If you’re a developer, you’re all too familiar with the frustration of typing along in your IDE at 2 AM, only to realize you can’t push those new commits to your Android/iOS app because your phone’s out of storage or running too slowly.
Mobile device maintenance is a very real priority that can have a significant impact on developer productivity with minimal time investment. Find out what it is and why it matters with this in-depth guide.
What is Mobile Device Maintenance?
Software development, whether it’s for phones or traditional PCs, is all about pushing that next feature by the deadline and steering clear of bugs. Mobile device maintenance ensures you can make those deadlines instead of getting tangled up in troubleshooting.
This ‘maintenance’ encompasses all the routine tasks necessary to keep your phone (or target device) running smoothly.
Breaking Down Mobile Device Maintenance
Maintenance includes a variety of tasks, such as:
- Software updates like the latest OS versions or app patches to fix bugs, plug security vulnerabilities, and enhance performance.
- Storage management, such as clearing out caches and deleting unused files to free up space and prevent slowdowns.
- Battery optimization to minimize battery drain from rogue background app usage, allowing your phone to run smoothly even during extensive coding sessions.
- Security checks like malware scans and enabling TFA, along with managing permissions to safeguard API keys and other sensitive data.
Why Proper Maintenance Matters
Phone maintenance might sound like a non-issue considering how advanced modern phones are, and the features we have access to at our fingertips.
The bigger picture looks quite different. Over half of U.S. workers reported serious mobile issues every month that impacted their productivity in 2019.
What are those issues? Let’s take a closer look.
A Massive Time Sink
If you’re developing software for a mobile device or using it for work in any capacity, being lax with its maintenance can turn your phone into a massive time sink in the long run.
This can be something as benign as leaving your work device’s notifications unchecked, allowing them to flood in and become an endless source of distraction and thoughtless swiping.
The other side of this is much more terrifying for a developer. Incessant app crashes caused by lax maintenance will have you constantly going through the code trying to troubleshoot new issues instead of focusing on the projects that matter.
Halted Productivity
Cal Newport’s Deep Work highlighted the importance of uninterrupted, focused work for the world to see. Today’s most successful developers do their best work when they’re allowed to zone in and operate completely free of distractions.
Poor maintenance can throw a wrench in the works if you’re planning on locking in for a focused session. Everything from a battery warning to an update nag in the middle of a coding session can completely break the flow and require a ton of time for developers to refocus.
Developer Disruptions
Developers who rely heavily on their mobile devices are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of poor device maintenance. For example, if you’re on a single monitor and relying on your phone as a testing rig, Slack device, and remote debugger, a single instance of lag or a few crashes can disrupt your entire workflow.
A Stress Amplifier
Many studies examining workplace productivity often overlook the emotional impact that these frustrations can have on developers. Spending up to an hour debugging an issue that would otherwise not exist with proper maintenance can be a source of anxiety for even the most experienced developers.
Ultimately, this all adds up to an increased rate of burnout in an industry that’s already reeling from unbalanced workloads and the looming threat of AI on the horizon.
Quick Mobile Device Maintenance Hacks for Developers
Now that you’re aware of the importance of proper device maintenance, let’s explore a few quick ways to improve productivity.
Device Protection
Enduring protection begins on the outside. After all, you can’t expect to be very productive with your phone if the screen shatters after a fall. Start by getting a durable tempered glass screen protector that doesn’t interfere with functionality.
Next, you’ll want to double that up with a phone case. If you’re only going to be using your mobile device in the office, you don’t need to spring for a rugged case here. Basic protection from a solid TPU case will do.
Proper Charging
Is fast charging bad for your phone? Not at all. In fact, you should be using fast charging to get the most out of your mobile device in the office, provided you’re using a certified third-party or first-party charger from the manufacturer.
Why does using a reliable charger make a difference? The goal is to maximize your mobile device’s longevity, especially considering it gets put through the wringer daily after repeated debugging sessions and testing.
Battery Optimization
Proper battery optimization can go a long way for developers. Many apps on your phone each use up resources in the background, which adds up over time and contributes to significant battery drain.
If you’re on Android, you can turn off background usage by going to the ‘App Battery Usage’ panel, while iOS users can do so by going to Settings > Battery. In some cases, you might have to go to the individual app’s settings page to turn off background resource usage.
Quick Cache Clearing
If you have a minute to spare, you might want to spend a bit of time clearing caches for the heaviest hitters in your arsenal. This includes programs like:
- VS Code/VS Code mobile
- Git clients
- Emulators (if you’re using any)
How does this help? Programs create caches to speed up data retrieval and processing, helping developers execute faster. However, this also leads to large temp files that can balloon into unmanageable sizes if stored on your mobile device. If you can afford to, regularly clearing this cache can help run things smoothly.
