Pi SD Writer (Android): write Raspberry Pi images to microSD from your phone (USB OTG, cloud/local sources, chunked streaming)

https://preview.redd.it/vpz1txwa1kah1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=f52f5075d2c090cbd78ea5cbbe278bdea33d60f3

Hi folks, I’ve been building **Pi SD Writer**, an Android app focused on one workflow: preparing and flashing SD images for Raspberry Pi/SBC devices directly from a smartphone.

The goal is to remove the laptop/desktop requirement and keep the process reliable even on mobile hardware.

# What it does

* Select image source from:
* Google Drive
* Local file storage
* GitLab Releases (Premium)
* GitHub Releases (Premium)
* Raspberry OS catalog
* Supports common formats:
* `.img`
* `.img.gz`
* `.img.xz`
* `.iso`
* `.zip`
* Writes directly to microSD over **USB OTG**.
* Uses **streaming/chunked transfer** to reduce peak RAM usage during write operations.
* Includes guided 3-step flow:
* Source selection
* USB/device validation
* Write progress + live log output

# Technical approach (high level)

* Cloud/release sources are validated before selection so users get a list of valid image assets first.
* Write path is designed around block/chunk streaming rather than loading full images in memory.
* UI exposes progress state, ETA area, and live diagnostic logs for visibility during long writes.
* Connectivity-sensitive sources (Drive/GitLab/GitHub/Raspberry OS) are disabled when offline.
* Google auth is used for account/session features and plan management.
* Base plan has a monthly write quota; Premium unlocks unlimited writes and extra repository integrations.

# Why I built it

The existing SD flashing flow is still desktop-first. I wanted a phone-first workflow that is practical when traveling or when you only have Android + OTG adapter + SD reader.

# Known constraints

* OTG hardware quality matters (reader/cable stability can affect results).
* For network-backed sources, internet connectivity must remain stable during transfer.
* UX and recovery paths for interrupted writes are still being improved.

# Feedback I’m looking for

1. Which source integration matters most to you (Drive/local/GitLab/GitHub/Raspberry OS)?
2. Would you prefer stricter pre-write validation (slower, safer) or faster start?
3. What diagnostics are most useful in the live log when a write fails?
4. Any must-have feature before wider release?


[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magix.sdcardimager](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magix.sdcardimager)

Thank you!

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