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Android Performance

Colt McAnlis and Chris Lei

Colt McAnlis and Chris Lei

If you’ve ever hit performance issues that affect your app’s usability, this course will teach you how to identify and diagnose your performance problems. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to perform exploratory tests, run profiling tools, use outputs to navigate to problematic code, and design a plan of attack to mitigate poor performance. You’ll also gain a higher level of understanding about how program code and the Android platform interact, which will help you optimize for performance in the future.

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what should give you pause

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Teaches how to identify and diagnose performance issues with Android apps, a skill in demand for Android developers

Taught by experienced industry professionals Colt McAnlis and Chris Lei

Explores optimization and performance in modern Android development, topics that are fast-paced and require continuous updates to stay competitive

Provides hands-on exercises to help solidify concepts and develop skills

Requires familiarity with Android development and Git, which may limit accessibility for beginners

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Reviews summary

Android performance profiling and optimization

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to diagnosing and improving Android app performance. Students found it particularly helpful for understanding and using Android Studio's profiling tools to identify common issues like CPU usage, memory leaks, and rendering bottlenecks. While many appreciate the practical demos and hands-on approach, some note that the course offers a high-level overview rather than deep dives, suggesting it's best suited as a starting point. Some reviewers also mentioned that having prior Android development experience is crucial to keep up with the material and apply the techniques effectively.

Course includes useful demos and exercises.

"The practical demos using the profiler were really effective."

"I appreciated the hands-on exercises that let me practice with the tools."

"Learning by doing with the provided code examples was very helpful."

Provides a solid introduction to performance concepts.

"This course provides a great foundation for understanding Android performance."

"It's a good starting point if you're new to optimizing Android apps."

"The course covers the main areas of performance well enough for an introduction."

"I gained a good high-level understanding of performance bottlenecks."

Learn how to use Android Studio's profilers.

"The course did a great job explaining how to use the profilers effectively."

"I finally understand how to use the CPU and Memory profilers in Android Studio thanks to this course."

"The practical exercises using the profiler were the most valuable part for me."

"Learning to interpret the output from the profilers was very helpful in pinpointing issues."

Requires strong prior Android development skills.

"Make sure you have solid Android development experience before taking this."

"The prerequisites are important; you need to be comfortable with Android lifecycles and Java."

"I struggled a bit because my prior experience wasn't quite at the level needed to fully grasp everything quickly."

"This is definitely not for beginners; you need to know your way around an Android project."

Coverage can feel surface-level on some topics.

"While it covers the basics, I felt some topics could have gone into more depth."

"The course provides a good overview, but doesn't make you an expert in any specific area."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but it mostly covers foundational concepts."

"It felt like it scratched the surface rather than diving deep into complex optimization."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Android Performance with these activities:

Read "Rapid Application Development with Android Studio" by Michael Burton

Show steps

Review the basics of Android development before starting the course.

View Android App Development For Dummies on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the book.
Read chapters 1-3.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Practice creating Android layouts

Show steps

Become proficient in designing user interfaces for Android apps.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Find resources with layout exercises online.
Practice creating different types of layouts (e.g., linear, relative, constraint).
Implement layouts in existing or practice projects.

Participate in peer discussion forums

Show steps

Connect with other students to exchange knowledge and insights.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Find discussion forums related to Android development.
Engage in discussions and ask questions.
Share your knowledge and insights with others.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Follow tutorials on Android profiling tools

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Learn how to use tools to identify and fix performance issues in Android apps.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Find online resources with Android profiling tools.
Follow tutorials on how to use profiling tools.
Use profiling tools to analyze a practice or existing app.

Participate in Android development competitions

Show steps

Challenge yourself and test your skills in a competitive environment.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Find Android development competitions online.
Choose a competition to participate in.
Develop an app and submit it to the competition.

Create a custom Android performance optimization tool

Show steps

Gain a deep understanding of profiling tools by building one.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Research existing profiling tools.
Design and implement a custom profiling tool.
Test and refine the tool in practice.

Contribute to open-source Android libraries

Show steps

Get involved in the Android community and enhance your skills by contributing to real-world projects.

Browse courses on Android Development

Show steps

Find open-source Android libraries on platforms like GitHub.
Review the documentation and codebase of a library.
Make improvements or contribute new features to the library.

Career center

Learners who complete Android Performance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Android Developer

Android Developers write code for mobile applications designed to run on Android devices. These applications can be used for a variety of purposes, from entertainment to productivity. Android Developers are responsible for the entire development process, from design to implementation to testing. They need to have a strong understanding of both Android programming and the Java programming language.

