RackemApp App Update - From the App Dev

By Bob Bain
On Thursday 09 October 2025 07:22

📱 Android/Samsung Issues – What Happened

Some users—particularly on Samsung devices—experienced issues after a required update to meet Google Play Store policies.

First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologise for the disruption this caused to your players and to you as league administrators. I understand how frustrating it is when technology doesn’t work as expected, especially when you're trying to run events smoothly. Your patience and understanding during this time have been greatly appreciated.

Workaround: Clear app data and reset app permissions. Full instructions here:

Link to workaround

I’ve since rewritten the mobile app to address the issue, and future updates should be smoother and more reliable.

📲 App Version 2.0.0 – Rebuilt for Reliability and Performance

As part of resolving the recent Android issues—particularly affecting Samsung devices—I undertook a complete rebuild of the RackEmApp mobile application. This wasn’t just a patch; it was a ground-up redevelopment aimed at improving stability, performance, and user experience.

Here’s what prompted the change:

  • Google enforced a mandatory upgrade to the latest Android API level, which caused compatibility issues on certain devices.
  • The previous version of the app relied on several third-party components that added unnecessary bloat and complexity.
  • Some users experienced frozen screens and loading spinners that never resolved, especially after the update.

To address these challenges, I rebuilt the app with a focus on simplicity, speed, and resilience:

  • ✅ Leaner Codebase: Removed outdated and bloated third-party libraries to reduce app size and improve responsiveness.
  • ✅ Smarter Loading: Replaced the full-screen spinner with a cleaner inline loading box that includes retry functionality—no more endless frozen screens.
  • ✅ Improved Performance: The app now launches faster, responds more smoothly, and handles errors more gracefully.
  • ✅ Bug Fixes: Addressed several minor bugs reported over the past few weeks, improving overall reliability.

This update lays the groundwork for future enhancements and ensures a more consistent experience across devices. If you haven’t already, please make sure you’re running the latest version and follow the workaround steps if you’re still experiencing issues.