Tools · Open source
Museum of a broken API
Fynn Godau
Warns against using a system usage stats API
Opens the official F-Droid page
About Museum of a broken API
Please install usageDirect instead of this app if you are interested in system usage statistics.
This app reflects my experience with the usagae statistics API from a few Android versions ago. It may no longer be current and this app is no longer being maintained.
The Android system collects app usage statistics in the background; however, native Android contains no way to read out this data properly. That is why I wanted to create a tool to display it. Unfortunately, I had to learn that this data source was riddled with bugs and highly unreliable.
Thus, I converted this application into a museum. It exhibits aggregated usage statistics per day for usually the past ten days, per week for the past four weeks, per month for the past six months as well as data aggregated by year. As a special exhibition, it can display this data as charts.
Design-wise, the app comes in the style of the settings app to highlight that this API is a part of the Android system.
An included Guide to the exhibition names some of the issues you can expect to find on your tour.
What's new in 0.8.1
Sunset 'Museum of a broken API' with a few translation updates.
How to install Museum of a broken API
- Tap Download — the app's official page on F-Droid opens.
- Install it with the F-Droid app (recommended, for automatic updates), or use the download button on that page.
- If Android asks, allow the F-Droid app or your browser to install apps, then tap Install.
- Open Museum of a broken API from your app drawer.