See salaries and explore the career path for Android Developer

Mobile Application Developer

Mobile Application Developers are responsible for the design and development of mobile applications. They use their knowledge of programming languages and software development tools to create apps that run on smartphones and other mobile devices. Mobile Application Developers may specialize in a particular area, such as Android or iOS development, or they may work on a variety of different platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. They use their knowledge of programming languages and software engineering principles to create software that meets the needs of users. Software Engineers may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers write code to create software applications. They use their knowledge of programming languages and software development tools to translate ideas into code that can be executed by computers. Computer Programmers may work on a variety of different projects, from small personal projects to large enterprise applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for testing software to ensure that it meets the requirements of the users. They use their knowledge of testing techniques and tools to identify and fix bugs in software. Quality Assurance Analysts may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, programming, and machine learning to extract insights from data. They work on a variety of projects, from developing new algorithms to building predictive models. Data Scientists may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers use their knowledge of machine learning to develop and deploy machine learning models. They work on a variety of projects, from developing new algorithms to building predictive models. Machine Learning Engineers may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use their knowledge of business processes and technology to identify and solve business problems. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements, analyze data, and develop solutions. Business Analysts may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with stakeholders to define project scope, develop project plans, and manage project budgets. Project Managers may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and other technical products. They use their knowledge of technical writing principles and tools to create documentation that is clear, concise, and accurate. Technical Writers may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts use their knowledge of business processes and technology to design and implement new systems. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements, analyze data, and develop solutions. Systems Analysts may work in a variety of industries, including computer science, finance, and healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Android Performance.

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High Performance Android Apps

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Provides a comprehensive guide to optimizing Android app performance. It covers topics such as memory management, threading, and network optimization. It valuable resource for developers who want to improve the performance of their Android apps.

High Performance Android Apps: Improve Ratings with...

Cover image

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Provides a series of best practices for writing efficient and effective Java code. While not Android-specific, the principles in this book can be applied to Android development to improve code quality and performance.

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Android Security Internals

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Provides a comprehensive guide to Android performance optimization. It covers topics such as memory management, threading, and network optimization. It valuable resource for developers who want to improve the performance of their Android apps.

Android Security Internals: An In-Depth Guide to...

Android Security Internals: An In-Depth Guide to...

Unknown Binding

Android Security Internals: An In-Depth Guide to...

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The Well-Grounded Java Developer, Second Edition

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Provides a comprehensive guide to Java programming. It covers all the basics of Java programming, as well as more advanced topics such as concurrency and object-oriented design. It valuable resource for developers who want to improve their Java programming skills.

The Well-Grounded Java Developer, Second Edition

The Well-Grounded Java Developer, Second Edition

Cover image

Cover image

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Provides a collection of recipes for common Android development tasks. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn how to solve common problems and improve the performance of their Android apps.

Java Cookbook: Problems and Solutions for Java...

Java Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for Java...

Java Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for Java...

Java Cookbook by Darwin, Ian F. (2004) Paperback

Paperback Bunko

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Designing Data-Intensive Applications

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Provides a comprehensive guide to designing and building data-intensive applications. While not Android-specific, the principles in this book can be applied to Android development to improve the performance of data-intensive apps.

Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big...

Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big...

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The Pragmatic Programmer

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Provides a collection of best practices for software development. It covers topics such as testing, debugging, and refactoring. It valuable resource for developers who want to improve their software development skills.

The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey To Mastery,...

Pragmatic Programmer, The: From Journeyman to Master

(Italiano) Pragmatic Programmer - Edizione del 20°...

(Italiano) Il Pragmatic Programmer: Guida per manovali del...

(中文) The Pragmatic Programmer: access to the highest...

Pragmatic programmer (Korean Edition)

Clean Craftsmanship

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Provides a set of guidelines for writing clean and maintainable code. It covers topics such as naming conventions, code organization, and refactoring. It valuable resource for developers who want to improve the quality of their code.

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software...

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software...

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Instructors

Colt McAnlis

Chris Lei

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how to identify and diagnose performance issues with Android apps, a skill in demand for Android developers

Taught by experienced industry professionals Colt McAnlis and Chris Lei

Explores optimization and performance in modern Android development, topics that are fast-paced and require continuous updates to stay competitive

Provides hands-on exercises to help solidify concepts and develop skills

Requires familiarity with Android development and Git, which may limit accessibility for beginners

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