Reverse Engineering Android Apps for Learning – My Experience with Messaging Mods

Hey everyone 👋

I’m currently diving into Android app development, and one fascinating area I’ve been exploring is how modded apps work — especially popular messaging apps. Recently, I came across GB WhatsApp, a modified version of the official WhatsApp, and I got curious about what makes it different under the hood.

Instead of using it just as an end-user, I started looking into what custom features like advanced privacy controls, UI tweaks, and media sharing limits involve in terms of code. It’s been an interesting journey learning about smali files, decompiling APKs, and understanding how permissions are managed.

Has anyone else here experimented with APK mods or reverse engineering for educational purposes? Would love to hear how others used this path to learn about Android internals or improve their dev skills.

Also, if you’re interested in learning how tools like GB WhatsApp are built or modified, feel free to connect. It’s a fascinating space where development meets user experience innovation.