Building a no-code app is easy, but ensuring it runs efficiently is the real challenge. Poor app performance can drive users away - 53% abandon apps that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Even a small improvement, like speeding up load times by 0.1 seconds, can boost conversion rates by 8.4%. Here’s how to make your no-code app faster and more reliable:
- Optimize database queries: Fetch only the data you need, use pagination, and avoid complex filters.
- Simplify workflows: Break down actions, minimize dependencies, and use background processes.
- Streamline API calls: Request only essential data, use server-side pagination, and compress payloads.
- Use caching: Store frequently accessed data to reduce database queries.
- Reduce front-end load: Limit screen elements, use native components, and enable progressive loading.
- Minimize network requests: Compress images, limit data size, and avoid unnecessary calls.
- Leverage platform tools: Platforms like Adalo offer features like server-side logic and CDNs for better performance.
- Monitor and improve: Track load times, query speeds, and user feedback to identify and fix issues.
These steps can help your app handle more users, load faster, and deliver a smoother experience. Even small tweaks, like pre-calculating values or enabling progressive loading, can make a noticeable difference.
No-Code App Performance Optimization: Key Statistics and Impact
1. Improve Database Queries and Data Operations
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Fast, responsive apps depend heavily on efficient database queries. Every database query, complex logic execution, or external API call adds latency to your app’s performance.
One common pitfall is retrieving more data than necessary. To avoid this, limit the number of items fetched to only what users actually need. Similarly, steer clear of nested lists, as they can significantly increase the number of database requests - each row triggering its own query can lead to exponential slowdowns.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
Optimizing database performance doesn’t have to be complicated, especially on no-code platforms. For instance, you can pre-calculate and store values like counts, sums, or averages in dedicated properties, eliminating the need for real-time calculations. Another effective approach is to limit the number of items displayed per view. Use features like pagination or "Load items as user scrolls" to make the initial load faster and more user-friendly, especially for larger datasets.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
As your app grows, inefficient database queries can quickly become a major obstacle. Simple strategies, such as pulling counts directly from record properties instead of applying filters, can dramatically improve performance - doubling app speed in some cases. Focus on filtering by straightforward properties like "status" or "date" instead of relying on complex formulas. Additionally, archiving older data can help keep your main database lean and efficient. These optimizations not only enhance current performance but also lay a solid foundation for scaling your workflows as your user base expands.
2. Build Better Workflow Architecture
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
The way you structure workflows has a direct effect on how fast and responsive your app feels. Sequential actions can create bottlenecks, slowing down user interactions. For instance, triggering multiple actions from a single button click or screen load - especially when those actions involve complex conditional logic - can lead to noticeable delays.
One way to tackle this is by breaking down complex screens into smaller, simpler ones. Each screen then handles fewer widgets and processes less data, reducing the load on the front end. Another strategy is to move resource-heavy calculations to background workflows that run quietly in the background. This approach helps prevent the user interface from freezing during page loads. By streamlining workflows, you set a solid foundation for smoother app performance.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
For no-code platforms, efficient implementation starts with batching actions. Instead of triggering multiple separate actions, combine them into a single step to update fields more efficiently. You can also use lazy loading, where data is loaded only when the user needs it, to improve performance.
It’s also important to review your screens for hidden components that might be unnecessarily consuming resources. Avoid nesting components deeper than four levels, as excessive nesting can slow load times and cause erratic behavior. When working with large datasets, consider processing items incrementally using recursive workflows or the "Schedule API workflow on a list" feature. This method prevents timeouts and ensures smoother operations. These practices not only improve performance but also create a scalable framework that can grow with your app.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
Optimized workflows don’t just make your app faster today - they also prepare it for future growth. Poorly designed workflows can become major roadblocks as your user base expands. For example, serially chained queries can cause significant delays, especially if the first query returns a large dataset. To avoid this, reduce sequential dependencies and process tasks in parallel whenever possible.
Heavy computations should be offloaded to the server. Pre-calculate values like counts or sums and store them in dedicated database fields, updating them only when the underlying data changes. This eliminates the need to recalculate these values every time a screen loads. By combining these architectural strategies with database and API optimizations, you’ll ensure your workflows remain responsive and scalable as your app continues to grow.
3. Optimize API Calls and External Integrations
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Every time your app communicates with a third-party service - whether it's Google Maps, a payment processor, or a data API - it can slow things down. The Adalo Help Center explains:
"Every single time your app... talks to a third-party network (searching google maps), app performance will suffer".
