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Why is the Facebook app so big, even as a fresh install?

bramkaandorp

bramkaandorp

Well-Known Member
I've read explanations for the size of the Facebook app, mostly to do with caching for offline use.

That's all well and good, but why is the app 214 MB large when it is just installed, without even having opened the app?
 
steiny180 said:
Uninstall the silly facebook hog app and use your browser of choice and point it to m.facebook.com
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1. I've tried the browser, but honestly, the app is just a lot easier to use.

2. So why is it so big? To get people to use the website? That seems counterproductive.
 
PitCarver said:
Browser is the way to go.
Seems that with every FB app upgrade it creates more problems.
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To be honest, I don't really dislike the app all that much. It is mainly the sheer size of it which shocked me.

I would move to the web version immediately, but the app feels better for me.

Also: as much as possible, I try to use apps instead, except when no good apps are available.
 
You'd have to ask Facebook why their app is an infamously bloated monster. But I'm sure the real answer is that the people who are giving the developers their instructions have their own priorities, and making the app lean and efficient for the end user is not one of them.
 
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I had the FB app on my older Nexus 7 and it basically kept freezing the tablet almost every time I used it. I deleted it and installed FAST for FB. Not the best but way better then the FB app itself.
 
One cause is that the app binary itself is MASSIVE with a huge amount of code in it. Only seen articles for the iOS version, but pretty sure they're broadly the same app http://quellish.tumblr.com/post/126712999812/how-on-earth-the-facebook-ios-application-is-so

Based on other articles, they don't rip out defunct features either, like for example the messenger code is actually still in there bloating it up even though they've split it into it's own app.
 
CaffeineBomb said:
Based on other articles, they don't rip out defunct features either, like for example the messenger code is actually still in there bloating it up even though they've split it into it's own app.
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I never understood that. They made the Messenger app, and then they kept the Messenger list in the main app. I mean sure, keep the shortcut at the top, but why keep the list itself?

And do you mean that the Messenger code is still incorporated in the main app? Wow, no wonder it's so big.
 
Yeah, there's a couple of articles a few months ago about how someone had managed to spoof the app to let them still use messenger in it. I'm assuming it's still in the main one as an icon to drive people to the actual app, which is supposed to be a big hope for being a big revenue stream in the future.
 
I've sideloaded the Facebook Lite app on my LG Tribute phone. It loads fewer ads and uses less data. It's not as pretty looking, and doesn't generate previews for HTML links inserted in posts. At least it doesn't crash like the regular app, and it can receive notifications. Plus, it has messenger built in. Even with that, I still use the messenger app, as I prefer the interface vs lite messenger mode, and the chat heads setting.
 
My problem with the separate app is its also really badly coded (or at least it was until recently). Uninstalled it for ages after it repeatedly used most of my battery even though I hadn't actually sent or received messages in months. Reinstalled recently and it doesn't seem as bad thankfully.
 
kikikbagyo said:
i guess u can try FACEBOOK LITE, it available on play store, similliar to FACEBOOK app
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It's not a bad app. It's definitely more austere than the original app, but I think I can get used to it.

My only problem with the app is not related to the app itself, namely:

It's not available in my country, so I had to install the APK from APKMirror, which means that it won't get updated through the Play Store, if I understand things correctly.

Not that it's a huge problem, because of Pushbullet, but it's still a bit annoying.
 
that should has a main problem with the legals app, but actually on the app is still normal and not really had many bug problems, if u disturbed with the specific app, u can also use the UC browser to improve ur facebook notifications
 
I'm using the Lite app for a while now, and I have to say that I don't really miss the autoplay and such of the big one.

It'd be a great extra, but generally, it's a great app.
 
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