Docs/Optimization

Memory Management

Track and reduce memory usage.

13 min read Advanced Updated 2026-07-01 v2.0 ~38 min to complete

Introduction

Track and reduce memory usage. This page provides a complete guide to memory management in Appley, covering everything from setup to advanced techniques.

Optimization is a core area of Appley. Understanding memory management will help you build better games and use the platform more effectively. This documentation is designed for advanced level users.

Requirements

Before working with memory management, ensure you have the following:

An Appley project to optimize
Understanding of performance metrics (FPS, draw calls)
Access to the profiling tools
Target hardware specifications

Estimated Completion Time

This guide takes approximately 38 minutes to complete. The estimated reading time is 13 minutes. Difficulty level: Advanced.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to work with memory management in your Appley project:

Profile the game

Open the profiler in Creator Studio and play your game to capture data.

Identify bottlenecks

Analyze the profiler results to find the slowest systems for memory management.

Apply optimizations

Implement recommended optimizations (LOD, culling, batching, compression).

Re-profile

Play the game again and compare metrics to verify improvements.

Set quality presets

Create quality presets for different target devices (mobile, desktop).

FluxScript Example

Below is an Appley Scripting (Flux Scripting) code example demonstrating memory management:

Memory Management — Appley Scripting

// Optimization — Memory Management
on start {
  world.setLOD("tree", [
    { distance: 15, mesh: "tree_high" },
    { distance: 40, mesh: "tree_mid" },
    { distance: 80, mesh: "tree_low" }
  ])
  world.setCulling(true, { mode: "frustum" })
  world.batchStatic(["rocks", "trees", "buildings"])
  lighting.setShadowDistance(60)
}

on update(dt) {
  fps = system.getFPS()
  if fps < 30 {
    world.setRenderScale(0.75)
    lighting.setShadowQuality("low")
  } else if fps > 55 {
    world.setRenderScale(1.0)
    lighting.setShadowQuality("high")
  }
}

Node Script Example

The same logic can be implemented using Node Scripting. Here is the equivalent node graph:

Memory Management — Node Graph

[On Start] ──► [Set LOD: tree, 3 levels]
         ──► [Enable Culling: frustum]
         ──► [Batch Static: rocks, trees, buildings]

[On Update] ──► [Get FPS] ──► [Branch]
            ├─ < 30 ──► [Set Render Scale: 0.75]
            └─ > 55 ──► [Set Render Scale: 1.0]

Interchangeable Systems

FluxScript and Node Scripting compile to the same runtime. You can mix both in a single project — use whichever is best for each task.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent mistakes when working with memory management:

Not profiling before optimizing

Always profile first to find the actual bottleneck.

Over-optimizing early in development

Build first, optimize second. Premature optimization wastes time.

Using high-quality settings on mobile

Create separate quality presets for mobile and desktop.

Not testing on the target device

Test on actual hardware — emulators hide real performance.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with memory management, try these solutions:

FPS drops below 30

Profile to find the bottleneck. Common: draw calls, high-poly models, expensive scripts.

Game uses too much memory

Reduce texture sizes. Use texture compression. Unload unused assets.

Mobile device overheats

Reduce render scale. Lower shadow quality. Simplify shaders. Cap at 30 FPS.

Loading times are long

Compress assets. Lazy-load scenes. Use streaming for large worlds.

Performance Tips

Optimize your use of memory management with these performance tips:

Profile regularly — dont guess what is slow. Use the built-in profiler.
Set up quality presets for different devices (mobile, desktop, high-end).
Use object pooling for frequently spawned/destroyed objects (bullets, particles).
Implement level streaming for large worlds to reduce initial load time.

Explore these related documentation pages:

Optimization Overview

Introduction to Appley

Getting Started