Performance issues become more pronounced with larger payloads. For example, payloads exceeding 1.6MB can cause noticeable slowdowns, and those over 3MB can lead to significant delays. Query runtimes are another factor - anything longer than 3 seconds begins to impact responsiveness, and runtimes exceeding 5 seconds can severely degrade the user experience.
Geographic location also matters. Since Adalo's servers are based in the United States, international users may experience higher latency when accessing data. This issue is compounded when apps fetch unnecessary data fields or entire datasets instead of just the information needed for a specific screen. Consider this: 53% of mobile users abandon an app if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Clearly, optimizing API usage isn't just about speed - it's essential for keeping users engaged.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
Once you've identified performance bottlenecks, you can take actionable steps to address them. Start by auditing automatic queries and limiting them to user-triggered actions. Instead of fetching all fields with a "SELECT *" query, request only the data that’s required for the current screen.
Another effective tactic is server-side pagination, which breaks large datasets into smaller, more manageable chunks rather than loading thousands of records at once. Caching data that doesn’t change frequently can also reduce the number of network calls. Additionally, batch updates into a single API call to streamline processes. For user-generated images, use services like Imgix to dynamically resize and compress files via API before displaying them in your app.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
As your app’s audience grows, unoptimized API calls can create bottlenecks and even lead to crashes. To prepare for this, run independent queries in parallel to minimize wait times. Shift complex data processing tasks to the server side, ensuring consistent performance across devices with varying capabilities.
Before scaling to larger audiences, conduct load testing to simulate high traffic and evaluate how well your app handles the pressure. Also, consider the differences in how iOS and Android handle concurrent network requests, as each platform has its own limitations. By reducing the total number of requests, optimizing payloads, and using native platform connectors where possible, you’ll create a solid foundation for growth without sacrificing speed.
4. Use Caching to Speed Up Your App
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Caching stores frequently accessed data in a faster, more accessible location, cutting down on the need to repeatedly fetch it from the database. This is especially useful for data that doesn't change often, like user profiles, product lists, or app settings. As AWS puts it, "Lazy caching should serve as the foundation of any good caching strategy". In other words, you only load data into the cache when it's actually needed.
The performance improvements can be striking. For instance, storing pre-calculated values - such as record counts - directly in the database instead of recalculating them every time a screen loads can double your app's speed. Similarly, serving app components through a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Amazon CloudFront can slash download times from 8 seconds to just 165.92 milliseconds on average. These improvements not only make your app faster but also simplify scaling and deployment.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
No-code platforms make it relatively simple to add caching to your app. A good starting point is lazy caching, where data is only loaded into the cache when requested. This keeps the cache lightweight as your app grows. For data that users will access immediately after an update - like a profile picture - write-through caching is a better choice. This ensures the database and cache are updated at the same time.
Another easy optimization is storing calculated values directly in the database. Instead of filtering records to get a count every time a screen loads, you can create a property that tracks the count and only updates when records are added or removed. You can also use a Time-to-Live (TTL) setting to refresh cached data periodically. For fast-changing data like leaderboards, a short TTL of around 5 seconds can prevent your database from being overwhelmed during high-traffic times. When combined with database and workflow optimizations, caching significantly boosts app performance.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
As your user base grows, unoptimized data retrieval can quickly become a bottleneck. Caching shifts the workload from the read phase - when users view data - to the write phase - when data updates occur. This aligns better with user expectations for a fast, seamless experience. If you're scaling up by adding new cache nodes, it's a good idea to prewarm the cache with common requests before peak usage to avoid a flood of simultaneous data queries.
For apps with a global audience, using a CDN for static assets and images is crucial. CDNs not only distribute content more efficiently but also compress images, cutting load times from 6.32 seconds to just 1.15 seconds. These strategies ensure your app stays fast and reliable, even as thousands of users access it at the same time.
5. Reduce Front-End Rendering Load
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Every element you add to a screen increases the processing demand on a user's device. Even components that are hidden or conditionally displayed still load in the background, which can slow down rendering. The more widgets you include, the longer it takes for the interface to respond to user interactions.
Just like optimizing databases and APIs improves backend performance, progressive loading can significantly reduce front-end strain. For instance, enabling "Load Items as User Scrolls" for a list containing 5,000 records can slash the initial screen load time by a staggering 86%. This method ensures your app only processes the content currently visible on the screen, instead of attempting to render thousands of items all at once - a game-changer when dealing with large datasets.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
Once you've streamlined your database and workflows, the next step is to reduce the front-end load to maintain a seamless user experience. Luckily, optimizing front-end rendering is straightforward. Start by auditing your screens: limit the number of groups and keep nesting levels to a maximum of four. If a screen feels cluttered, break it down into multiple, simpler screens - each focusing on a single concept.
