am utterly baffled by this project. What's the benefit of using open source software to access a completely closed-source set of services? If you're going to trust Google with your data anyways why would you care whether you're running a Google binary blob on the device?

[Espionage724]

The only Google-related services I'd like to use on my phone is account log-in for Pokemon GO and Ingress. My options are a 120MB+ package of proprietary Google apps with max permissions to do whatever and run in the background, or a 4MB microG package with very limited permissions.

[blablablaat]

I can't use Signal or my local railway app without Google Cloud Messaging. So I have two choices: - Don't use them - Install Google crapware package - Install microG, which supplies the APIs so other apps can function normally

[kasbah]

Signal can now work without GCM, they merged an alternative that uses websockets.

[corna]

microG also reimplements the Google Maps APIs (using OpenStreetMaps) and the Location APIs (with different backends, like Mozilla Location Services or a local offline database). The main Google-based service is Google Cloud Messaging, which is disabled by default in microG.

As you can see, microG doesn't strictly depends on the Google cloud services.

[AlexandrB]

Thanks, this explains things a bit. I think I just misunderstood the scope of this since I'm not in the Android ecosystem.