Other NFRs in Mobile System Design
Learn important NFRs like battery optimization, maintainability, availability, and portability important for mobile System Design.
We'll cover the following...
In this chapter, we’ve already explored NFRs like performance, accessibility, internationalization, security, and privacy etc., which help systems perform well, support inclusive design, adapt to different locales, and protect data. But a globally accessible app that drains the battery, crashes under poor networks, or is impossible to maintain quickly loses its value.
That’s why it’s critical to surface and design for other foundational NFRs, especially in the mobile context, where constraints are sharper and user tolerance is lower. These include:
Battery optimization
Maintainability
Availability
Portability
Though these don’t directly shape user interfaces, they define how dependable, usable, and scalable the system feels to both users and engineers.
Which app would you trust more: one with more features or one that updates smoothly, uses minimal battery, and works across all your devices? Most users won’t choose explicitly, they’ll just stick with the one that “feels better.” And that “feel” is often rooted in nonfunctional excellence, not just feature count.
Let’s begin with one of the most mobile-centric concerns: how to build battery-efficient systems that respect the user’s device limits without sacrificing functionality.
Battery optimization
Unlike on desktop or web systems, mobile apps live under strict power constraints. Every unnecessary wake-up call, background sync, or excessive animation drains the user’s battery, and their patience. A visually appealing app that drains battery life becomes disposable, no matter how feature-rich it is.
The battery efficiency matters because:
Users often notice battery drain before they notice slow performance.
OS platforms (Android and iOS) track and penalize battery-heavy apps, lowering background execution privileges or deprioritizing updates.
In markets where users rely on mid-range phones or face power scarcity, battery-friendly apps earn trust and retention. ...