“Dalvik is dead”

[LeoRex]

“Dalvik is dead”

Well.. can't say we didn't see this coming.... only problem is that this also means that one of my favorite tools, the Xposed Framwork, is a 'Dead App Walking'.

I'm hoping that the devs do figure out a way around it, but I haven't heard even a sniff if they've got an ART-compatible version even in testing.

(EDIT: HUZZAH!!!! I just saw a post on G+.... a ART-compatible version is, indeed, in testing!!!)

 

[ljxdaly]

i am a bit confused by this. does this mean that google has been refining ART back in its labs and will be releasing a refined version in its next release? or does it mean that ART as it exists in its current releases, via developer options, will remain as is, but merely will become the default?

I guess i presumed that of course ART, as with any other feature, goes through a continuing tweaking process; but i thought the reason that ART was not the default was because app developers needed to do the tweaking, and that time was being given for them to do that very thing.

so which is it?

as far as xposed goes, i've been running ART while also using xposed framework; i've not noticed any snags, though i'm only running one module: gravity box. what am i missing?

 

[JRDroid]

i am a bit confused by this. does this mean that google has been refining ART back in its labs and will be releasing a refined version in its next release? or does it mean that ART as it exists in its current releases, via developer options, will remain as is, but merely will become the default?

I guess i presumed that of course ART, as with any other feature, goes through a continuing tweaking process; but i thought the reason that ART was not the default was because app developers needed to do the tweaking, and that time was being given for them to do that very thing.

so which is it?

as far as xposed goes, i've been running ART while also using xposed framework; i've not noticed any snags, though i'm only running one module: gravity box. what am i missing?

Yes, developers needed time to ensure that their apps work with ART. That is why it has been in the developer options. Not for consumers to play with, but so developers could test their app in the new runtime. Now they've had that ability for a while, so Google is moving forward with implementing ART as the default.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ljxdaly]

funny enough, i flashed google's factory 4.4.3 image today on my nexus 7. any option at all for runtime is absent. presumably i'm running dalvik, but i found it odd that there is no option at all for ART.

 

[frag06]

funny enough, i flashed google's factory 4.4.3 image today on my nexus 7. any option at all for runtime is absent. presumably i'm running dalvik, but i found it odd that there is no option at all for ART.

You need to enable developer options. Go to Settings > About and find the build number. Tap it repeatedly. Then go to Developer Options and select ART. You will prompted to reboot. It can take quite a while, as all apps need to be optimized for ART.

 

[Kilroy13]

Why is art better?

SENT FROM MY LG G-FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!✌

 

[frag06]

Why is art better?

SENT FROM MY LG G-FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!??????✌

ART is going to be the new Android runtime. The current runtime is Dalvik, which compiles code when you run an app. ART compiles code when you install an app, eliminating the need to translate (compile) the code when starting an app. This should mean less lag, and it should allow apps to run more efficiently. It does use a bit more storage and memory space, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

ART should also improve battery life. How much of a difference it will make is currently unknown, as it is still in beta. Some people have reported it helps battery life significantly, while others have said it helps a little to not at all. But remember, this is a beta, and it hasn't been fully optimized yet. There haven't been many official tests, but Android Police conducted a few, which can be found here, here, and here. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, respectively.

ART is expected to replace Dalvik in the next version of Android, 4.5 or 5.0. It has now been pretty much confirmed.

 

[zorak950]

Basically, right now ART won't do a whole lot, but as more apps and processes get optimized for it, it will become superior. Ultimately, as frag says, ART will become the standard. In the meantime, there's no real reason to worry about it as an end user, unless you're a geek and just want to have the new thing.

 

[Kilroy13]

I just switched my flex to run art! Might be a placebo but everything seems snappier!

SENT FROM MY LG G-FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!✌

 

[ljxdaly]

Art is NOT in 4.4.3. Taken from Google factory image page.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

 

[Kilroy13]

My flex gave me the option to switch to art, it rebooted phone and said Android is updating then it optimized all apps on my phone to run art and then booted up! I notice a big difference in snappiness!

SENT FROM MY LG G-FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!✌

 

[frag06]

Art is NOT in 4.4.3. Taken from Google factory image page.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

I am currently running 4.4.3 and using ART. It has been included since 4.4.

 

[ljxdaly]

ok, i guess i should be more precise. ART is not in the google factory image for the nexus 7 2012 wifi for 4.4.3. it is in 4.4.2.

edit: ok, did a bit of research. from the google product page, it seems only the nexus 7 has no option to enable ART in developer's options. why would google leave the N7 out? must have something to do with tablet apps, not that android has many tablet optimized apps, not playing nicely with ART.

4.4.2 on my N7 had ART, and i noticed nothing but good coming from it. probably will revert to 4.4.2. the 4.4.3 sucks, imo. very buggy behavior on my N7.

 

[LeoRex]

i am a bit confused by this. does this mean that google has been refining ART back in its labs and will be releasing a refined version in its next release? or does it mean that ART as it exists in its current releases, via developer options, will remain as is, but merely will become the default?

What it means is that coming in a Android version near you, ART will not only be the default runtime, it'll be the ONLY runtime. Now, I am sure they've made improvements over time. It isn't just some minor bit of code.... if the runtime is unstable and buggy, EVERYTHING becomes unstable and buggy.

Now, near as I can tell, the Xposed family of modules/apps is the most highly visible application that only supports Dalvik.... so if you see someone start to panic when you say "Dalvik is going away", good bet he's using it. But the Xposed Framwork dev is just biding time while he waits for the codebase to settle down a little bit before he gets it running in ART.