Have too many apps but not enough storage space on your phone? A common problem faced by all iPhone users is lack of storage space. Downloading applications can take up a huge chunk of your space and slow down the performance of your phone. Gamers would be familiar with this problem as games generally take up the lion’s share of any phone. Add to that internal storage constraints and you’ve got a problem. For developers looking to solve this problem, App Thinning is your best bet. App Thinning is the process of dividing the app code into smaller sections. Users can download only the required sections of the app, thus effectively decreasing the size.
Asset Slicing
When you deliver variants of the app bundle for various target devices, it is called asset slicing. Target devices must be specified before carrying out the process of asset slicing. You will have to create multiple resolutions for all images and store them in the asset catalog. The next step is running the app on a stimulator or device. Xcode can be used for this as it improves debug time and allows you to test variants locally. You will now create an archive of the app and upload it to iTunes connect. Here, you will distribute the pre-release version of your iPhone app so that testers will install this version on all supported devices with the help of TestFlight. The app is now ready for download at the iTunes store.
Bitcode
The immediate representation of the code is called Bitcode. Here the code is compiled and the app is linked to iTunes. You can makes changes in the existing app with the help of Bitcode as well as re optimize your iPhone without submitting a new version.
On Demand Resources
In every app, tags are required to represent resources. Ever resource needs to have a corresponding tag during the development process. In order to downsize resources you need to reduce the presence of tags. This can be done by using the tag as a string identifier. On demand resources are useful as it reduces the size of the app and lets your phone run smoothly. There are three types of on demand resources:
Install Initial Tags: These tags are indispensable for the smartphone app.
Prefetch Tags: These tags are downloaded during the first run of iPhone applications
Download Only On Demand Resources: These tags are displayed only when a certain event occurs. These resources are downloaded via their tag.
Lack of storage space is a growing problem amongst iPhone users. By reducing app sizes, users can greatly benefit as they will still receive all app benefits whilst occupying minimal space.
