When developers seek to speed up their apps, they typically consider optimizing their code. Efficient code means a better-performing app. But how do you upgrade an app's performance without rewriting the code? Here, we explore six techniques that enhance app speed with minimal or no change to the code underneath. Generally, these tips are effective for all kinds of apps, web-based or native, regardless of the devices or platforms they operate on. Make your apps run faster.
6 Ways to Make Your Apps Run Faster
#1 Use database indexing
Even if you've optimized your code for speed, an inefficient database will still lead to slow performance. To get your apps running faster, optimize your database. A full discussion on database optimization is beyond this article's scope. However, enabling database indexing is one simple trick to speed up your database. Be cautious not to overdo it. A well-executed database index config can make a huge difference in app performance. It's especially helpful for apps that frequently have transactions.
#2 Prefer gradual loading of images
Nearly all contemporary applications require images. However, the drawback of using images is their slow loading speed, particularly for web applications as they need to be retrieved from remote servers. A simple solution to make your applications run quicker is "lazy" image loading. This involves loading pictures after the rest of an application's content is downloaded. Thanks to the "loading" attribute on the <img> tag in HTML, implementing lazy loading is effortless with only a few minor code tweaks. To activate it for a specific image, modify your code to resemble the above.
Want to incorporate lazy loading into a non-HTML app? It's possible in languages like Java and Python, but it may require more than just simple code changes. Learn the methods by language and get ready to optimize your app's performance.
#3 Minify Code
Looking to speed up your app? Code minification is the answer. By making your source code as concise as possible, you can decrease download delays and ultimately make your app run faster. This technique is especially helpful for apps that require source code to be downloaded before they can run, like those using Javascript. Luckily, minimizing your code doesn't have to be a major undertaking. Simply use a tool like HTMLMinifier or cssnano to minify the code automatically. Give your app the boost it needs with code modification.
You need to understand that in order for the application to work faster, you need to build in regular data cleaning. However, this applies not only to one application. It may well be that the user already has a cluttered device and lags due to a lack of memory. You should encourage customers to use the Cleaner for iPhone app if your app is properly optimized. A powerful cleaner app will greatly improve the performance of your device and free up quite a lot of memory.
#4 Use a CDN
In today's world, it's challenging to locate where your users are physically situated. Thankfully, content delivery networks (CDNs) are more valuable than ever before. By storing copies of your app and data on servers that are closer to your users, CDNs save time and reduce latency.
In the past, only development teams with large budgets could afford CDNs. Now, CDNs have become pretty affordable. Some vendors offer free CDN services for personal apps, and business-level plans start at around $20 per month. The truly daring can even create their own CDNs using open-source solutions like KubeCDN.
#5 Exclude splash screen
The debate over whether to use splash screens - those static images that appear while an app is loading - is surprisingly intense. Marketers typically favor them for branding purposes, and users may enjoy the instant gratification of seeing something before the app is fully loaded. However, I argue that the benefits of using splash screens are outweighed by the negatives. Instead of making your users wait, let them start using the app as soon as possible. You can find other ways to promote your brand, and if the app takes too long to load, speed it up instead of relying on a splash screen. Don't settle for a substitute when you can give users what they really want.
#6 Run the app inside a container
Boost your app's speed by switching from server-side virtual machines to containers. Containers require fewer resources, leaving more for your applications. While it may take some work to package a virtual machine app as a container, there are tools available to automate the process for certain cases. Consider using Image2Docker for Windows apps or VM2Docker for Linux-based VMs (although it hasn't been updated recently).
Conclusion
Improving the speed of your apps is not always an easy task. It takes a lot of trial and error to find the right combination of techniques that work best for you. However, following these six tips will give you the best chance of executing an efficient system. Make sure you research the best application development strategies, use software designed for optimization, keep your programs as simple as possible, analyze testing results closely, etc. With some careful guidance and strategic planning, making your apps run faster does not have to be a major challenge.