Improve and measure the speed of your Android App Startup times
The app’s speedy startup time is essential to provide users an enjoyable experience. According to studies, 20% of users are likely to leave an android app when it takes longer than five minutes to load. As an app creator, you should constantly evaluate and improve your app’s initial performance. Here are some ideas on how you can do this.
The time it takes to start your app.
It is the first thing to determine the speed at which your app is running. There are many instruments you can utilize:
Android Studio Profiler
The Android Studio Profiler allows you to determine when to start your application. How to utilize it:
- Start your project within Android Studio.
- Go to”Profile” and then click the “Profile” tab.
- Choose”Methodtracing” as the “Method tracing” profiling mode.
- Run your app.
- Stop profiling your app when it is fully loaded.
- Review the trace. This will reveal the time for each step of the process to start.
The profiler lets you see which techniques consume the most time to start. This allows you to pinpoint areas for optimization.
Third-party tools
There are several third-party tools that you can make use of, like Trepn Profiler AppsFlyer in addition to Appsee. They provide additional metrics beyond the essential startup time, such as CPU utilization and network requests. You can also compare startup times across various devices.
Logcat
Additionally, you can manually add Log statements during the app’s startup to determine time deltas. Examples:
Copy code
Log.d(“StartupTime,” “App init began”);
//… perform app init
Log.d(“StartupTime”, “App init took ” + (System.currentTimeMillis() – startTime) + “ms”);
Check the Logcat output to determine the time stamps. The drawback is that it manually adds Log calls to every point of significance.
Track user metrics
An alternative is to observe users’ actions during startup, such as “first tap” or “first product view.” By relating this data to the startup duration, it is possible to build models to predict typical times for startups on the ground. Monitoring user metrics can help determine the startup speed under real-world situations.
The ability to reduce the startup time of your application
Once you’ve got a clear picture of the performance of your app’s startup, Here are some suggestions to cut down on the time it takes to start:
Make sure you have a well-designed manifesto.
- Only declare necessary elements such as Services, Activities, etc. Make sure you remove any unnecessary declarations.
- Specify the Android:directBootAware attribute to defer the loading of components until needed.
- Add android:extractNativeLibs=”false” to prevent extracting native libraries if not needed.
- Use Android: hardware-accelerated to enable hardware acceleration for Activities that need it.
Initialize components lazily
Don’t initialize everything at the time of startup. Only load components when they’re required. Examples:
- Insist on a lazy initialization of libraries and SDKs in the specific Activity/Fragments that utilize them, rather than starting them at the beginning of each day.
- Download significant UI elements, such as large videos or images, unconsciously.
Reducing the main thread work
As little as you can in the primary thread during initialization. Start information in lines running behind to prevent obstruction to the UI. Common examples:
- Database queries and I/O to files
- Initializing SDKs
- Inflating layouts
Use AsyncTask, IntentService, Loaders, or RxJava Observables to perform background tasks.
Improve the layout to increase and reduce inflation.
Layout inflation can consume an essential portion of the time to start. Making it easier to manage this can yield enormous benefits.
- Use ViewStub, the ViewStub class, to fill heavyweight layouts slackly.
- Create larger layouts and only show them at times when required.
- Utilize ConstraintLayout for structures that are nested whenever it is
- You can flatten layouts nested in the arrangements if you are able.
- Do not design structures that have too many perspectives.
Minimize initialization of apps and activities.
Make sure that your Activity and Application are kept to a minimum. Initial logic to a minimum.
- Applications created using onCreate() should be used only to create application-wide singletons. Perform other tasks when needed.
- Transfer Activity Initialization Code away from onCreate() onto the onStart().
Utilize resources efficiently
Video and image resources could make your app bloated. Be sure to load them with care:
- Convert image resources using tools such as TinyPNG.
- Reduce large images to smaller sizes as needed.
- Common image resources are reused across layouts.
- Use WebP format for smaller images.
- Video content streaming instead of bundling it as a file.
Additionally, you should move any resources not required during app startup from the main app to the expansion file.
Requests for Profile Network
Unoptimized network requests during startup create loading delays.
- Install network libraries such as Retrofit/Volley in a lazy fashion to minimize the impact of a startup.
- Utilize profilers like OkHttp and OkHttp to examine the network calls.
- Concatenation, caching, and compression of requests to the network.
- Only download the required data at the initial startup. Do not delay requests that are not critical.
Modify your code
Split your app into logical parts and make sure that they are initialized independently
- Separate the core functionality from the additional features
- Separate library and app modules into different Gradle projects
- Only start the runtime libraries if needed
Test on real devices
Always test the performance of your application on actual devices, particularly those with low or mid-range specs. Many issues, such as performance bottlenecks, aren’t apparent when using emulators. Check both release and debug builds.
