Make Flex AIR app demand more system resources

[Tracy Spratt-2]

We are producing an AIR app that is a UI that controls some background
processes, and runs in an embedded Linux environment.  Our CPU is somewhat
limited, so we are working on ways to optimize resource usage.

 

I am dynamically adjusting the frame rate to minimize the AIR apps resource
usage when needed, and the AIR UI is able to tell the OS to adjust its
process scheduling priorities as needed.

 

This seems to work pretty well to give priority to the back end apps.
However, the AIR app does not seem to be demanding enough.  That is, even
when given much higher OS priority it still relinquishes resources too
readily to other processes, which causes animation issues.

 

This is a pretty complex issue and I am just getting started to work on it,
so I am not expecting a "solution", but rather I am looking for ideas
suggestion, links, anything that relates to the topic.

 

Heck, animation performance is a huge topic on its own!

 

Tracy Spratt,

Lariat Services, development services available

 

[Gregor Kiddie]

Are you really suggesting that the AIR app isn't a massive resource hog
and is unusable for any purpose? This should be a good thread to watch
*fetches popcorn*

 

Seriously though, and on topic...

 

When you say it relinquishes resources back to readily, are you talking
about CPU time, and therefore getting a jittery frame rate? Could be
either the runtime or the OS scheduler I suppose. If the runtime doesn't
place a high enough priority on running animations (i.e. AS is given a
higher priority) it could release back to easily. Likewise the OS
scheduler could be thinking the app is idle when it isn't.

 

Stupid suggestion, but running some AS code alongside the animations...
Running something small and inconsequential in an enterframe handler.
Does it change the game somewhat?

 

Gk.

Gregor Kiddie
Senior Developer
INPS

Tel:       [phone]

Registered address: The Bread Factory, 1a Broughton Street, London SW8
3QJ

Registered Number: 1788577

Registered in the UK

Visit our Internet Web site at www.inps.co.uk
<blocked::http://www.inps.co.uk/>

The information in this internet email is confidential and is intended
solely for the addressee. Access, copying or re-use of information in it
by anyone else is not authorised. Any views or opinions presented are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
INPS or any of its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient
please contact is.helpdesk@...

________________________________

 

[Tracy Spratt-2]

Ironic, huh?  Actually, we are not finding the AIR app to be unreasonably resource hungry.

Yes, I am using the papervision cube to navigate between forms, and the animation is not always smooth(sometimes it is).  However, the os memory monitor indicates that the air app is not taking the resources it has available at that moment.

I will try your suggestion of running something in an enterFrame handler.

We just got an important demo wrapped up and I will have some time to work on this.

Thanks,
Tracy

--- In flexcoders@..., "Gregor Kiddie" <gkiddie@...> wrote:

>
> Are you really suggesting that the AIR app isn't a massive resource hog
> and is unusable for any purpose? This should be a good thread to watch
> *fetches popcorn*
>
>  
>
> Seriously though, and on topic...
>
>  
>
> When you say it relinquishes resources back to readily, are you talking
> about CPU time, and therefore getting a jittery frame rate? Could be
> either the runtime or the OS scheduler I suppose. If the runtime doesn't
> place a high enough priority on running animations (i.e. AS is given a
> higher priority) it could release back to easily. Likewise the OS
> scheduler could be thinking the app is idle when it isn't.
>
>  
>
> Stupid suggestion, but running some AS code alongside the animations...
> Running something small and inconsequential in an enterframe handler.
> Does it change the game somewhat?
>
>  
>
> Gk.
>
> Gregor Kiddie
> Senior Developer
> INPS
>
> Tel:       [phone]
>
> Registered address: The Bread Factory, 1a Broughton Street, London SW8
> 3QJ
>
> Registered Number: 1788577
>
> Registered in the UK
>
> Visit our Internet Web site at www.inps.co.uk
> <blocked::http://www.inps.co.uk/>
>
> The information in this internet email is confidential and is intended
> solely for the addressee. Access, copying or re-use of information in it
> by anyone else is not authorised. Any views or opinions presented are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
> INPS or any of its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient
> please contact is.helpdesk@...
>
> ________________________________
>

[Alex Harui]

And upping the frame rate didn't do what you wanted?

Alex Harui
Flex SDK Developer
Adobe Systems Inc.<http://www.adobe.com/>
Blog: http://blogs.adobe.com/aharui

From: flexcoders@... [mailto:flexcoders@...] On Behalf Of Tracy
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:15 PM
To: flexcoders@...
Subject: [flexcoders] Re: Make Flex AIR app demand more system resources



Ironic, huh? Actually, we are not finding the AIR app to be unreasonably resource hungry.

