[KERNEL DEV ANALYSIS] Does 'Junked' APKs Affects Performance ? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

As I lack the necessary knowledge to answer my own questions, I've came to you.
def. 'JUNKED APK'
As Android Theming does not have any quality control guidelines to be followed whatsoever, some windows themers, unaware of what they are doing, are injecting into their mods mainly useless "Thumbs.db" junk files that are being flashed into users devices that for their turn are too unaware of the matter. There are cases where some SystemUI get doubled in size. Just some numbers from a theme package as an example to illustrate:
ZIP size: 220 Mb
Extracted: 251 Mb
Thumbs.db: 165 files accounting for 168 Mb [ 67% ] !!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, does this junk injection anyhow affects Android's performance?
Would be a pleasure to hear that Android only caches resources that are formally addressed. If were that so, the issue would be restricted to a storage space matter.
EDIT: obviously for my i9505, if I dared flash these junk, probably would not show any impact but, that would be so for low memory devices?
If you as so wish, the discussion thread is being developed in the link below and your advice there would be very appreciated.
[THEMERS][ATTENTION REQUIRED] Minimum Theme Quality Control
Thanks for your time and nice regards.
.

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.
May be the below image can speak louder and better for the users (in favor of them) than myself to explain the problem.
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"lightbox_download": "Download",
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Nice regards.
.

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I agre with you that many devs don't pay attention to this but I always clean all .zip file of those Thumbs.db. I find them really useless to Android systems.
Best regards.

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starbucks2010 said:
I agre with you that many devs don't pay attention to this but I always clean all .zip file of those Thumbs.db. I find them really useless to Android systems.
Best regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We only lack now for some words from a KERNEL DEV to determine the extension of the damage.
Still waiting ...
.

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Hope never die...I hope is true. ?
GT-I9505_4.3 with TⓐPⓐTⓐLⓚ4&EchoeRom V.12_ML6

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speedyranger said:
Hope never die...I hope is true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi speedyranger
Our hopes seem not probable.
The only Kernel Dev I could contact, first replied with an empty content as he didn't understood the matter and further replies got no response.
As time goes, feels like this subject deserves no attention. Users, themers and devs simply ignore it. There is no fame, glory or profit on discussing this so why should they do it? This is just a problem that is easy to forget. Not only the file but the subject has it's attribute set to hidden too.
I've already fulfilled my intentions now that we 4, may be 5, are aware about the problem. Let the acephalous ones have what they deserve.
Thank you VERY much for all the support.
Nice regards.
.

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Kdio said:
As I lack the necessary knowledge to answer my own questions, I've came to you.
def. 'JUNKED APK'
As Android Theming does not have any quality control guidelines to be followed whatsoever, some windows themers, unaware of what they are doing, are injecting into their mods mainly useless "Thumbs.db" junk files that are being flashed into users devices that for their turn are too unaware of the matter. There are cases where some SystemUI get doubled in size. Just some numbers from a theme package as an example to illustrate:
So, does this junk injection anyhow affects Android's performance?
Would be a pleasure to hear that Android only caches resources that are formally addressed. If were that so, the issue would be restricted to a storage space matter.
EDIT: obviously for my i9505, if I dared flash these junk, probably would not show any impact but, that would be so for low memory devices?
If you as so wish, the discussion thread is being developed in the link below and your advice there would be very appreciated.
[THEMERS][ATTENTION REQUIRED] Minimum Theme Quality Control
Thanks for your time and nice regards.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Kdio.
APK is some kind of an archive, which contains precompiled source (classes.dex) and resources (resources.arsc and everything else).
Not-loaded parts of the archive (f.e. thumbs.db) are not affecting ram, neither performance because Android doesn't load them at all.
In the best scenario, apk may load a bit longer, but this "a bit" is less than 0.1 sec. This is ONLY due to uncompressing apk needed for loading classes and resources.
So yeah, mostly we're talking about storage space here.
Hope it helps .

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Master JustArchi
Thank you so much for you enlightment
If as so you permit, I would like to mention your words on the research thread
[THEMERS][ATTENTION REQUIRED] Minimum Theme Quality Control
May I ?
Very thankful for your support here.
Nice regards.
.
JustArchi said:
Hey Kdio.
APK is some kind of an archive, which contains precompiled source (classes.dex) and resources (resources.arsc and everything else).
Not-loaded parts of the archive (f.e. thumbs.db) are not affecting ram, neither performance because Android doesn't load them at all.
In the best scenario, apk may load a bit longer, but this "a bit" is less than 0.1 sec. This is ONLY due to uncompressing apk needed for loading classes and resources.
So yeah, mostly we're talking about storage space here.
Hope it helps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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Kdio said:
Master JustArchi
Thank you so much for you enlightment
If as so you permit, I would like to mention your words on the research thread
[THEMERS][ATTENTION REQUIRED] Minimum Theme Quality Control
May I ?
Very thankful for your support here.
Nice regards.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure.
I mean, thumbs.db is in fact a junk used only by Windows to preload miniatures of images in current folder. It can be safely deleted and it should be, because it decreases size of the theme and it's not needed anyway.
However there won't be any performance/memory hit, so like I said we're mostly talking about storage space here .
Also, we can get rid of thumbs.db files in a very easy way and one command in bash shell:
for f in $(find . -iname "thumbs.db" -type f); do rm -f $f; done

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JustArchi said:
Also, we can get rid of thumbs.db files in a very easy way and one command in bash shell:
for f in $(find . -iname "thumbs.db" -type f); do rm -f $f; done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah!
But, as it is originated inside Windows boxes and for by users (themers) that unknowledge "Thumbs.db" existence, I've prepared some .vbs's for them and for the users too:
[THEME][TOOL WIN][DEV & END-USER] The Dethumber™ Pro (as seen on TV)
May be, this way, I we will get rid of these infamous
Nice regards.
.

