OPTIMIZED NETWORK ERROR LOGGING FOR IOS: ENHANCING USER EXPERIENCE AND APP STABILITY VIA PROTOCOL AGNOSTICISM AND SERVER-SIDE POLICIES

Abstract

Network errors can severely disrupt mobile applications, diminishing their user experience and app stability. This paper explores the W3C Network Error Logging (NEL) standard adapted specifically for iOS to create a protocol-agnostic solution. Our approach seamlessly integrates multiple protocols, such as REST, gRPC, and Sockets, ensuring detailed error capture and analysis with a unified standard for error reporting across these protocols. By leveraging an intelligent policy engine, our system enables granular control over error logging, allowing for targeted error capture, flexible sampling rates, and meticulous destination management, all in real-time with pinpoint accuracy. Additionally, the framework addresses mobile-specific challenges such as dynamic network states, limited resources, crash resilience, and seamless integration across app states (foreground, background, and suspended). Initial findings demonstrate high error capture rates, reduced noise, and enhanced app stability. This framework equips developers with profound insights for faster troubleshooting and more efficient development cycles, ultimately improving user experience. The paper lays the groundwork for future research aimed at establishing standardized mobile error logging practices across platforms.