Android’s 16KB Memory Shift & App optimizations @ Disney+

This month we are visiting Disney+ in Amsterdam! We have two great talks lined up, each offering practical insights into Android engineering challenges.

The first talk focuses on Android’s upcoming shift to a 16KB memory page size. We will break down what this change means for developers, the risks it introduces for native code and libraries, and the steps you can take today to verify your app’s readiness.

The second talk explores how we optimized the startup performance of the Disney+ Android app. You will learn how we set up reliable metrics, restructured our Splash and Startup flows, introduced guardrails to keep heavy work out of the critical path, and moved key operations off the main thread to deliver a smoother launch experience for users.

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Agenda:

17:30: Doors open, food & drinks
18:20: DutchAUG introduction
18:25: Disney+ introduction
18:30: Ahmed Tikiwa: The Silent Crash: Is Your App Ready for Android’s 16KB Memory Shift?
19:15: Short break
19:30: Wyko Rijnsburger: Optimizing App Startup at Disney Scale
20:15: Networking & Drinks

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Ahmed Tikiwa, Android Engineer at Disney+ and GDE

The Silent Crash: Is Your App Ready for Android’s 16KB Memory Shift?

A significant technical shift is happening under the hood of Android: the transition to a 16KB memory page size, beginning with Android 16 on select devices. While this change brings potential performance improvements, it also introduces compatibility risks for apps that aren’t prepared.

What does this shift really mean for developers? How might it impact native code, memory usage patterns, or third-party libraries your app depends on?

This session demystifies the 16KB page-size transition. We’ll explore the why, the potential pitfalls, and—most importantly—the practical steps you can take today to test and verify your app’s readiness. Ensure your users enjoy a seamless experience as Android moves toward this new memory architecture.

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Wyko Rijnsburger, Tech Lead at Disney+

Optimizing App Startup at Disney Scale

Fast startup is critical. In this session, we share how we improved the startup performance of the Disney+ Android app, from reliable measurement to architectural cleanup.

We cover how we built meaningful metrics with Macrobenchmarks, restructured our Splash and Startup flows, added guardrails to keep heavy code out of the critical path, and shifted most work off the main thread.

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Important information

How to get there?

Public transport: Go to Amsterdam Central, take the ferry to Buiksloterweg and walk 10 minutes to Max & Moore

Building:

Disney+ is located in the Max & Moore building. That's two buildings (Black and White), Disney is located in the black building. The entrance is next to the Velvet Square Café