The standard Android VPN icon indicates only that a VPN interface exists, not that it is functional. The system flag TRANSPORT_VPN remains active even if the VPN client process hangs, the server is unreachable, or the tunnel is inactive.
The developer implemented a custom monitoring tool to verify actual connectivity. The solution uses a combined approach: checking the TRANSPORT_VPN interface status alongside active HTTP requests to an external service to confirm traffic flow.
The project utilizes Jetpack Glance for widgets, employing SizeMode.Responsive to adapt content based on widget size. To bypass the 15-minute update limit of WorkManager, the developer uses a foreground service with a 30-second minimum update interval.
The system includes a NetworkCallback mechanism to monitor network changes, filtered to trigger updates only upon specific events to avoid excessive battery drain. An overlay feature was also implemented, designed to self-recover if the system terminates the process.