Whenever possible, stick to native list components (like simple, card, or image lists) instead of custom-built ones. Native components are designed to work efficiently with the platform's rendering engine, reducing unnecessary overhead. These small adjustments not only enhance rendering speed but also prepare your app to handle a growing user base without compromising performance.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
A streamlined front end allows your optimized workflows and APIs to perform at their best. As your app attracts more users, front-end rendering can become a bottleneck if not managed properly. To avoid this, offload tasks like record counting to the database. Instead of filtering and recounting records each time, create a number property in the database that updates only when records are added or removed.
Additionally, visual feedback can make a huge difference in how users perceive performance. Incorporate skeleton loading states or other visual indicators to show that data is being fetched. This keeps the app feeling responsive, even during load times. By applying a combination of these strategies - using native lists, optimizing images, enabling scroll-loading, avoiding deeply nested lists, and pre-calculating counts - you can effectively double your app's performance.
sbb-itb-d4116c7
6. Cut Down Network Requests and Data Size
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Managing network requests is a key factor in ensuring your app runs smoothly. Every time your app fetches data, it initiates a network request. If these requests are frequent or involve large data packets, performance takes a hit. For instance, on a standard LTE connection, downloading a gallery of 10 images at 1 MB each takes about 4 seconds. But if you compress those images to 40 kB each, the download time drops dramatically to just 0.16 seconds.
It’s not just the number of requests that matters - the size of the data payload is equally important. For example, running a database query without setting limits can return thousands of records, overwhelming both the server and the user’s device. This challenge becomes even more noticeable for users outside the United States, where geographic latency can further slow things down.
By combining efficient network management with optimized database queries, you can create a much smoother experience for your users.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
No-code platforms make it relatively simple to manage network requests. One easy step is setting a "Maximum number of items" in list configurations. For example, you can limit results to the latest 10 products or 20 comments.
For image optimization, services like Imgix can automatically resize and compress files, drastically reducing data transfer. In one test, optimizing five images cut load time from 6.32 seconds to just 1.15 seconds - over five times faster. You can even apply compression directly by modifying image URLs (e.g., appending ?q=30) without needing to edit the files manually.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
As your app grows and attracts more users, inefficient network requests can quickly become a major problem. Practices like using lists within lists or deeply nested components can cause a spike in database queries, leading to compounded delays as the amount of data increases.
To avoid this, store calculated values - like comment counts or total sales - as static properties in your database instead of recalculating them every time a screen loads. Pairing this approach with progressive loading and record limits ensures that your app remains responsive, even as your user base and data grow. These strategies are essential for avoiding slowdowns or timeouts as your app scales.
7. Use Adalo for Scalable No-Code Development
Impact on App Speed and Responsiveness
Adalo takes several steps to ensure your app performs well, even as it grows. The platform has transitioned from Heroku to AWS, enabling database autoscaling to manage heavy and fluctuating traffic loads effectively. Additionally, Adalo offloads complex application logic from users' devices to its servers. This shift reduces loading times and keeps users more engaged with your app, regardless of its size. As David Adkin, Co-Founder of Adalo, and Cameron Nuckols, Director of Engineering, highlight, this server-side approach improves overall user experience by minimizing interruptions like loading screens.
Adalo also incorporates advanced features like Fastly for caching and region-based sharding, ensuring that apps are served from servers closer to your users. This setup further enhances responsiveness and reliability.
Ease of Implementation for No-Code Platforms
Adalo simplifies performance optimization, making it easy to build efficient no-code apps. For example, the platform automatically indexes tables when you create new collections. This feature speeds up data retrieval in lists and detail views, saving you time and effort. Link actions also execute instantly, providing immediate user feedback while background processes run seamlessly in the background.
To further enhance performance, Adalo integrates with Imgix for image compression. By adding parameters like ?q=30 to image URLs, you can significantly reduce file sizes, which helps improve load times without compromising image quality.
Scalability for Growing User Bases
Adalo is built to handle growth. The platform has increased its server capacity by over 50% and reduced app sizes by nearly 25% through a complete overhaul of app configuration storage. For web apps and PWAs, components are delivered via Amazon Cloudfront CDN, which has drastically improved download times - from as long as 8 seconds to an average of just 165.92ms.
These enhancements ensure your app can grow alongside your user base without sacrificing speed or performance. Adalo's platform-level improvements make scaling your no-code app a hassle-free experience.
8. Track Performance Metrics and Keep Improving
Addressing Common Performance Challenges
To keep your app running smoothly, it's essential to monitor key metrics like initial load times, query response speeds, and navigation latency. These metrics help identify performance hiccups early on. As Adalo explains:
"We encourage you to think about mobile app performance in similar terms [to GTMetrix], and regularly ponder how a particular application change or addition will affect performance."
