What is Android Fragmentation?
At a high level, Android Fragmentation refers to the fact that there are a massive number of different Android OS versions available and operational in the digital world.
Not every Android user will even update their particular OS at the same time. Additionally, every app that seeks to corner the Android market will have to run on every single OS and OS version so as to not alienate any users. Given the variety of versions in existence, one can imagine why “fragmentation” might feature in app developers’ and testers’ nightmares.
On top of that, consumer watchdog Which? stated that “More than one billion Android devices around the world are vulnerable to attack by hackers because they are no longer supported by security updates and built-in protection.”
Why does Android Fragmentation occur?
The primary reason Android fragmentation occurs can be summarised in two words: open-source. Manufacturers are, with some limits, free to play with and use Android as they desire. Naturally, they are also responsible for proving updates tailored to the particular versions of Android offered on their devices. Now every manufacturer may not provide updates consistently. Plus, some Android versions may be heavily modified and not even respond to updates created for other versions.
How to deal with Android Fragmentation?
In 2020, app users expect nothing short of perfection every single time they use an app. 56% of users uninstall apps within 7 days of installation. Unless an app is stable, there is a high chance that it will be discarded.
The only way to ensure app stability and performance is to test them on real Android devices. Given that there are thousands of them in global use, this naturally poses a challenge. Unless an organization has considerable funds to spare, they won’t be able to establish, maintain, and upgrade an on-premise Android device lab.
Conversely, developers and testers can run tests on a real device cloud. Essentially, it lets them monitor app performance and efficacy on real Android devices without having to collect or maintain any devices. They can also test websites on real browsers installed on these Android devices. Testers can perform Android testing after choosing the device-Android version combination on the cloud.
These features can also be used by Android app and website developers to run unit tests on their code. By doing so, they can ensure that even the smallest unit of the app/website’s code is running flawless, thus reducing the chance of bugs appearing in later stages.
Android fragmentation is one of the most emphatic concerns for developers and testers of our time. Anyone seeking to create an Android app must ensure that it appeals to and functions for the largest numbers of users, which translates to its optimization for various devices and OS versions. For websites, they must factor in the multiplicity of devices and mobile browsers.
