Understanding Android Architecture

[RKBAGUY]

Can someone help me understand what happens "under the hood" when we install and then uninstall applications? Is the Android OS like WindowsMobile where there is 'garbage' left behind in a registry that will clog up the system and eventually slow it down?

 

[RKBAGUY]

Wow. Nobody knows how to answer this?

 

[RKBAGUY]

Geez... I feel like I farted at a cocktail party.

 

[dots]

When uninstalling an app it may leave behind caches, the caches may or may not get removed. Depends on the app. The app's settings once again depending on the app may remain on the phone or sdcard. Same with cache's. Depends where the apps stores them.

 

[RKBAGUY]

When uninstalling an app it may leave behind caches, the caches may or may not get removed. Depends on the app. The app's settings once again depending on the app may remain on the phone or sdcard. Same with cache's. Depends where the apps stores them.

Ok, then two followup questions.

1) What sort of impact does the leftover 'garbage' affect the OS?
2) How can one be absolutely sure when uninstalling that we deleted all the cache or settings so that we're sure we've purged it from the system?

 

[theSuda]

Ok, then two followup questions.

1) What sort of impact does the leftover 'garbage' affect the OS?
2) How can one be absolutely sure when uninstalling that we deleted all the cache or settings so that we're sure we've purged it from the system?

I have a partial answer for this from my general experience. When you install/use an app, it may create some files/directories on your sd card. Most of app I have used do not remove them. The reason might be that they leave them just in case you install the app again (or they don't care as you are uninstalling their app anyway )
As far as impact on OS is concerned, it will not make much difference unless the activity OS is performing involves scanning through the files on sd card.

Now I am not sure about files left in file system of phone. Hope this helps a little.