A practical guide to modern Android app optimization using R8 Full Mode. Covers enabling R8 Full Mode (now default in AGP 8.0), using the optimized ProGuard configuration file, writing narrow Keep Rules instead of broad wildcards, using the @Keep annotation, shrinking resources via isShrinkResources, language resource filtering, converting images to WebP, and switching from APK to Android App Bundle uploads for 15-20% download size reduction.
Table of contents
The New Standard: R8 is King1. Enable R8 Full Mode2. The Secret Sauce: proguard-android-optimize.txt3. Mastering Keep Rules (The Tricky Part)Get Jay Patel’s stories in your inbox4. Slash Resource Sizes5. App Bundles are Non-NegotiableSummary935 Impressions