Customized root processes for groups of applications in a computing device. A computing device (e.g., a mobile device) can monitor usage of applications. The device can then store data related to the usage of the applications, and group the applications into groups according to the stored data. The device can customize and execute a root process for a group of applications according to usage common to each application in the group. The device can generate patterns of prior executions shared amongst the applications in the group based on the stored data common to each application in the group, and execute the root process of the group according to the patterns. The device can receive a request to start an application from the group from a user of the device, and start the application upon receiving the request and by using the root process of the group of applications.