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JustArchi said:
for f in $(find . -iname "thumbs.db" -type f); do rm -f $f; done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear JustArchi Oracle
Realizing I'm been a little greedy with all your knowledge and previously excusing me.
I could perform the experiment but think that the answer you may already promptly have.
We, at 'Windows Theme Planet' , have a set of batches called APKTOOL that, in association with several jar's, decompile and recompile all the app's needed for our jobs.
Furthermore, we release the work using another tool called Villain Theme Flasher (and forks) to the users. vrTheme does an excellent job but if not used carefully can do some awful things.
Finally (UFA!) my question is: couldn't we 'run' APKTOOL set of jar's from within Android to accomplish the theming assembly? (replacing vrTheme)
We themers would release our work uncompiled (.9.pngs, xml's, smali's and stuff) and submitted to the user's device Android-Apktool. As apktool is as safe as Android memory loading regarding non addressed resources, it would create a fail safe distribution method. Developers/Modders/Themers would still be able to inject new resources when properly editing their coded references but not even one themers png left over from older versions would be committed to the apk's anymore.
After these tons of words, I'm in doubt if I've been understandable.
Thank you anyway for all your time and supportiveness
.

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Kdio said:
Dear JustArchi Oracle
Realizing I'm been a little greedy with all your knowledge and previously excusing me.
I could perform the experiment but think that the answer you may already promptly have.
We, at 'Windows Theme Planet' , have a set of batches called APKTOOL that, in association with several jar's, decompile and recompile all the app's needed for our jobs.
Furthermore, we release the work using another tool called Villain Theme Flasher (and forks) to the users. vrTheme does an excellent job but if not used carefully can do some awful things.
Finally (UFA!) my question is: couldn't we 'run' APKTOOL set of jar's from within Android to accomplish the theming assembly? (replacing vrTheme)
We themers would release our work uncompiled (.9.pngs, xml's, smali's and stuff) and submitted to the user's device Android-Apktool. As apktool is as safe as Android memory loading regarding non addressed resources, it would create a fail safe distribution method. Developers/Modders/Themers would still be able to inject new resources when properly editing their coded references but not even one themers png left over from older versions would be committed to the apk's anymore.
After these tons of words, I'm in doubt if I've been understandable.
Thank you anyway for all your time and supportiveness
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, vrtheme is exactly what you're asking for.
Vrtheme is a linux script, which overwrites every specified file from folder of an app.
It doesn't overwrite non-existent files, therefore if you limit your theme to only .pngs .jpgs .gifs or anything, it won't overwrite classes.dex or anything like that, therefore you can be sure that your mod will work with every Samsung release, as long as they won't implement new pictures.

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JustArchi said:
Actually, vrtheme is exactly what you're asking for.
Vrtheme is a linux script, which overwrites every specified file from folder of an app.
It doesn't overwrite non-existent files, therefore if you limit your theme to only .pngs .jpgs .gifs or anything, it won't overwrite classes.dex or anything like that, therefore you can be sure that your mod will work with every Samsung release, as long as they won't implement new pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Oracle!
Unfortunately vrtheme does inject anything you give him. Only Universal Theme Flasher (vrtheme fork) if the UFT.config flag CLEAN_MORPHING is set to YES will have the desired behaviour.
What I've could research, vrtheme does not de/re compile ... it just un/zip things and UTF is the same.
Think that only a set of tools aimed to the apktool jar's would be safe enough.
Thank you very much.
.

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Kdio said:
My Oracle!
Unfortunately vrtheme does inject anything you give him. Only Universal Theme Flasher (vrtheme fork) if the UFT.config flag CLEAN_MORPHING is set to YES will have the desired behaviour.
What I've could research, vrtheme does not de/re compile ... it just un/zip things and UTF is the same.
Think that only a set of tools aimed to the apktool jar's would be safe enough.
Thank you very much.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean now.
This could be possible with my pocket debian, as I could bundle native java and execute baksmali.

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JustArchi said:
I know what you mean now.
This could be possible with my pocket debian, as I could bundle native java and execute baksmali.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is light! There is light! There is light! There is light!
Well ... not really have the knowledge to evaluate the details but seems a YES
Now I can start somewhere !! Some1 pointed the direction of the light !!!
Thank you so much for your synapses lost while helping me here
Nice regards my master.
.

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Kdio said:
There is light! There is light! There is light! There is light!
Well ... not really have the knowledge to evaluate the details but seems a YES
Now I can start somewhere !! Some1 pointed the direction of the light !!!
Thank you so much for your synapses lost while helping me here
Nice regards my master.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still, without ROM-side support it shouldn't be possible to flash, as pocket debian requires ROM support firstly. As for now it's ArchiDroid-unique feature only in SGS3.