Improve Application Performance Using the Profiler

By Chris Black@chrisjblack

Aw, Snap!

What Causes a Browser to Crash?

• Poor code written in ANY programming language

• All browsers in the previous slides crashed using JavaScript

• Both JavaScript and ActionScript can perform poorly and crash the browser when written incorrectly

Background

• I am a self employed…– ActionScript developer– Mobile applications developer– Google AdWords consultant

• My devices…– BlackBerry– Android– iPod Touch

WHY IS MEMORY MGMT IMPORTANT?

Mobile Development

• When building applications for mobile it is even more important to consider memory management

• Devices are running on a fraction of the CPU and memory of desktop computers

Reputation of Scripting Languages

• Flash doesn’t crash browsers, poor development crashes browsers in all languages

• People see the result, not the cause

HOW TO CRASH THE BROWSER

Infinite Loops

while(1){n += “You shouldn’t have done that”;

} // this JS will crash IE, Firefox and Safari

var data = new Array(“1”);for(var n; n < data.length; n++){

data.push(“1”);}

Memory Leaks

addNextItem(data){var item = new Item(data);

}

• This is where the memory profiler comes in handy!

MANAGING MEMORY

Garbage Collection

• Runtime removes unused items

• Garbage collection is expensive and CPU intensive

• Re-use display objects as much as possible

Store Data to the Hard Drive

• Saves loading time and allows for re-use of components

• Requires additional management

Memory Profiler

• FREE memory profiler with Flash Develop• Also comes with Flash Builder Pro and FDT

Live Demo

• Use the profiler in Flash Develop to manage memory within your application

Questions?