Introduction is one of the most powerful tools in , but it has a rather high entry threshold. It allows you to look inside a running application to detect problems. is integrated into . Profiler Android Studio Profiler Android Studio Working with Profiler Let's take as an example of . Full code here: Profiler ProfilerActivity class ProfilerActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
   override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
       super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
       setContent {
           Button(onClick = { countNumber(50) }) {
               Text("Perform methods")
           }
       }
   }

   private fun countNumber(number: Int) {
       if (number == 0) {
           Thread.sleep(2000)
           return
       }
       countNumber(number - 1)
   }
} After launching, you may see the following: The point of this example is to clearly see how works, specifically the stack of methods it calls, how long they take and what effect they have on the processor. To do this, there is a button, when you click it 50 times, the method will be executed. The last method will stop the thread for 2000 ms. There is no business logic in this. This is just to show how the works. So, we should see a pretty deep (50 pieces) and pretty wide (2000ms) stack of methods. Profiler countNumber() Profiler Create a and copy all the code into it. Note that this example uses . So don't forget to include it in the project. Run . ProfilerActivity jetpack compose ProfilerActivity In order to use the Profiler, just go to the tab below: Then click on the plus sign and select the desired device and application process: After selecting the desired application process, it will start monitoring it: The number 6 (see picture above) marks the application process being monitored. The number 1 marks the activation currently in use. In line 2 you can monitor the activity. CPU Line 3 is the usage. RAM Line 4, as you can see, is not active. This was where you could track sending and receiving requests from the network. But it has moved to a separate tab, as you can see from the message marked with the number 7. Network Inspector Line 5 is where you can track your battery usage. In fact, to dive into each of these items, you need to read quite a bit of documentation and articles. In this piece, we will look at the most commonly used and at the same time difficult to enter - CPU monitoring (point 2). Let's click on the CPU line. After clicking we went to the tab monitoring only the processor (point 1, see picture above). You can always go back by clicking on the arrow (point 4). Now let's try to see the stack of methods running in the application. To do this, select (point 2) and select (point 3). After that, the recording starts. Press button in the  application and then press the stop button on the recording (point 5). Java/Kotlin Method Trace Recording Record Perform methods The recording has stopped and the window for analyzing the recorded method stack has opened: If you have done everything correctly, you will see a picture similar to mine. In it you can see: -the pink dot (point 1) - the moment of interaction with the application (pressing the button); -the threads participating in the application (point 2); -the main thread of the application (item 3), where the visual components are rendered; -the executed method stack ( point 4). Click on the arrow next to the stream name and scroll down to reveal the stream and see the details: A column of green and blue lines like this will appear. Notice that you can see the name of the and method: ProfilerActivity.countNumber Thread.sleep If you click on any line, you can find out about the execution of this method, in particular, the total execution time is 2s (2000 ms), which is true: You can also change the scale of the timeline and navigate through it: Mac: Command+Scroll Windows: A, S, D, W The method described above searches the application for problems, usually the longest lines, and then analyzes what caused them. These problems are then eliminated. Finding and eliminating the fault Let's change the application code a little bit: class ProfilerActivity : AppCompatActivity() {

   override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
       super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
       setContent {
           Button(onClick = {
               sleep100()
               sleep100()
               sleep2000()
               sleep100()
           }) {
               Text("Perform methods")
           }
       }
   }

   private fun sleep100() {
       Thread.sleep(100)
   }

   private fun sleep2000() {
       Thread.sleep(2000)
   }
} Suppose we have a long-running application but don't understand what's wrong. Let's run it and record a stack trace, as described earlier: In the picture, you can clearly see that there is a bar that is much longer than the others. It runs for 2000ms and refers to the method. We go to and make sure that the method stops at 2000ms: ProfilerActivity.sleep2000 Android Studio Next, we can take the following actions: -or move execution to the background thread/coroutine; - or start digging further into the code of this method to understand what causes it to take so long to execute and whether it should. By and large, this is the essence of working with . There are more detailed descriptions of methods here, you can write a C++ method stack, and adjust the sampling rate, but the gist is the same. You can read more . Profiler CPU here Conclusion The is a pretty powerful tool that lets you analyze an application at runtime and look for problems in it. You won't need it 95% of the time when you're working on a project. But in the remaining 5% you can't do without it. It's also worth mentioning that is well integrated with , which makes it not only powerful but also incredibly handy compared to other similar tools like . Profiler Profiler Android Studio Perfetto

The code in this story is for educational purposes. The readers are solely responsible for whatever they build with it.

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

Super

Trace

2022 - Android Advocate of the Year

Nominated for 2022 - Android Advocate of the Year

Too Long; Didn't Read

In your car, at home, or at work — Bosch technology shapes many areas of life.

Recording Stack Trace Methods and Their Analysis With Profiler

Too Long; Didn't Read

Companies Mentioned

Leonid Ivankin

STORY’S CREDIBILITY

Code License

Original Reporting

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

Recording Stack Trace Methods and Their Analysis With Profiler

Too Long; Didn't Read

Companies Mentioned

Leonid Ivankin

STORY’S CREDIBILITY

Code License

Original Reporting

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

RELATED STORIES