Tracking these metrics can reveal exactly where your app might be lagging. For example, issues could stem from a complex screen overloaded with hidden components, a sluggish API call, or a list trying to load thousands of records simultaneously.
Tools for No-Code Platforms
Adalo's built-in Analytics makes it easy to keep an eye on screen load times and database query performance. Regularly auditing your app's screens can help you spot potential troublemakers, like screens with too many nested groups (over four levels deep), excessive components, or text inputs that increase processing demands.
For database performance, Adalo provides tools to monitor query response times and identify bottlenecks. It’s also a good idea to test your app on various devices - iOS, Android, and PWAs handle data differently, so what works well on one platform might not perform as efficiently on another. These tools not only uncover current issues but also provide insights for continuous improvements.
Boosting App Speed and Responsiveness
Tracking performance metrics can lead to noticeable improvements. For instance, Adalo optimized its notification service, cutting latency by up to 100x. Similarly, integrating a CDN slashed download times from 8 seconds to just 165.92 milliseconds. By reworking app configuration storage, they also managed to reduce overall app sizes by nearly 25%. These kinds of optimizations can make your app significantly faster and more responsive.
How to Solve NoCode App Performance Issues
Conclusion
Boosting the performance of your no-code app involves implementing a mix of focused strategies to ensure consistent improvements. Whether it's fine-tuning database queries, simplifying workflows, reducing front-end load times, or keeping an eye on key metrics, every step contributes to making your app faster and more dependable. These methods, outlined earlier, serve as the foundation for efficient no-code app development.
As your app grows and handles increasing amounts of data, ongoing performance optimization becomes crucial. Imagine your app's speed as a score from 0 to 100 - every new feature, image, or piece of logic influences that score, for better or worse. To maintain high performance, regularly audit your screens, shift complex calculations to database properties, and use progressive loading techniques to keep things running smoothly as your user base expands.
Even small tweaks can yield big results. For instance, pulling counts directly from record properties instead of applying filters can double your app's speed. Similarly, enabling progressive loading can slash initial load times by up to 86% for large lists. These measurable improvements make a noticeable difference in responsiveness.
Focus on eliminating bottlenecks: use native components for slow-loading lists, remove unnecessary groups from laggy screens, and leverage caching to optimize API calls. Each of these targeted adjustments adds up, creating a significantly better experience for your users. By staying proactive and continuously refining your app, you can ensure it performs at its best as it evolves.
FAQs
What are the best ways to improve the load time of my no-code app?
Improving the load time of your no-code app requires cutting down the amount of data and elements that need to be processed on each screen. Here’s how you can speed things up:
- Compress images: Use Adalo’s Imgix service to shrink image file sizes or compress user-uploaded images before adding them to collections. For instance, a 1 MB image can be reduced to about 40 KB, which drastically reduces download times.
- Enable lazy loading for lists: Instead of loading an entire list at once, select the "Load Items as User Scrolls" option. This fetches data in smaller, more manageable chunks.
- Simplify components: Eliminate unnecessary groups, hidden elements, or unused text-input fields. Even if they’re not visible, they can still impact rendering speed.
- Fine-tune database queries: Retrieve only the data that’s essential for each screen and avoid duplicating queries unnecessarily.
These steps can make your app load faster, ensuring users in the U.S. enjoy a smoother, more responsive experience.
How can I optimize API calls to improve the performance of my no-code app?
Optimizing API calls can make a huge difference in your app's performance. Every time your app hits a database, a third-party service, or a custom endpoint, there's a chance of slowing things down - especially if you're making too many calls or pulling in more data than you actually need.
To keep things running smoothly, try these strategies:
- Batch and paginate requests: Instead of fetching everything at once, load only the data you need in smaller, manageable chunks.
- Cache frequent responses: For static or rarely changing data, caching can save you from making the same API calls over and over again.
- Trim down payloads: Request only the specific fields you need, cutting out unnecessary data.
- Simplify and consolidate logic: Reduce redundant calls by organizing your API logic more effectively.
These steps can help your app run faster, handle more users, and deliver a seamless experience.
What is caching, and how can it improve the performance of a no-code app?
Caching can boost your app's performance by keeping frequently used data stored locally for quick access. Instead of repeatedly pulling the same information from a server or database, caching allows your app to retrieve it instantly. This not only speeds up load times but also reduces the workload on your server.
When implemented well, caching ensures your no-code app runs faster, provides a smoother user experience, and can handle increased traffic with ease.
Related Blog Posts
