Lessons From Building Android Widgets

Shopify share with you the challenges we faced building Android widgets and how we solved them.

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Shopify
•
Matt Bowen
•22 min read•intermediate•
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Overview

The article discusses the lessons learned from building Android widgets at Shopify, focusing on the importance of widgets for merchants, the challenges faced during development, and the architectural decisions made to enhance the user experience. It highlights the differences between Android and iOS widget implementations and provides insights into data fetching, UI building, and analytics gathering.

What You'll Learn

1

How to effectively fetch and manage real-time data for Android widgets

2

Why using native development over React Native is crucial for widget performance

3

How to implement a short-lived cache to optimize network calls in widgets

4

When to apply dynamic layouts for responsive widget design in Android 12

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Understanding of Android widget architecture and RemoteViews
  • Familiarity with Android Studio and Jetpack Compose(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What are the main challenges faced when building Android widgets?
The main challenges include ensuring real-time data fetching, managing network usage efficiently, and maintaining a consistent user experience across platforms. Developers also faced issues with widget configuration and the limitations of using RemoteViews for UI design.
Why did Shopify choose not to use React Native for their widgets?
Shopify opted against React Native due to the lack of support for RemoteViews, which are essential for widget creation. The team found that native development allowed for better performance and integration with Android's unique features.
How does Shopify gather analytics for widget usage?
Shopify collects analytics by tracking events when widgets are configured, added, or removed. This data helps understand user behavior and improve widget functionality over time.
What strategies were implemented to reduce widget flickering?
To minimize flickering, Shopify implemented a short-lived cache to provide immediate data display and delayed subsequent updates. This approach helps maintain a seamless user experience during data refreshes.

Technologies & Tools

Frontend
Remoteviews
Used for building the UI of Android widgets.
Frontend
Jetpack Compose
Planned for future widget development to enhance UI design capabilities.
Frontend
Mpandroidchart
Used for creating charts in widgets by exporting them as bitmaps.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Implement a short-lived cache for your Android widgets to optimize data fetching and reduce unnecessary network calls.
This strategy is particularly useful when dealing with frequently updated data, as it minimizes the load on both the server and the device, leading to better performance.
2
Utilize shared preferences for managing widget configurations and data persistence.
This approach allows for easy retrieval of configuration data across different parts of your application, enhancing the widget's responsiveness and user experience.
3
Test your widgets under various conditions, such as low battery or poor network, to ensure they perform well in real-world scenarios.
Understanding how your widgets behave under different conditions can help you identify potential issues and improve overall reliability.

Common Pitfalls

1
Failing to account for the limitations of RemoteViews can lead to suboptimal widget designs.
Developers should be aware of the restrictions imposed by RemoteViews and plan their UI accordingly to avoid issues with unsupported view types.
2
Over-fetching data can lead to increased network usage and battery drain.
Implementing caching strategies and optimizing data refresh intervals can help mitigate these issues and improve user experience.

Related Concepts

Android Widget Architecture
Remoteviews Limitations
Data Fetching Strategies