Enable Android App Bundles
Utilize Android App Bundles to reduce the size of your app. In addition, the Play Store will download optimized APKs for every device configuration, meaning fewer downloads and installations.
Continuously improve startup speed.
Optimizing startup times for apps isn’t a one-time event. As your app grows, keep:
- Monitor startup times and monitor the time of startup using profiling tools
- Set budgets for the performance of the app initialization
- Include the time of startup within your Continuous Integration benchmarks
- Include startup optimizations in your release requirements
- Monitor the startup performance of the user’s devices
- Keep abreast of the latest software, devices, and compiler enhancements
Optimizing is an essential aspect of the development process, and throughout the release cycle, it is possible to provide a lightning-fast Android app experience.
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Locate dedicated Android developers.
The development of a high-quality Android app requires considerable experience. Although you can create an easy app independently, developing a production-grade application with smooth performance, a gorgeous interface, and sturdy architecture requires specialist Android development abilities. Instead of attempting it yourself, it is recommended to employ committed Android developers to create your app perfectly. Here are the top advantages:
They have extensive Android knowledge.
Professional Android developers create applications all the time. They are experts in developing a variety of apps in diverse sectors. They are up-to-date with recent Android capabilities, techniques, trends, and best practices. Their vast knowledge lets them anticipate and solve the unique issues that each app faces.
They are focused on the quality of their products.
The dedicated Android developers adhere to industry – and Google-suggested standards such as the material design process, Kotlin usage, architecture patterns, etc. They use the automated test and integration process to ensure your app’s performance is safe, secure, and bug-free. Their commitment to quality prevents you from being stuck in a poor app.
They will work closely with you.
Professional developers work closely with you to learn your requirements before writing. They offer regular status updates and demos to ensure the final product meets your expectations. Contrary to freelancers working in the solitude of their teams, dedicated teams provide total transparency.
They’ll support your app over the long term.
The team is responsible for the entire lifecycle of your app – improvements or new features and bug fixes, as well as maintenance and management of releases. They are intimately acquainted with the codebase of your app and offer support for years instead of disappearing following your initial launch.
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How do you hire dedicated Android developers?
Here are some suggestions for finding committed Android talent:
- Make sure you clearly define your app’s specifications and the budget
- Be sure to vet developers Based on their experiences, codes, reviews, and code samples
- Make sure they adhere to Google’s suggested guidelines
- Look for excellent communication skills
- Choose a firm instead of freelancers for a more reliable service
- Conduct a technical interview to evaluate the abilities
- Start by launching a small pilot project before committing to the long term.
Hiring committed Android professionals will ultimately result in a robust, high-end application that pleases your customers and helps your business achieve successful growth. The investment is worthwhile!
How can I hire a professional Android developer?
As a business or entrepreneur owner, finding skilled Android developers is crucial for creating an effective mobile app. Where should you begin your search? Here are the most reliable places to hire Android App developers:
Firms that develop for Android
Particularized Android development companies have dedicated teams of experienced Android App developers proficient in creating complicated Android applications. They usually recruit and screen Android developers thoroughly. Because Android is their primary focus, they are always on top of the most current Android capabilities and best practices. For instance, they have the TechGropse along with MindInventory.
Freelancing sites
Websites for freelancers such as Upwork, Toptal, and Guru permit you to submit your project requirements and communicate directly with developers. You can look up reviews, profiles, ratings, and work examples. The vast talent pool helps you find Android experts that fit your budget. Be sure to vet potential candidates thoroughly.
The developer community
Being active and being a part of the Android community for developers helps you meet talented people. Developers can meet at events like Google I/O and various Meetups. Experts are often active on developer forums, such as StackOverflow, which allows you to post jobs.
College Recruiting
Utilize computer science courses at colleges to recruit recently graduated Android developers. Although they might not have the expertise, the best candidates have a unique skill set that they can develop through the guidance of a mentor. Hackathons and events for college recruitment are great venues to identify the best talent.
Google Developer Groups
Google Developer Groups (GDGs) hold local events for developers. Participating in GDG meetings can help you meet Android users in your area. Many of them are professional and eager to work on app development projects.
LinkedIn and GitHub
Scour LinkedIn and Github to discover skilled Android developers available for hiring. Search for relevant projects, skills, and suggestions from their pages. Contact them directly via LinkedIn Messages.
Referrals
References from other entrepreneurs and developers can be excellent sources for candidates. Ask your network for Android developer referrals. Make referrals easy by clearly stating your requirements and your ideal candidate’s profile.
If you look through these channels, you will find many skilled Android developers you can choose from. Ensure you thoroughly screen every candidate before hiring them to get the ideal match to meet your app’s needs.