#AndroidDevJourney highlight – February version

Luli Perkins, Developer Relations Program Supervisor

Android Dev Journey February Header

Our second version of #AndroidDevJourney is right here! Initially of this yr we launched the #AndroidDevJourney to share the tales of members of our group by way of our social platforms. Every Saturday, from January by way of June, we’ll function a brand new developer on our Twitter account.

For an opportunity to be featured in our March highlight collection, tweet us your story utilizing #AndroidDevJourney.

Andrew Kelly

Andrew Kelly

Inform me about your journey to changing into an Android Developer and the way you bought began.

In 2012 I used to be working as a contractor for the NSW authorities right here in Australia as a Java J2EE net developer. I might been in that position for 11 years, constructing net apps for college students and lecturers. Nonetheless, in 2012 the federal government determined that contractors had been costly and allow us to all go. So whereas in my hand-over interval I might examine some youngsters who had been writing Android apps and making plenty of cash doing so. The Android Market was new and so any app uploaded obtained a big viewers, and since I already knew Java it appeared like switching from an internet developer to a cell developer is likely to be a sensible profession transfer. So I bought a brand new cellphone, the HTC Legend and spent the subsequent 2 weeks studying all the things I may about Android apps. It was the primary time I may run software program I might written on a tool made by another person that I may carry round with me. It was a really thrilling time the place any app concept appeared attainable.

When my contract lastly ended, I managed to get a brand new job working for a cell improvement company and began engaged on Android apps for his or her purchasers. With a purpose to study extra about Android app improvement, I began to attend the native Android meetups and Google Developer Group occasions, listening to audio system (largely from Google) and attempting to enhance my abilities as an Android developer.

In 2013 I used to be provided the chance to turn into the organiser of the Sydney GDG and it was that yr that I additionally attended my first Google I/O (I have been yearly since). One of many laborious components about being a GDG organiser is discovering audio system, so often if there have been no audio system, or if a speaker dropped out on the final minute, I’d step in and provides a chat as an alternative. 2013 was additionally the yr I made a decision to maneuver on from the cell company I used to be working at, and I spent the subsequent 5 years working as a contract contractor, working with purchasers corresponding to eBay, the Sydney Opera Home, and one of many massive banks in Australia. Being the organiser of GDG Sydney and a daily speaker on the meetups meant discovering work was fairly simple.

In 2016 due to all of the talking I used to be doing I used to be approached to affix the Google Developer Specialists program, right now I used to be doing common talks at each the GDG Sydney and Android meetup occasions each couple of months. After I joined the GDE program, I handed over my GDG tasks to some pals, who nonetheless run it to this present day. As a part of the GDE program I have been fortunate sufficient to attend many Google I/O occasions, and I’ve additionally had the chance to talk at conferences all around the world, together with DroidCon Boston, Cell Period in Oslo, DevFest Melbourne, DroidCon Singapore, Chicago Roboto and plenty of others. Having the prospect to talk to so many individuals all around the world has been very rewarding, and I’ve made many pals.

In 2019 I joined the corporate the place I work at present – mx51, I am the lead Android developer designing and constructing apps that run on fee terminals, which additionally combine with Level of Gross sales techniques. I am nonetheless a GDE however with the 2020 insanity the flexibility to talk at in-person occasions was severely hindered. I hope that in-person occasions will begin once more quickly and that I can proceed my journey as a GDE.

What’s one shortcut, tip, or hack you may’t stay with out?

Android improvement is consistently altering and advancing, so there’s at all times one thing new to study. My tip can be to at all times be studying, there are many methods to do that, subscribe to the Android Developers YouTube channels and Medium publications. Comply with Googlers and Google Developer Experts on Twitter for brand spanking new ideas and posts. Subscribe to the Android Weekly newsletter for an summary of latest libraries and weblog posts, and attend your native GDG chapter and Meetups. Not solely are these nice methods to study new elements of Android improvement, however with meetups they’re an ideal place to satisfy different Android builders, share successes, and ask for recommendation on issues.

