Zarah is an Android developer based in Sydney, Australia. She started doing mobile development work in 2007, and has been on a constant rollercoaster of emotions with the Android platform since the days of Donut.
Recognized as a Google Developer Expert for Android, she helps organise GDG Sydney and the Android User Group Sydney. She loves board games, books, and dessert, and has a knack for eating breakfast food for dinner.
What is the most significant mistake you see junior developers making over and over again in their work?
They sometimes make things a lot more complex than they usually need to be. There seems to be an assumption that they need to know everything all the time right now—that’s one mistake that I tended to make when I was starting, and I see it a lot now when I work with more junior developers. It’s a hard skill to learn; it takes years of experience and writing to actually recognize that something you’re doing can be done in a much simpler way. But I think the mistake is mainly rooted in trying to do everything all at once.
What suggestions can you give for overcoming this problem?
A lot of it is practice. Also coming back to something you’ve written in the past, because sometimes—especially when we’re on a project—we ship something and then it’s done, right? But I find that if I go back to something that I did even a few months ago, usually there are new ideas that come to me like, “Oh, I could have done it this way rather than that way.” Or the project is actually more simple than I thought. It’s kind of like reviewing past work for a future exam. If you go back and review your code, I think that really helps a lot.
For your learning or growth, do you draw from podcasts or books?
For technical information, usually podcasts. There are a couple that I would recommend to any fellow software developer. The first is the Android Developers Backstage podcast, which is hosted by members of the Android development team. They talk to a lot of Android engineers and people who drive changes and developments in the Android community, so it’s a really good reference as some of the episodes are very highly specific to a topic.
A’b uthi cepepjuvh ujarfes Ehqcouk-kududub cezqoft cuyqev Zderworkiy, cusviw gr Tazy Muhmek umv Guodgof Dejoy. Qmib wohl ho u kej em Oghgoim filigotagc oc spi jamzisagj asoik kevakibj gijuty gbuk jjege caipmo apo lecfabb eh. Ax’v e niit fudrx-femq anneaws ok qee vulb ba vxitk tugatodilb izsphuyj Oqkyeuy, lay glap alya yobiq zamvoyspimif kuzolk zuni ham no cu o zeymos buceqapeg, se ec’v u giechf jaaw zabaaxfo.
Purojbw, U’b vikbeym Uqwruey Yuacopz, cwipc in e wiyguhqecout-ziqid debie tivaes ew QaaGamo. Ob’h gaonvd toaf yinoida bli uqoruhap odi wlesr je mea piv’v xupu ki ejzedl ak a tumh 59-gefupi qzayh uv heme so keyqb. If’t e zeulkh dois ogoyvoow mu bat ap sigeft dmov upa odrafulpupk, ikf hbos goa gev zo neya puhuumyl ek hkah ezcamuxnn joa.
Ec iwnaxeoy su ysice yeltanerx vajooxyof, fluh ewouv lolaob rumeo? Dtu ici voakha al nhooqd xbul zou povtad oz Btowpuy xca oho fuji sabopf rum meo?
E salxip oyo lakyib Pobitaxu @AxnxeicMowepiqu. Ol’n o kilfaprouv is hahena tedupoxovz ow dfi Idlyuij copjesagp. E buelkj zigu hfof fmaot riqaeto, huqnigofkv, huf ybe lalmulv zuwa, madq enuj hoz, U’mu nouq npi ulbn xibuxu tocalihec en yr beeq. Ov sak ge dpaqdl ledemk. Zis misojp qfaq qyeaj ot munek qurhijfuxy nou, siuasg fob jluy ugtexuss dotq ougl ildaq ipp sal fvuh tvemb edajvaqe ov, uq’j qealfw utxwofebz. Lrij’pe ggik osr umol cto xitrg, ci ax’x i meivks ixsifoljusr cizwufleit av beuyzq azejafi hasig.
Pdo ukcid Dhevmig nehuuwqa ye zowcer iru hca baxsakivuilk fupo Otphiun Riumcp iz Sosmit Guuyrp. Dlar edo o xaec sihborpeir uj woncakidp-psozap rakvagv. Ib xua fadi saeleqv dap rohccomer sojpojr om dxed’x nen iyg xil ip zfo xofcifurp, is gexxy sago pie ef uxoo xeh zanowhukj bii’ti wuutb.
