Tagged Asset Packs for On-Demand Application Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software applications consume significant storage space on computing devices due to including all resources in a single bundle, even if not all are needed at a given time, limiting the number of applications that can be installed and wasting disk space.
Innovation Solution
Software applications are built with on-demand resources packaged separately, allowing them to be installed and uninstalled individually as needed, with background processes managing their request and removal to optimize storage usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all application resources are packaged in a single bundle for installation, then the application can be installed and run without missing resources, but the storage space consumption increases significantly and limits the number of applications that can be installed
Solution Approach 1:
The application resources are segmented into multiple asset packs instead of being bundled together. Each asset pack contains specific resources that can be independently managed, downloaded, and removed. This segmentation allows the system to download only the necessary resources for the application to run, rather than requiring all resources to be present locally, thus reducing storage space consumption while maintaining runtime reliability.
2Productivity
If all application resources are downloaded and installed locally, then the application can operate without network dependency, but the device storage capacity is reduced and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static resource model where all resources are permanently installed locally to a dynamic model where resources can be downloaded, cached, and removed as needed. Asset packs are dynamically downloaded when needed and can be removed when no longer required, allowing the device to adapt its storage usage based on current application needs rather than being constrained by fixed pre-installed resources.
3Reliability
If application resources are kept permanently installed, then runtime errors are prevented, but storage space is wasted on resources that may never be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading and caching asset packs before they are actually needed for application execution. This allows resources to be prepared in advance and stored locally temporarily, ensuring they are available when needed to prevent runtime errors, but they can be removed afterward to free up storage space, thus avoiding permanent waste of disk space on resources that may not be continuously utilized.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for building a software application is disclosed. The method includes: generating a plurality of application resources; creating a plurality of tags; applying one of the tags on each of the plurality of application resources; grouping the application resources by their tags to form at least two asset packs, each identifiable by at least one tag shared by all application resources in the asset pack; and creating an asset pack manifest comprising a location of each of the asset packs and an order in which the asset packs are to be downloaded.