Microsoft claims that Home windows App SDK-based apps can now run considerably quicker on Home windows 11. Early exams present as much as 50% enchancment in load time, and 8x discount in app bundle dimension. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that the outcomes might fluctuate and also you’ll not discover the distinction except Microsoft or different devs replace their apps.
For these unware, Windows App SDK isn’t a framework, however a set of instruments that bridges the “API” hole between Win32 and UWP apps. It permits devs to make use of their most well-liked framework, like Win32, to construct Home windows apps with entry to trendy APIs. Nonetheless, there’s a catch – Home windows App SDK-based apps may be sluggish to launch.
Practically each app constructed utilizing WinAppSDK is both sluggish to run or has laggy animations, particularly while you work together with buttons or different components. I also pointed out the performance issues with the Photos or Cellphone Hyperlink apps, notably the “splash display screen” that takes longer than common to vanish.
Microsoft additionally confirmed that its new Images app is just too sluggish to launch, and the workaround is to automatically run the app in the background.
Microsoft Images isn’t the one app.
Different apps, like “Cellphone Hyperlink,” which hyperlinks your Android telephone or iPhone to Home windows 11, additionally take longer than common to open while you launch them for the primary time after reboot.
Sluggish launch time isn’t the one concern. As some individuals have identified and we’ve additionally noticed in our personal exams, WinAppSDK apps may additionally really feel sluggish. Since these modern apps rely heavily on Microsoft Edge WebView, they use extra RAM than the traditional or conventional Home windows apps.
Fortunately, Microsoft is conscious of this and has a repair.
Whereas going by way of the help documentation, Home windows Newest seen a support document post from September 6 that confirms “Native AOT” help.
In keeping with Microsoft, Home windows App SDK now helps “Native AOT”, which refers to native Forward-Of-Time (AOT) compilation. That’s one thing solely app devs can implement when compiling their apps.
The up to date apps have quicker startup time, and so they additionally eat much less reminiscence.
Preliminary exams present some fascinating efficiency boosts, together with:
- In early exams, Microsoft noticed 50% quicker launch time.
- App packages at the moment are 8x smaller.
- Apps that use Home windows App SDK in a self-contained mode are additionally two occasions smaller.
Native AOT help may very well be an enormous deal for Home windows App SDK and trendy Home windows 11 apps, similar to Images and Cellphone Hyperlink.
It’s additionally vital to notice that Microsoft not bundles hard-coded Edge WebView2 SDK into Home windows App SDK, which reduces the dimensions of apps. As a substitute, it makes use of NuGet to entry Edge WebView2 SDK when wanted.
These modifications don’t instantly make apps quicker on Home windows 11, however as and when Microosft and different devs begin utilizing WinAppSDK 1.6 with native AOT, you’ll discover quicker efficiency, together with diminished reminiscence utilization.
