Common Pitfalls and Proven Solutions for Scaling Jetpack Compose in Enterprise Android Apps

Jetpack Compose is rapidly becoming the go-to UI toolkit for Android developers. However, scaling Compose in large applications introduces unique challenges. Here are the top 10 mistakes developers commonly make, along with detailed explanations, bad examples, and corrected code snippets:

1. Ignoring Modularization

Compose projects become difficult to maintain and slow to compile when all UI components reside in a single module.

Bad Example:

// Single module structure
app/
  ui/
  data/
  utils/

This monolithic approach quickly becomes hard to manage, affecting both build times and overall maintainability as the project scales.

Correct Example:

// Modularized structure
app/
  feature-home/
  feature-profile/
  core-ui/

Splitting your application into distinct modules simplifies dependency management, reduces build times, and enhances maintainability.

2. Mismanaging State Hoisting

Improper state hoisting leads to unnecessary recompositions, causing performance degradation.

Bad Example:

@Composable
fun ParentComposable() {
    ChildComposable()
}

@Composable
fun ChildComposable() {
    var counter by remember { mutableStateOf(0) }
}

Here, state management is incorrectly placed in a child composable, limiting flexibility.

Correct Example:

@Composable
fun ParentComposable() {
    var counter by remember { mutableStateOf(0) }
    ChildComposable(counter) { counter++ }
}

Proper state hoisting ensures efficient recompositions and manageable state flow.

3. Overusing remember

Using remember unnecessarily complicates code and wastes resources.

Bad Example:

val itemCount by remember { mutableStateOf(items.size) } // Unnecessary

This approach introduces needless complexity.

Correct Example:

val itemCount = items.size // Simple derived state, no need for remember

Use remember sparingly for expensive calculations or state preservation.

4. Improper Integration with Legacy Views

Incorrect integration with existing views can cause memory leaks and lifecycle problems.

Bad Example:

val legacyView = LegacyCustomView(context) // not lifecycle-aware

This does not manage the view lifecycle properly and can lead to leaks or unexpected behavior.

Correct Example:

AndroidView(factory = { context ->
    LegacyCustomView(context).apply {
        // Proper configuration and initialization
        setSomeListener { /* handle event */ }
    }
}, update = { legacyView ->
    // Optional updates when the composable recomposes
})

Using AndroidView ensures that the lifecycle of the legacy view is properly tied to the composable’s lifecycle, preventing memory leaks and ensuring appropriate initialization and disposal.

5. Ignoring Compose Compiler Reports

Neglecting to analyze compiler reports means missing optimization opportunities.

Bad Example:

// No Compose Compiler options configured

Without analysis, performance bottlenecks remain hidden.

Correct Example:

android {
    buildFeatures.compose = true
    composeOptions {
        kotlinCompilerExtensionVersion = "1.6.7"
        useLiveLiterals = false
    }
}

Regular compiler report analysis helps identify and rectify performance issues.

6. Inefficient List Handling

Failing to provide keys in lists results in poor scrolling performance.

Bad Example:

LazyColumn {
    items(itemsList) { item ->
        ItemComposable(item)
    }
}

Without keys, Compose cannot efficiently manage items.

Correct Example:

LazyColumn {
    items(itemsList, key = { it.id }) { item ->
        ItemComposable(item)
    }
}

Providing stable keys enhances performance by reducing unnecessary recompositions.

7. Underestimating Theming and Design Systems

Ignoring a centralized design system leads to inconsistent UI and increased maintenance overhead.

Bad Example:

// Inline styles scattered across components
Text("Button", color = Color.Blue)

This inconsistency quickly becomes unmanageable in large apps.

Correct Example:

object AppTheme {
    val colors = ColorScheme(primary = Color.Blue, secondary = Color.Red)
    val typography = Typography(defaultFontFamily = FontFamily.SansSerif)
    val shapes = Shapes(small = RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
}

A centralized theme ensures consistency and easy updates.

8. Overcomplicating Navigation

Complex navigation graphs lead to unmaintainable and error-prone code.

Bad Example:

navController.navigate("details?itemId=${item.id}&showDetails=true")

This string-based approach is error-prone.

Correct Example:

sealed class Screen(val route: String) {
    object Home : Screen("home")
    object Details : Screen("details/{itemId}") {
        fun createRoute(itemId: Int) = "details/$itemId"
    }
}

Type-safe navigation enhances readability and maintainability.

9. Neglecting Accessibility

Ignoring accessibility considerations excludes many users who rely on assistive technologies.

Bad Example:

Text("Button") // lacks semantic information

Users with accessibility needs struggle with such an implementation.

Correct Example:

Text(
    text = "Button",
    modifier = Modifier.semantics { contentDescription = "Submit Button" }
)

Clear semantics ensure accessibility for all users.

10. Not Writing UI Tests

Skipping UI tests leads to regressions and unstable UI behaviors.

Bad Example:

// No UI tests for composables

Untested UI easily breaks in large-scale refactoring.

Correct Example:

@get:Rule
val composeTestRule = createComposeRule()

@Test
fun myComposableTest() {
    composeTestRule.setContent { MyComposable() }
    composeTestRule.onNodeWithText("Hello World").assertIsDisplayed()
}

This article was previously published on proandroiddev.com.