ShareToLocate

ShareToLocate is a private, peer-to-peer location-sharing application for Android. It allows trusted contacts to exchange their real-time location directly through the Tox network, without requiring a central location server or exposing a public IP address during contact pairing.

The project is based on the concept and core workflow of zoff99's ToLoShare. ShareToLocate is a modern, independent reimplementation written for current Android versions; it does not copy the original application's source code.

Features Real-time location sharing with verified contacts over Tox. OpenStreetMap-based map with markers for the local user and contacts. Map tracking modes for free navigation, the local position, or a selected contact. Persistent foreground location service with a visible notification and stop action. QR-based contact pairing without exposing the user's public IP address. Mutual short-code verification in 1234-5678 format. Persistent Tox identity and verified contact list. Location smoothing controls. Optional keep-screen-awake behavior. Optional screenshot protection for sensitive map data. Material 3 interface optimized for dark mode. Android 13-16 permission handling. Per-contact “Ring my phone” authorization and peer-to-peer attention requests. Configurable ring behavior: silent notification, notification with sound, or sound only. Automatic respect for Android Do Not Disturb and silent modes. Changeable application lock PIN. One-tap standard attention requests, with an optional custom-message menu and visible resend countdown. Per-contact marker colors, saved locally and rendered on the map. Optional phone contact links with quick Call and WhatsApp actions in attention notifications. Collapsible contact cards and settings categories to keep the interface focused.

Changes and Improvements over ToLoShare This version keeps the original idea of decentralized location sharing while replacing and extending the Android implementation. The main changes are:

Complete Android UI rewrite using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose. Material 3 design with a modern dark-mode-focused interface. Updated Android project targeting Android 16 / API level 36. OpenStreetMap integration through osmdroid. Reworked map interaction and selectable tracking modes. QR-assisted contact linking. Mutual verification codes to reduce the risk of pairing with the wrong contact. Persistent foreground service designed for modern Android location restrictions. Explicit service notification with a user-accessible stop action. Updated runtime permission flow for location, background location, notifications, and foreground services. Encrypted local preferences for sensitive identity data. Disabled Android backups for private application data. Privacy controls for screenshots and keeping the display active. Release configuration for Android App Bundles, code shrinking, resource shrinking, and Play App Signing upload keys. Per-contact controls for remote attention alerts, available only during active location sharing.