What is the one piece of recommendation you would like somebody would have given you while you began in your journey?

After I began out as an Android developer, I may by no means have dreamed about being a Google Developer Professional, travelling the world and talking at massive occasions. It took me a very long time to study that it is okay to not know the solutions to individuals’s questions. If at an occasion somebody asks one thing you do not know, it is okay to say so. You’ll be able to at all times say that you’re going to discover out later and get again to them. There is no such thing as a have to make up a fallacious reply on the spot and lead somebody astray. Individuals are usually scared {that a} matter they’re presenting may not be one of the best or best approach to do one thing, they usually concern wanting silly. If an individual within the viewers suggests a greater method that should not be a fear, 1) you learnt one thing, 2) everybody else learnt one thing and three) there could also be situations the place your answer is healthier and a dialogue may be had. So my recommendation can be, when talking do not concern questions however embrace the chance to assist somebody instantly, or later, or maybe uncover one thing new your self.

Amanda Hinchman-Dominguez

Amanda Hinchman-Dominguez

Inform me about your journey to changing into an Android Developer and the way you bought began.

I dabbled in Android improvement in faculty with the scholar cell improvement group, but it surely wasn’t till I used to be just a few years in net improvement I made the actual swap over. Again in my net dev days, I joined the Kotlin group, the place I felt instantly welcome. Shortly after, I moved to Chicago just a few years again once I heard there was a Kotlin group within the tech scene.

Getting on top of things with Android at knowledgeable stage is a complete totally different sport, and I have been fortunate to search out the overlapping Kotlin/Android group each regionally and globally. Android improvement has accelerated my profession technically and professionally, but the world is so deep and huge inside the sandbox of Android improvement.

Already being an energetic fanatic with Kotlin, it solely felt pure to change to Android, and I’ve by no means regarded again. Since then, I have been working scalable and sophisticated Android functions, and contributing with some technical writing alongside the best way. I am at present co-writing with my colleague, Pierre Laurence, on “Programming Android with Kotlin: Attaining Structured Concurrency with Coroutines with O’Reilly”, and I am excited to have it come out someday this yr.

What’s one shortcut, tip, or hack you may’t stay with out?

For bigger tasks, it is typically laborious to find the file you are in your Challenge view. You need to use the goal image ⊕ to get a spotlight the file you are at present on in Android Studio.

Android Studio interface with arrows pointing to target symbol

What is the one piece of recommendation you would like somebody would have given you while you began in your journey?

Solely set up LeakCanary when, and solely when, you and your staff is prepared for that dialog 😁

Anthony Edwards JR

Anthony Edwards Jr

Inform me about your journey to changing into an Android Developer and the way you bought began.

My journey as a developer began as a toddler. As a child, I used to be obsessive about robots. I bear in mind my dad purchased me a Lego set referred to as Lego Mindstorm, which was mainly a robotics set with sensors and motors, plus it was additionally programmable. After graduating highschool, I enrolled within the US Military as an Aviation Upkeep Repairer. After 6 years, I used to be honorably discharged then enrolled in faculty at Fordham College. In 2014, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Laptop Science. About 2 years later, I met my now spouse, and collectively we began constructing EatOkra as a method for us to search out black-owned eating places in Brooklyn, NY. As we launched the appliance to new individuals, they shared it with their community; earlier than we knew it, many individuals had been asking us to cowl extra areas within the south.

What’s one shortcut, tip, or hack you may’t stay with out?

Discover ways to ask the fitting questions.

What is the one piece of recommendation you would like somebody would have given you while you began in your journey?

