Getting Started in Android Development

Tips on getting started in Android Development

Transcript

1. Beatrice Kinya
   Android Engineer @ Kyosk Digital
   Android Author @ kodeco.com
   @B__Kinya | Beatrice Kinya
   

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2. Getting started in
   Android Development
   Android, Kotlin
   

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3. Prerequisites
   ❖ Interest and passion
   ❖ Time and consistency
   ❖ Tools:
   ➢ Reliable Internet connection
   ➢ A good laptop:
   ■ 8 GB RAM or more
   ■ 8 GB of available disk space minimum (IDE + Android SDK + Android
   Emulator)
   

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4. Step 1: Language
   ❖ Java, Kotlin, C++
   ❖ Android development is kotlin first.
   ❖ Kotlin Learning materials at Kotlinlang.org site
   ❖ Note: Kotlin is used in more than just Android. There is Kotlin Multiplatform
   Mobile(KMM), Server side, Web frontend(Kotlin/JS), Android and much more.
   But should I do not have to learn all this? Nope! For the start just focus on Kotlin for
   Android. 😃
   

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5. Ready to Learn Android: Resources
   ❖ Android Documentation training resources
   ❖ Online courses: Udemy, Pluralsight, Coursera
   ❖ GADS Scholarship offered by Google in partnership with Pluralsight
   ➢ Android, Cloud, Mobile Web
   ➢ Check this hashtag on Twitter. #GADS
   ❖ Bootcamps
   ❖ Youtube Videos, Blogs(Medium, Hashnode, Kodeco.com, etc)
   

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6. Build, Build, Build
   ❖ Github Profile
   ❖ Work on projects. Starting with simple ones, and gradually increasing complexity. Be
   consistent.
   ❖ Write about it, Share what you are learning.
   ➢ #BuildingInPublic
   ❖ Join a developers community
   ➢ Learning from others
   ➢ Getting assistance when you get stuck
   ➢ Mentorship
   ❖ Android Communities
   ➢ Android254, KotlinKenya, Droidettes etc.
   

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7. Communities Cont’
   ❖ Contribute to what the communities are doing.
   ❖ Contribute to open source projects.
   

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8. Imposter syndrome
   ❖ Most of us, at one point experience imposter syndrome.
   ❖ Be aware when you are experiencing it.
   ❖ Is the feature taking so long or very complex that you are starting to doubt
   yourself?
   ➢ Break down the feature into small manager tasks. Completing the smaller
   tasks is a motivation boost.
   ❖ Something new you do not know where to start?
   ➢ Remember, it’s okay to ask for help
   

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9. Imposter Syndrome Cont’
   ❖ Learn with peers with whom you can share the frustrations and learning.
   ❖ Keep track of your achievements.
   ➢ Keep a brag document.
   ➢ Brag Document and sample template links in the resources slide.
   

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10. Imposter Syndrome
    ❖ Consistently write code, build, practice.
    

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11. Remember
    ❖ Interest, Passion
    ➢ How badly do you want to learn Android?
    ❖ Time and consistency
    

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12. Resources
    ❖ Kodeco(you can find books, video tutorials, articles here):
    https://www.kodeco.com/home
    ❖ Kotlin learning materials:
    https://kotlinlang.org/docs/learning-materials-overview.html
    ❖ Android documentation training resources:
    https://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp
    ❖ Brag Document by Julia Evans: https://jvns.ca/blog/brag-documents/
    ❖ Brag Document Template:
    https://blog.pragmaticengineer.com/work-log-template-for-software-engineers/
    

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13. Questions?
    

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