App Thinning & Guidelines

The demand for storage capacity in Mobile Application is ever increasing with each new resolution for device being introduced. The issue becomes more apparent in case of Game application, one need to keep all the multimedia (images, videos audio etc.) for all variants of devices, resulting to “Storage almost full” situation. As a matter of fact, nearly 50% smartphone users delete the mobile apps that consume a lot of space on their device.

Making lighter mobile application will become norm for IT industry. Developers need to ensure that their application isn’t deleted by the users due to its massive size.

“A great programmer is not the one who writes great code, but who writes good code in great way!”

Ways to ensure minimal storage capacity requirements in iOS apps:

1.   Using Apple’s App Thinning Tools:

Apple has thinning options that reduce clutter from applications, which saves the spaces on the phones by reducing the unnecessary elements automatically. On uploading an app to the store, it creates multiple versions of the same. These versions are made distinctively for each type of model. Supposedly, if a user of iPhone 7 is looking to download an app, the store will provide the iPhone 7 version of the same app.

2.   Using Media Optimization for iOS:

This process ensures thinning a lot of space on your mobile devices. It defines the optimisation of every form of media. Use ‘Save for Web and Devices’ feature of Photoshop to save them in an appropriate size. It also recommends compressing the audios to smaller MP3 files and limiting the number of videos. The videos should be compressed to .mp4 size to save extra spaces.

3.   Monitor the Memory Allocations in iOS:

Allocations Instrument to monitor the size of memory allocations in iOS-enabled devices can be used. This tool provides data related to total allocations and their frequency. As such, the memory allocations can be delayed until they are needed by the app. Prefer writing the code in SWIFT language for managing the memory and automatically clearing up the spaces and results into app thinning

4.   Scanning IPA File in iOS:

The performance of your app can be speed up by scanning the IPA file installed on the device. This will offer insights into the reasons for increase in the size of .ipa files. Remove the extra files claiming extra space on the devices. Your app will run more smoothly.

Ways to ensure minimal storage capacity requirements in Android Application:

1. Use Android Resource Shrinking Tools:

A tool eliminating the unutilized resources like menus and layouts from mobile application, offering printable diagnostic to comprehend the reasons behind removal of a particular resource. However, this tool does not remove the defined resources existing in the folders.

2.        Image Compressor for Android:

Android uses a tool called Android Asset Packaging Tool(AAPT), which converts a truecolor PNG into 8-bit size using color palette. The image will be smaller in size but displayed with the same quality.

There are other image compression tools as well, like PNG Crush,  PNG Quant, Image Alpha and ImageOptim. Also, for compression of images on web, WebP image format can be used, which compresses images to 26% smaller size as compared to PNG images.

3.         Static Code Analyzer:

The static code analysers such as Lint for C, Source Meter for Java, SonarQube for Java, RPG IV, C/C++, etc. can be integrated into your mobile app, can easily identify the non-transferable program files ,unused automatic variables, unused functions, bugs, etc. These elements are easily removed from the mobile app after creating a detailed HTML report of the same.

4.   Use Java Class File Shrinker for Android:

While developing a mobile application for devices, ProGuard could be used for optimising the code. It works with a template-based configuration working as a file shrinker, which removes the unused codes and compresses the byte-codes for their optimisation. It is enabled by plug-ins and an optional graphic interface.

5.   Reduce The Architecture in Android:

The size of architecture in Android apps can be reduced by using Android Log Print Method. It helps in limiting the number of Isostreams. Also, consider x86 architecture and Armabi for developing the apps using native libraries and codes.

6.   Recycle the Code

One can optimise its size by recycling its code. Tint and colour filter modes for re-colouring the codes for recycling purposes to be used. Also, Rotate draw-able for rotated versions of certain resources can be used. This can prevent the repetition of a code and save a lot of space, resulting to application thinning.

All these techniques help in thinning apps, making them faster to install on the smartphones. If you implement these, your mobile app will get more downloads and better ratings from the users.

Along with mobile application thinning, there are lot of other factors to take care of for mobile app development process. At LetsNurture, we take care of all the parameters to deliver quality results to our clients. We have a well-skilled developers’ team to foster IT requirements of a business. If you have any query related to android app, iOS app or website development, please email us at info@letsnurture.com.