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.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    12·
    3 days ago

    That’s not going to work too well when you’re offline

    • ilinamorato@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Oh no? We’ve had browser storage and cached web apps for twenty years now. The technology exists and could be improved, if we stopped forcing everything to be a native app.

      I mean, honestly, most “native” apps are webviews displaying cached content. Clearly we can make it happen, it just needs to be more discoverable and have smoother integration.

      • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        So you’re just reimplementing the current model but with the extra layer of a browser in between. Installing a PWA is the same as installing a native app, except instead of running it directly you also have to have a browser installed to run it. It’s adding a significant amount of complexity for no good reason. Browsers are huge attack targets.