App Audits
An app audit every now and then does wonders for mobile device maintenance, and you don’t need to get fancy here at all. Go into your device’s settings and sort your apps by ‘Last Used’. If you haven’t used an app in 30+ days and it’s inconsequential to your workflow, you can delete it and free up gigabytes of storage for other things!
Long-Term Mobile Device Maintenance Strategies and Tips
Use Storage Analyzers
80% of smartphone users tend to underestimate the amount of storage they need, including developers. Tools like Files by Google and iOS’s built-in file management app can be a godsend here if you’re looking to maximize productivity through maintenance.
Use these apps to identify and remove duplicates and large logs that may be consuming valuable storage space on your mobile device. Turning this into a bi-annual ritual is an excellent best practice for developers who are heavily reliant on their phones.
Regular Firmware Updates and Security Patches
Whether you’re a developer or an artist, we all dread the coming of a new Windows or phone OS update. Unfortunately, ignoring those updates creates more problems than it’s worth.
Set aside a quiet hour and schedule those updates when you know you’re not going to be productive. These updates will:
- Shield you from cyberthreats
- Ensure your apps don’t get bogged down in bugs
- Potentially improve overall device performance
Automated Backups
Creating automated backups for your mobile device is an absolute necessity, especially at a time when cloud storage is so easily accessible. All manner of things can go wrong if you’re tinkering with code and pushing a new feature against tight deadlines, and it pays to be prepared.
Set up an automatic cloud sync with a service like Google Drive, iOS, or Amazon’s own proprietary services if you have access to them. You’ll work faster knowing your functional codebase is stored safely.
Integrate Tools
Doing things by yourself is alright, but getting a tool to do it for you? Now that’s optimal. Developers can utilize a range of tool integrations to automate their mobile maintenance tasks. For example, you can use tools like:
- Termux to create custom scripts for clearing out caches and setting up updates.
- Greenify (Android) to automatically locate battery-hog apps and disable them.
- iOS’s own Shortcuts app to clear caches and create automated battery health reports.
Document Your Maintenance Workflow
This isn’t a device maintenance tip per se, but it should absolutely be on your mind if you’re optimizing your productivity.
Create a Notion document to write down your mobile device maintenance plan. Log the steps taken whenever you execute that plan so you can always retrace your steps and identify issues in case something goes wrong.
If you’re using tools to automate all this, keep those logs in a secure, single location for easy access.
Common Mobile Device Maintenance Mistakes
Foregoing a Case and Screen Protector
We see this issue crop up far too often, and it’s easy to see why. Developers working on mobile solutions often assume they won’t need a case or protector, as the device is likely to be used primarily in the office.
All it takes for reality to set in is an absentminded bump or the inevitable coffee spill. API tokens are already expensive enough; the last thing you want is to increase those costs by adding a screen replacement.
Using Low Quality Chargers
As a mobile app developer, it’s tempting to skip over the single-device first-party and certified third-party chargers for a more convenient but unsafe solution that supports multiple devices. After all, if you’re building for a range of devices, you’ll need an easy way to charge them up quickly.
That can backfire. Certified chargers have been tested against a range of devices and are designed to shield your mobile devices against excessive wattage and other problems. Using an untrusted aftermarket charger can lead to overheating and increased battery drain in the long run.
Skipping Updates Because They ‘Slow Me Down’
If you’re a longtime Windows user, you likely have a deep-seated fear of the latest software update completely breaking your PC and causing random BSODs. Honestly? That fear wouldn’t be too unfounded.
However, modern software updates are tested a lot more extensively and are far less likely to impact your developer workflow negatively. If you’re skipping those updates out of caution, you’re missing out on better performance and new features.
Holding Onto Outdated Devices
You can follow every mobile device maintenance tip and trick in the book, but every phone has its EOL date, and you can only extend it by so much. Some developers tend to hold on to old devices despite issues like overheating and sluggish performance out of inertia or perhaps to save on costs.
If it doesn’t impact your workflow, you’ll gain a lot more by upgrading to a newer device and using that for your testing needs instead. Of course, this all depends on the target user base for your app.
Create The Ultimate Mobile Developer Workflow
A proper mobile device maintenance plan, a regular routine, and timely device upgrades are all you need to build the ultimate workflow with your mobile device. If you’re a solo dev, you’re good to go by documenting your maintenance in Notion.
If you’re working in or leading a team, you may want to establish a standardized set of maintenance practices for the entire team to follow, ensuring everyone’s on the same page. Your next super-app is just around the corner!
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