How can you reduce the size of your app without sacrificing performance on CE devices?

1 Use compression tools

One of the easiest ways to reduce the size of your app is to use compression tools that can shrink the files and resources that your app uses. For example, you can compress images, audio, video, fonts, and other assets using tools like PNGCrush, JPEGMini, WebP, Zopfli, or Brotli. You can also compress your code files using tools like UglifyJS, Closure Compiler, or ProGuard. Compression tools can help you save space and bandwidth, as well as improve loading and rendering times.

2 Remove unused code and assets

Another way to reduce the size of your app is to remove any code and assets that are not used or needed by your app. For example, you can remove unused libraries, frameworks, modules, classes, methods, variables, or comments from your code. You can also remove unused images, audio, video, fonts, or other assets from your app. You can use tools like Lint, Analyze APK, or Android Studio to identify and remove unused code and assets. Removing unused code and assets can help you avoid unnecessary bloat and complexity in your app.

3 Split your app into modules

A third way to reduce the size of your app is to split your app into modules that can be downloaded separately by the users. For example, you can use dynamic feature modules, app bundles, or progressive web apps to create modular apps that can deliver only the features and resources that the users need at a given time. You can also use conditional delivery, on-demand delivery, or instant delivery to control when and how the modules are downloaded by the users. Splitting your app into modules can help you reduce the initial download size and the memory footprint of your app.

4 Optimize your network requests

A fourth way to reduce the size of your app is to optimize your network requests that your app makes to communicate with servers or other devices. For example, you can use caching, prefetching, or offline mode to store and retrieve data locally instead of fetching it from the network. You can also use batching, throttling, or debouncing to reduce the number and frequency of network requests. You can also use compression, encryption, or serialization to reduce the size and complexity of the data that is sent or received by your app. Optimizing your network requests can help you improve the performance and reliability of your app.

5 Test and monitor your app

A fifth way to reduce the size of your app is to test and monitor your app regularly to identify and fix any issues or errors that might affect the performance or efficiency of your app. For example, you can use tools like Firebase Performance Monitoring, Android Vitals, or Chrome DevTools to measure and analyze the performance metrics of your app, such as loading time, memory usage, CPU usage, battery consumption, or network activity. You can also use tools like Crashlytics, Sentry, or Bugsnag to detect and report any crashes, exceptions, or bugs that might occur in your app. Testing and monitoring your app can help you ensure the quality and stability of your app.

6 Follow best practices and guidelines

A sixth way to reduce the size of your app is to follow the best practices and guidelines that are recommended by the platforms and devices that your app targets. For example, you can follow the Android App Bundle format, the Google Play Asset Delivery system, or the Android TV guidelines if you are developing an app for Android devices. You can also follow the tvOS App Size Limits, the On-Demand Resources system, or the Apple TV guidelines if you are developing an app for iOS devices. Following the best practices and guidelines can help you comply with the standards and expectations of the platforms and devices that your app targets.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?