Yes, I am using the papervision cube to navigate between forms, and the animation is not always smooth(sometimes it is). However, the os memory monitor indicates that the air app is not taking the resources it has available at that moment.

I will try your suggestion of running something in an enterFrame handler.

We just got an important demo wrapped up and I will have some time to work on this.

Thanks,
Tracy

--- In flexcoders@...<mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com>, "Gregor Kiddie" <gkiddie@...> wrote:

>
> Are you really suggesting that the AIR app isn't a massive resource hog
> and is unusable for any purpose? This should be a good thread to watch
> *fetches popcorn*
>
>
>
> Seriously though, and on topic...
>
>
>
> When you say it relinquishes resources back to readily, are you talking
> about CPU time, and therefore getting a jittery frame rate? Could be
> either the runtime or the OS scheduler I suppose. If the runtime doesn't
> place a high enough priority on running animations (i.e. AS is given a
> higher priority) it could release back to easily. Likewise the OS
> scheduler could be thinking the app is idle when it isn't.
>
>
>
> Stupid suggestion, but running some AS code alongside the animations...
> Running something small and inconsequential in an enterframe handler.
> Does it change the game somewhat?
>
>
>
> Gk.
>
> Gregor Kiddie
> Senior Developer
> INPS
>
> Tel: [phone]
>
> Registered address: The Bread Factory, 1a Broughton Street, London SW8
> 3QJ
>
> Registered Number: 1788577
>
> Registered in the UK
>
> Visit our Internet Web site at www.inps.co.uk
> <blocked::http://www.inps.co.uk/>
>
> The information in this internet email is confidential and is intended
> solely for the addressee. Access, copying or re-use of information in it
> by anyone else is not authorised. Any views or opinions presented are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
> INPS or any of its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient
> please contact is.helpdesk@...
>
> ________________________________
>

[Tracy Spratt-2]

I am running normally at 15, and going up to 24 actually looks worse at
times, with multiple interim images visible at once, instead of just a
stutter.  I will continue to experiment, maybe going up to something crazy
like 70.

 

Tracy Spratt,

Lariat Services, development services available

  _____  

From: flexcoders@... [mailto:flexcoders@...] On
Behalf Of Alex Harui
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 3:33 AM
To: flexcoders@...
Subject: [SPAM] RE: [flexcoders] Re: Make Flex AIR app demand more system
resources

 

 

And upping the frame rate didn't do what you wanted?

 

Alex Harui

Flex SDK Developer

Adobe Systems Inc. <http://www.adobe.com/>

Blog: http://blogs. <http://blogs.adobe.com/aharui> adobe.com/aharui

 

From: flexcoders@... [mailto:flexcoders@...] On
Behalf Of Tracy
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 6:15 PM
To: flexcoders@...
Subject: [flexcoders] Re: Make Flex AIR app demand more system resources

 

 

Ironic, huh? Actually, we are not finding the AIR app to be unreasonably
resource hungry.

Yes, I am using the papervision cube to navigate between forms, and the
animation is not always smooth(sometimes it is). However, the os memory
monitor indicates that the air app is not taking the resources it has
available at that moment.

I will try your suggestion of running something in an enterFrame handler.

We just got an important demo wrapped up and I will have some time to work
on this.

Thanks,
Tracy

--- In flexcoders@yahoogro <mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com> ups.com,
"Gregor Kiddie" <gkiddie@...> wrote:

>
> Are you really suggesting that the AIR app isn't a massive resource hog
> and is unusable for any purpose? This should be a good thread to watch
> *fetches popcorn*
>
>
>
> Seriously though, and on topic...
>
>
>
> When you say it relinquishes resources back to readily, are you talking
> about CPU time, and therefore getting a jittery frame rate? Could be
> either the runtime or the OS scheduler I suppose. If the runtime doesn't
> place a high enough priority on running animations (i.e. AS is given a
> higher priority) it could release back to easily. Likewise the OS
> scheduler could be thinking the app is idle when it isn't.
>
>
>
> Stupid suggestion, but running some AS code alongside the animations...
> Running something small and inconsequential in an enterframe handler.
> Does it change the game somewhat?
>
>
>
> Gk.
>
> Gregor Kiddie
> Senior Developer
> INPS
>
> Tel: [phone]
>
> Registered address: The Bread Factory, 1a Broughton Street, London SW8
> 3QJ
>
> Registered Number: 1788577
>
> Registered in the UK
>
> Visit our Internet Web site at www.inps.co.uk
> <blocked::http://www.inps. <http://www.inps.co.uk/> co.uk/>
>
> The information in this internet email is confidential and is intended
> solely for the addressee. Access, copying or re-use of information in it
> by anyone else is not authorised. Any views or opinions presented are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
> INPS or any of its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient
> please contact is.helpdesk@...
>
> ________________________________
>