Google’s New Android Runtime Engine Update Scheme to Maintain Android Phone Speed
Google developers have introduced a groundbreaking update to the Android Runtime (ART) engine, offering users faster app start-up times and enhanced performance. The latest blog post reveals the advantages of ART’s newfound ability to update independently of the operating system, ushering in a new era of improved app responsiveness and user experience.
ART serves as the driving force behind Android, responsible for compiling Java and Kotlin into bytecode and executing it. With the introduction of updates to ART, Google has managed to accelerate app start-up speeds even without requiring a full operating system update. Notably, the Android 13 version of ART has demonstrated a remarkable up to 30 percent reduction in app start-up times on select devices.
The integration of ART as a modular component of the operating system in Android 12, through the APEX module, has paved the way for convenient updates via the Play Store. This shift has enabled about 31% of users, equivalent to a staggering 600 million users, to receive regular updates that enhance their app engine’s speed and performance. In comparison to other APEX modules, ART stands out as one of the largest, boasting a significantly larger number of APIs.
Google’s approach to ART has evolved into a more structured version-control system akin to major software projects. With Android 14, the anticipated “ART 14” will be unveiled, bringing forth a suite of improvements. What’s noteworthy is that these improvements won’t be confined to Android 14 alone; the majority of ART 14 enhancements will be extended to older Android OS versions. This means that even users on Android 12 will be able to harness the benefits of ART 14 and its advanced features.
Looking back at ART 13, Google’s accompanying chart showcased the timeline of the update’s rollout and its tangible impact on average app launch times. The ART 13 update delivered several crucial improvements, including faster native code-switching and a remarkable 2.5x acceleration in JNI calls. Moreover, ART’s enhanced bytecode validation during installation mitigated the need for runtime validation, ultimately leading to a 30 percent reduction in startup times on certain devices.
The upcoming ART 14 update promises a substantial upgrade for Android, transitioning from OpenJDK 11 to OpenJDK 17. Coupled with new compiler and runtime optimizations, this update is designed to bolster performance while simultaneously minimizing code size, thereby delivering a seamless and efficient user experience.
In conclusion, Google’s innovative advancements in the Android Runtime engine have set the stage for a faster, more responsive app ecosystem. The ability to update ART independently of the operating system, along with the widespread distribution of improvements across multiple OS versions, underscores Google’s commitment to enhancing user experience and app performance on the Android platform.
