Re-evaluate use of the accessibility service for cache cleaning

[d4rken]

The primary issues are:

• Google's disdain for abuse of this feature
• Doesn't work in the background
• Really cheap "hack"

Google seems to have relaxed their position, but requires a good explanation. See attached screenshot showing Taskers explanation.

Their GPlay description just contains:

This app uses Accessibility services.

The foreground issue can't be fixed. So this will be difficult to run via scheduler. The only workaround I can think of would be to make this OPT-IN with huge warning not to cry 1 ⭐️ if it doesn't work as expected.

It being a "cheap hack" is still valid, but as Android 8.1 removed the global "clear cache" button in system > storage, this really makes it easier for the user (on <8.1 doing it manually is a lot faster).

Tasker Example

[d4rken]

Comments welcome!

[d4rken]

1Tap Cleaner

The GPlay description says

BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE: this app uses Accessibility services to automate the function (e.g. clear cache)

1Tap Cleaner Example

[jise]

Another example.
The same developer Sam Lu: https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=7252933074709348199
AppMgr III (App 2 SD): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.a0soft.gphone.app2sd

App Mgr Example

[d4rken]

https://github.com/d4rken/sdmaid-public/wiki/AppCleaner#accessibility-service

[d4rken]

Got a working prototype, figuring out an easy UI integration will be a bit more work, but so far so good.

[d4rken]

I need help with the localization and different Android versions.

SD Maid needs to find the two items to click:

Item 1 is a list entry that takes us to the app's storage details, in English on Android 9 the entry reads:

Storage
X,XX MB used in internal storage

Example

Item 2 is the button for clearing the cache, in English on Android 9 it's labeled:

Clear cache

Example

How to help:

• State your locale/language, Android version and device.
• Post the text of item 1 and item 2, so I can copy paste them (in case non Latin characters are used)
• Add a screenshot of both screens

[jise]

cs/Czech, 9 Xiaomi Mi A1

Edited: Deleted the wrong snapshot, see my next post for the correct one.

VYMAZAT MEZIPAMĚŤ

Screenshot

[d4rken]

@jise The first screenshot is from the general "device storage" screen, isn't it? I need the app specific page, see my first example screenshot again.

[jise]

@jise The first screenshot is from the general "device storage" screen, isn't it? I need the app specific page, see my first example screenshot again.

I'm so sorry, I was in a hurry and completely missed your clickable examples. Here is the correct one:

Úložiště
interní úložiště - využito 14,38 MB

Screenshot

[d4rken]

The base implementation is done, to improve support for additional languages and ROMs see #2396