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.

  • space_iio@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    It’s an interesting trick because it makes me ponder: why would google do this?

    Pre-compiling on the server means spending compute resources that are not free on something that was free before. In other words: cost. Why would google incur a cost on something that is non-user marketable or even perceptible? Were there really that many users complaining about how long it took to install x random app? Would google do this out of the kindness of their hearts?

    So here’s my best theory of why they’re doing this: **Automatic installing of apps / ads on the background. **

    here’s why I think that:

    • Google has a history of trying this in-between state of app/website with “instant apps”. Instant apps were never really “instant” though and they never really took off.

    • There are already several full screen ads for dopaming-hacking games that are partially interactive. It wouldn’t take much to jump into a “pass the first level to skip the ad” kind of mechanic instead of “watch 20 seconds of this video to skip the ad” The limiting factor is how quickly does the ad install on your device.

    • Xiaomi and other Chinese companies have demonstrated how lucrative auto-installed crapware is. If one assumes that the concept generates revenue, imagine the following pitch:

    • For $20 we’ll highlight your app on the play store

    • For $200 we’ll show 20 full screen ads on 1000 users

    • For $2000 we’ll pre-install the app on 1000 users from May 1st to June 1st