Slow Performance

[neera]

We did a simple test, we created a smart device application with a
form, no coding at all compiled it and tested it on device. We were
surprised to find that loading it takes 5 seconds on Symbol MC35 and
on HP iPaq it takes 3 seconds showing wait cursor on both the devices.

We can just think what will happen when we start using database and
include more forms. Is this how a CF2 application will generally
perform? Can't a simple single form application open instantly without
showing the wait cursor to user?

 

[davebythesea]

Hi,

3 seconds seems about normal. Did you try loading a form with some controls
to see how long it takes?

When I start my application from a fresh start it also takes about 3
seconds. The first form displayed has 5 labels, 2 textboxes, 1 combo box, 1
checkbox and two buttons.

However, Once my application is running it takes about 3 seconds to open a
child form which has a 6 page Tab Control.

On the first tab page there are 8 Labels, 4 textboxes, 1 drop down, 1
datetime picker, 1 listview, and 2 buttons. There are a similar number of
controls, or less, on the remaining pages. I only dynamically populate the
first page with data, and then populate the remaining pages with data as each
tab page is entered - this improves load speeds a lot.

David

 

[davebythesea]

Forgot to say - thats using a HTC Touch Plus

Dav

 

[Chris Tacke, eMVP]

No, it can't open "instantly". It's a managed application, so it has to
load and JIT the compact framework first. This takes time. If you want
immediate feedback, it often works well to have a C++ bootstrap that
displays an image and then launches your app.


--

Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF Consulting
Giving back to the embedded community
http://community.OpenNETCF.com

 

[Simon Hart [MVP]]

This sounds fairly normal for a managed code application running on the
device becausing of the JItting that occurs. The cursor is there to notify
the user that something is happening, in this case the UI thread is blocking.
Sometimes implementing a splash screen under a different process is a way to
reduce the appearance of the application load time. The Windows Mobile
Accelerator may help you with this. To be honest, you'd be lucky to find a
desktop app that loads faster than 3 seconds.

 

[neera]

Thanks everybody for your response. Thanks Dave for sharing your
experience. I know that its normal for desktop application to take
longer than 3 seconds but on mobiles user expect instant response,
nobody wants to wait on mobile screens. Expectations are different on
desktop and mobiles. Anyway since we can only use CF for development,
we can't probably achieve it, our client wants instant response and
may even call this project off if he doesn't get it. But we don't have
a choice it seems.

If anybody has any ideas about improving performance or can point me
to some link, I will be greatfull.

 

[chris-s]

HOPE YOU PICK THIS UP!!

The MC35 is a 'slow' device, unless you go and enable the option that
increases the processor speed. I think it runs in a slower mode for
power conservation. Having said that, we have still found that when
run side-by-side with a new iPaq Business Navigator, the latter is
still a faster device, and much more reliable/stable in the field.

Chris

 

[Chris Tacke, eMVP]

Not sure how I can be more plain. Use a native app to bootstrap your app.
It will have much faster startup response and is easy to do. With the
technologies available today, there's no way to make a managed app start
"instantaneously". Period.


--

Chris Tacke, Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF Consulting
Giving back to the embedded community
http://community.OpenNETCF.com





Thanks everybody for your response. Thanks Dave for sharing your
experience. I know that its normal for desktop application to take
longer than 3 seconds but on mobiles user expect instant response,
nobody wants to wait on mobile screens. Expectations are different on
desktop and mobiles. Anyway since we can only use CF for development,
we can't probably achieve it, our client wants instant response and
may even call this project off if he doesn't get it. But we don't have
a choice it seems.

If anybody has any ideas about improving performance or can point me
to some link, I will be greatfull.