Android 16 supports a new feature called cloud compilation that aims to speed up app install times on budget devices. Here's how it works.
  • Android 16 now supports cloud compilation, a new feature that could speed up new app installs.
  • The goal of cloud compilation is to avoid running the dex2oat tool during app installations by offloading compilation to the cloud.
  • Dex2oat takes an APK file and generates app artifact files that the Android Runtime loads. Depending on the device and the amount of code to compile, this could take some time.

It looks like the ART (Android Runtime) JIT is playing an increasingly less important role with time.

Friendly reminder that the cloud is just someone else’s computer.

  • Skull giver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nlEnglish
    4·
    2 days ago

    I quite regularly see installation stall on older and cheaper phones. One single app install is fine, but when five or ten apps update all at once the phone becomes sluggish for minutes.

    With Android consisting mostly of what, four instruction sets, this problem should’ve been prevented years ago in my opinion. Precompile for the most common platforms, leave the current slow processes for instruction sets nobody uses in practice, like MIPS and RISC-V.

    • MaXimus421@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Well that’s a issue, for sure.

      I absolutely NEVER allow Google Play to just update my apps when it wants to. That’s insane. That would be constantly updating all day everyday. There is no need for daily software updates. There is no need for weekly updates. It’s borderline ridiculous.

      One can argue “but muh security” all they like and go right ahead and do it if you need that validation in your life but when 10 apps are in que for an update 24/7 around the clock it’s almost suspicious.

      • Skull giver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nlEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        I have a lot of apps on my phone. Several government and banking apps require to be updated at least weekly or they’re locked out for security reasons. Sure I could interrupt my 2FA login flow to update the app (assuming I have fast Internet available) but why bother? Google Play should be updating those things in the background while the phone charges. Same with F-Droid, though that’s buggy and gets stuck all the time.

        My Android devices are nothing compared to my Linux installs, anyway.

        • MaXimus421@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          Sure, banking and work related apps. Set those for auto-update.

          The rest, I’d manually do it monthly.