Apk package body optimization in Android

Apk package body optimization in Android

In Android, APK package optimization refers to reducing the size of the application's installation package to reduce the cost for users to download and install applications and improve user experience. APK package optimization has an important impact on application performance, startup speed and user retention rate. Let’s talk about some common APK package optimization strategies:

1. Compress resource files: Use tools to compress resource files in the application, such as images, audio, video and other resources, to reduce the size of the APK. You can use tools such as Tinypng to compress PNG images and tools such as Audacity to compress audio files.

2. Use WebP images: WebP is an efficient image format that is generally smaller than JPEG and PNG images while maintaining the same visual quality. Converting images in your app to WebP format can reduce APK size.

3. Remove useless resources: Remove useless resource files that are no longer used in the application, such as redundant images, unused layout files, etc., to reduce the size of the APK.

4. Use APK subcontracting: For larger applications, you can use APK subcontracting technology to split the application into multiple modules. Users can download the required modules according to their needs, reducing the size of a single APK.

5. Dynamic loading: Place some larger resource files, library files, etc. on the server, and use dynamic loading to download them while the application is running to reduce the size of the APK.

6. Proguard obfuscation: Use the Proguard tool for code obfuscation, which can remove unused code and resources and reduce the size of the APK. At the same time, obfuscation can also increase the security of the code and prevent the code from being decompiled.

7. Use Vector Drawable: Use Vector Drawable vector graphics instead of traditional bitmaps to reduce the size of your APK without losing quality.

8. Compress APK: When building an APK, you can use an APK compression tool to compress the APK and reduce the size of the APK.

9. Use APK Analyzer: Android Studio provides the APK Analyzer tool, which can help developers analyze the composition structure of APK and find out the reasons why the APK size is too large.

10. Optimize the resolution of resource files: Provide different resource files for different screen densities to avoid loading high-density resource files on all devices.

By comprehensively applying the above optimization strategies, the size of the APK can be significantly reduced, the download speed of the application can be improved, and a better experience can be brought to users. It should be noted that when optimizing the APK package body, the resource size and the performance and quality of the application should be weighed to ensure that the optimization does not affect the application's functions and user experience.

Code examples

In the following examples, we will show code examples of some common APK package optimization techniques.

1. Use WebP format images:
   Convert original PNG or JPEG format images to WebP format images, and use WebP format images in the application.

<!-- 在res/drawable目录下放置WebP格式图片，比如image.webp -->

2. Remove useless resources:
   Delete useless resource files that are no longer used in the application, such as redundant pictures, layout files, etc.

3. Use APK subcontracting:
   Use Android's dynamic modularity feature to split the application into multiple modules. This is just an example. In actual use, it needs to be divided and configured according to the needs of the application.

// 在build.gradle中配置动态模块
android {
    
    
    dynamicFeatures = [':feature_module']
}

4. Use Proguard obfuscation:
   Enable Proguard obfuscation in the project's build.gradle and add the obfuscation rule file proguard-rules.pro.

// build.gradle
android {
    
    
    buildTypes {
    
    
        release {
    
    
            minifyEnabled true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

5. Use Vector Drawable:
   Use Vector Drawable instead of traditional bitmap.

<!-- 在res/drawable目录下放置Vector Drawable，比如ic_vector.xml -->
<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:width="24dp"
    android:height="24dp"
    android:viewportWidth="24.0"
    android:viewportHeight="24.0">
    <path
        android:fillColor="#FF000000"
        android:pathData="M12,2C6.48,2 2,6.48 2,12s4.48,10 10,10s10,-4.48 10,-10S17.52,2 12,2zM11,17h-1v-5h1V17zM12,9c-0.55,0 -1,0.45 -1,1s0.45,1 1,1s1,-0.45 1,-1S12.55,9 12,9z" />
</vector>

6. Optimize the resolution of resource files:
   Create folders with corresponding densities in the res directory, and place images of different resolutions in the corresponding folders.

<!-- 在res/drawable-mdpi目录下放置mdpi密度的图片，比如image_mdpi.png -->
<!-- 在res/drawable-hdpi目录下放置hdpi密度的图片，比如image_hdpi.png -->
<!-- 在res/drawable-xhdpi目录下放置xhdpi密度的图片，比如image_xhdpi.png -->
<!-- ... 以此类推 ... -->

It should be noted that the above examples simply demonstrate some APK package optimization techniques and cannot be used directly in specific projects. In actual applications, optimization strategies need to be adjusted and optimized according to the specific needs and scenarios of the application. By comprehensively applying various optimization techniques, you can effectively reduce the size of the APK and improve the download speed and user experience of the application.