Learn Hardcore Chinese: zhèyàng zuòqǐlái gèng róngyì.

mark the start of an action (他笑起来了 = He started laughing),
indicate upward/collecting movement (把东西收起来 = put things away),
give an evaluative/experiential sense: “when you do it, it feels/seems ….”
In 这样做起来更容易, it’s the third use: “When done this way, doing it feels easier / turns out easier.”

Can I just say 这样做更容易? What’s the nuance difference without 起来?

Yes, 这样做更容易 is correct.

With 起来: emphasizes the experience of carrying it out (“once you actually do it this way, it proves easier”).
Without 起来: a straightforward statement about ease, with less “experiential” flavor.

Who is the subject here? Is something missing?

Chinese often omits a subject when it’s general/obvious. Here the topic is the method: “Doing it this way is easier.” You can add a subject or topic:

我们这样做起来更容易。
这个项目这样做起来更容易。

Do I need 地 after 这样 (like 这样地) to modify the verb?

No. 这样 already functions adverbially as “in this way/like this.” 这样地 is unnecessary and sounds odd here.

What’s the difference between 这样 and 这么?

Both can mean “like this/this way.”

这样: neutral, slightly more formal/written; often about manner/method.
这么: very common in speech; also heavily used for degree (这么大, 这么快).
You can say 这么做起来更容易 in everyday speech.

How is 更 used here? Do I need an explicit comparison?

更 is an adverb meaning “even more/more.” It can compare against an explicit thing or an implied baseline (e.g., how it was before). Context often supplies the comparison, so 更 without saying “than X” is fine.

How do I make the comparison explicit with 比?

Use 比 before the thing you’re comparing to:

这样做起来比那样容易。
You can include or omit 更 after 比:
这样做起来比那样更容易。/ 这样做起来比那样容易。
Both are idiomatic; adding 更 is slightly more emphatic.

Can I use 更加 instead of 更?

Yes. 更加 is a bit more formal/emphatic:

这样做起来更加容易。

How is 容易 different from 简单 and 方便?

容易: easy (low difficulty).
简单: simple (not complex, few steps).
方便: convenient (saves time/effort, practical).
E.g., 一个方法可能很简单但不一定容易；也可能容易但不一定方便。

Does 起来 here mean “start to do it”?

Not in this sentence. The “start to” meaning appears with change-of-state contexts (天气热起来了). With an adjective evaluation after it (做起来很/更容易), 起来 signals “when doing it, it feels/seems…”.

Why not use 下去 or 下来 instead of 起来?

Different complements encode different aspects:

V 下去: continuation (“keep doing”).
V 下来: result of coming to a conclusion or retaining (看出来 = make out by looking; 想出来 = think up).
V 起来: experiential evaluation or onset.
For “feels easier when carried out,” 起来 is the natural choice.

Pronunciation check?

这样: zhè yàng (4-4)
做起来: zuò qǐ lái (4-3-2; often neutralize 来 in fast speech)
更: gèng (4) for “more” in modern Mandarin
容易: róng yì (2-4)

Is 更 ever pronounced gēng here?

In modern standard Mandarin, for “more/even more” you should pronounce it gèng. The gēng reading appears in other meanings (like “to change/replace”) or in classical/literary usage.

Can I add 了 at the end to show a change?

Yes. 这样做起来更容易了 highlights a change relative to before (“It has become easier to do it this way now”).

Where do I put the object if I want to specify it?

Make the object the topic, then modify with the method:

这个菜这样做起来更容易。
这个任务这样做起来更容易。
Avoid inserting the object between 做 and 起来.

How is 做起来 different from 看起来?

做起来: experiential—when you actually do it, it feels…
看起来: perceptual—by looking, it seems/appears…
E.g., 这个方法看起来很复杂，但做起来很容易。

Can I say 这样更容易做?

Yes, and it’s common.

这样更容易做: “It’s easier to do (it) this way,” focusing on the potential/feasibility.
这样做起来更容易: emphasizes the on-the-ground experience of carrying it out.

Why is there no 得 after 做起来 before 更容易?

The pattern V + 起来 + Adj is a fixed, natural structure for evaluations. You don’t insert 得 there. Compare with the classic V + 得 + Adj pattern (e.g., 做得很好), which is a different construction.

Is 这样 functioning like a pronoun or an adverb here?

It’s a demonstrative in manner use—effectively an adverbial modifier meaning “in this way/like this,” modifying 做起来.

What’s a more formal alternative to 这样?

如此 is formal/literary: 如此做起来更容易. Another is 以此方式 (written): 以此方式做起来更容易.

Any idiomatic patterns I should know with V + 起来?

Yes, very common:

这本书读起来很有意思。
说起来容易，做起来难。
The second is a set phrase: “Easy to say, hard to do,” showcasing this evaluative 起来 use.