Microsoft promises “incredible performance boost” for modern Microsoft Windows 11 apps

Microsoft claims that Microsoft Windows App SDK-based apps can now run considerably sooner on Microsoft Windows 11. Early exams present as much as 50% upgrades in load time, and 8x discount in app package deal dimension. However, it’s value noting that the outcomes may differ and also you’ll not discover the distinction until Microsoft or different devs updates their apps.

For these unware,  Microsoft 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 Microsoft Windows apps with entry to fashionable APIs. However, there’s a catch – Microsoft Windows App SDK-based apps will be sluggish to launch.

Nearly each app constructed using WinAppSDK is both sluggish to run or has laggy animations, particularly while you work together with buttons or different parts. I additionally identified the efficiency issues with the Photos or Phone Link apps, significantly the “splash screen” that takes longer than ordinary to vanish.

Microsoft additionally confirmed that its latest Photos app is simply too sluggish to launch, and the workaround is to routinely run the app within the background.

Microsoft Photos isn’t the one app.

Other apps, like “Phone Link,” which hyperlinks your Android telephone or iPhone to Microsoft Windows 11, additionally take longer than ordinary to open while you launch them for the primary time after reboot.

Slow 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 fashionable apps rely closely on Microsoft Edge WebView, they use more RAM than the basic or conventional Microsoft Windows apps.

Thankfully, Microsoft is conscious of this and has a repair.

While going via the assist documentation, Microsoft Windows Latest observed a assist doc submit from September 6 that confirms “Native AOT” assist.

According to Microsoft, Microsoft Windows App SDK now helps “Native AOT”, which refers to native Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation. That’s one thing solely app devs can implement when compiling their apps.

The updatesd apps have sooner startup time, and so they additionally eat much less reminiscence.

Initial exams present some fascinating efficiency boosts, together with:

• In early exams, Microsoft noticed 50% sooner launch time.
• App packages are actually 8x smaller.
• Apps that use Microsoft Windows App SDK in a self-contained mode are additionally two occasions smaller.

Native AOT assist could possibly be a giant deal for Microsoft Windows App SDK and fashionable Microsoft Windows 11 apps, comparable to Photos and Phone Link.

It’s additionally necessary to notice that Microsoft now not bundles hard-coded Edge WebView2 SDK into Microsoft Windows App SDK, which reduces the scale of apps. Instead, it makes use of NuGet to entry Edge WebView2 SDK when wanted.

These modifications don’t straight make apps sooner on Microsoft Windows 11, however as and when Microosft and different devs begin using WinAppSDK 1.6 with native AOT, you’ll discover sooner efficiency, together with lowered reminiscence utilization.