Can't update app in store because of target api23 (no downgrade possible)

Question

long story short:

• I have an app in the store, uploaded with target(!) api23
• Now I have to use the metaio SDK (Augmented reality) to implement a feature
• this SDK is not maintained anymore (company got bought & closed by apple)
• metaio SDK crashes when using a target api23
  • ...because of text relocations in the ffmpeg lib, in libavcodec.so, see also:
  • libavcodec.so: has text relocations
  • http://rg4.net/archives/1973.html
  • https://github.com/wseemann/FFmpegMediaPlayer/issues/64

Problem:

• apps uploaded with target api23 once, can't be updated with lower target api
• metaio can't handle api23, due to a text relocations bug

Idea so far:

• replace the old libavcodec.so (arm & x86) by a newer version, but I can't find any compiled version...

PS: sure it's dump to use a deprecated sdk and it has to be replaced sometime in the future, but for now I have to use it, as there's a huge content and backend part that is used in the project.

PPS: worst case idea is to upload the same app but with a different ID, api22 and AR features in the GooglePlay...and having two nearly identical apps... <_<

Thanks a lot for every help! :)

Answer 1

Short Term Solution

Wrap every call to the library with if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.M). This will disable all functionality that relies on the library. You should probably notify the user of an API 23 device in this case.

Long Term Solution

Find a replacement. If you have a no longer maintained dependency which is already incompatible with current versions, it will only get worse.

Answer 2

You can publish the old version of your application with an updated version code. https://stackoverflow.com/a/19164218/3789575