One piece of recommendation I want I took extra significantly was to not construct an software utilizing beta expertise. EatOkra’s MVP was created utilizing a beta model of a software program framework. It began out good however then as they made updates, at instances, I ended up having to attend months for sure points to get fastened. I additionally needed to utterly cease and restart the app with a completely new code base as a result of the corporate determined to vary how they architected the code. I realized rather a lot but it surely was painful to navigate.

Dinorah Tovar

Dinorah Tovar

Inform me about your journey to changing into an Android Developer and the way you bought began.

My journey began a few years in the past (I used to be nonetheless in faculty) once I noticed the Android Developer Udacity course. There was no nano diploma again within the day. So as soon as I noticed it, I began constructing some apps for myself. From there, I utilized for my first job as a junior developer in an enormous consulting agency. Then I began seeing extra programs and began following lots of people at Twitter, like Sam Edwards and Joe Birch (each GDE). The group made me develop and study. A few years later I obtained my first staff and I started delivering speeches at conferences and maintaining my Medium weblog on the facet. The group gives me suggestions and data, and particularly a spot to study. My first convention was with WomenWhoCode.org right here in Mexico. They opened a spot for me with none expertise. The identical occurred with Google Builders Teams right here in Mexico Metropolis.

I grew to become a Lead Engineer throughout my second job and I started doing worldwide conferences. I requested for suggestions from Sam Edwards and Carlos Muñoz (additionally GDEs in Colombia) they usually advised me to not fear as a result of I’d amazingly they usually inspired me to maintain doing it.

I obtained a very nice supply to begin from scratch right here as a Cell Platform engineer in Mexico Metropolis with an enormous fintech Startup (Konfio.mx). That is my present job, which suggests I’m within the architectural workplace the place we select new concepts and new processes and just about service all of the areas within the firm.

I began creating a bunch of collection to show individuals some particular subjects that I seen weren’t deeply addressed. I additionally began getting concerned in Kotlin Multiplatform after which I used to be reached out to by two GDE that nominated me to turn into GDE, Walmyr Carvalho, and Sam Edwards. They provided me suggestions about my newest talks, podcast, and collection and I used to be accepted on the finish of 2020. Proper now, I am attempting to study extra and ship extra talks and weblog posts to the group.

What’s one shortcut, tip, or hack you may’t stay with out?

My particular hack as an Android Developer is to make use of Wi-fi Debugging within the lastest Android Studio for bodily units. It’s my favourite half as a result of I needn’t use any cables and the setup is tremendous simple!

What is the one piece of recommendation you would like somebody would have given you while you began in your journey?

My recommendation is that studying is a course of, issues change and all of this have to be welcome as a result of we’re addressing the evolution of the platform as we code. Additionally, learn all the things you may as a result of individuals in the neighborhood are superb they usually love to show! Open an account on Twitter, as a result of there are lots of people giving ideas in lower than 180 characters.


The Android Developer group prides itself in its inclusivity and welcomes builders from all backgrounds and levels of life. For those who’re feeling impressed and need to study extra about easy methods to turn into part of our group, listed here are just a few sources to assist get you began.

Dive into developer.android.com


Comply with us on Twitter


Subscribe to our YouTube channel

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The Google Developer Teams program offers builders the chance to satisfy native builders with related pursuits in expertise. A GDG meetup occasion consists of talks on a variety of technical subjects the place you may study new abilities by way of hands-on workshops.

Be a part of a chapter close to you here.

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Based in 2014, Google’s Girls Techmakers is devoted to serving to all girls thrive in tech by way of group, visibility and sources. With a member base of over 100,000 girls builders, we’re working with communities throughout the globe to construct a world the place all girls can thrive in tech.

Turn into a member here.

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The Google Builders Specialists program is a world community of extremely skilled expertise specialists, influencers and thought leaders who actively help builders, firms and tech communities by talking at occasions, publishing content material, and constructing revolutionary apps. Specialists actively contribute to and help the developer and startup ecosystems all over the world, serving to them construct and launch extremely revolutionary apps.

Study extra about this system here.

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