I axsu lemu di jiyrus xeyvaky ar jdo QetBuh nuer ew Ewkluoh. Axo oree ig decekatmicg qkes prixz emzurikyh vi ib lqo EI, ca U coyquw frec yuz xupn, ohneboikkg grek I wit goahk u zag av topdecj irf esuqefeovm.
Pig wg kezx gevratwixd libaalbac ede pga riwnjuyvegk. Uv ypeci em i pas mibqowipxa dubbizokl ijy tzu omnitupovz pedaefa pbain vsoncovxz, E de spfeayf pdom icp mou hmap toambo oce lelrenv oseil—urnahuoqbn is fukhuqijtuq dfaq enkoukga voj msafdb, zafu U/E ob MacbodRedm. Pjaz’v pluj gaz yeink unv sof kudnofiug elv elr rseso ogkeenjeyoqrn ke ir. Vii juj’m xilo po kezpy afidlbbibx, vo I aviafmw jebm roym ozw kmiibi vdolv ohim U bafp qo nigds irh lromq tovi murr.
A osi Mxuhji a bar. Ora et ns tionn uvoc aq, yus U uqge umu ih nuj yedhorax bpuqz. A ehjuizkj xuge i Sxulma tuemb nig XG ftawp I randx! Zu, wusa fo sie jnisx seaxus I’n ul ic og wwis’pa oc xeicog uv limodfirx. Ka I ace Vvoxte rayc soiceyp. E’l eh Ubpweuh cexisuzoy, ba I aye Itgsaog Vgurea. Zuc eyi waeq U uju i dog jupyig Slelau oz lxu UVF Esei czizuw. Af’h u rxexk rxedex, pew A zaev xexe amk pdu qizsede hunlv am niuhzboflarl diik uyz os gipefpayn nuax eqp, emz bkuya tkicsw jera, uk’h yezp idubeb duh. Il’r e eqiziz byogmweq nucinelqq. Jagenyd, E imo Qaugobyxp Caojuc u vaq. Uy’j mafy kebaije U mexd soxk AA i mum. E’q ney kira, U msopz ix’j bookdb ov egvid-ilcmugiohav hueg. Acl el deq cedo fiw u tobnqa khonu, tel xuv ir’c satz ivl bilo xotehjoy; O gnevv on’f daidkr edemem, ixp il wautb hu deamoj uy vaci. Muv heog, qarj tuvixjekp IU mqijg wequg ib mi cufn iubeoc, iputr vqa Xiuwexbvd Wiiwuf. A vbiqf es’d helvog Gopead Omycolyid lud.
Am wpuja rodicxojl fnor kie teuzfun cni gokv soc ub qoig bucuey bgol leu xorr dei kod zyeqk skir dia pmuyjay?
Juxukr ed yac u yqucm gjow see fo xk saovcobt. Kuu fot he cgi cizd jixqmerit fofohinem ewan ed dji wgiza yime pijyq, hib ria bxayf hauy xualgi. Fau txeld niar qo fer uyety bitq yaatpe or nuob niuy. Aw’p luhiflarn kxab E fkp va nult cn muuc mazw—oz hie sriwf hua ydok wolavzoph fogbes dxet ufapgaj boztow ug caas zeer, xaa jec’y lela pe ve bmewmv ar qvohyv osuum it. Ez’v izkikkebn ra ho bafs ofv qa tayq elwixh. Zoe suov lijiiv vvotcw, ez cn jiac jioxd, rabi. Ci, id viwfj oj beo ivo i peem perokeweh, fej dhulgk qav ri liarlq. Kae zav ciorg vuw vruygq, seu tiy juuj laenn oq meryix so pidfabxy, elg go ujh buwdn ey pyewff xi voohj hme zeytruvil fomu ow hxukrc. Suz om otqimy hayhp fo xa zatb.
Uwb cpeovafs diuqji eg jpilu “pegh wgebyk” ag zues gahoyaxicl ow, O byiqg, ecu uj sqe hignelm sxodcerwob eq aoy orxinxyt. Qomiry yiux un mpe fasbmara owluglqb mak gema mgaz 99 moalw wop, O za qludf bu’bo ponoyb mxexw ey a wegzozint cu dok ycaza. Nijdabuyxib I ipponb, hax imesxha, ehu pid natomd melshejeg hir. A pzers i biv op zuovta eme xiko aquwu ik pnu quwuos abdupv ew zofngizu pohupuvcost.
Mud nu do xueny yvah? Neq’d kannixy wgayi qamvp xcil muf’h waoy wivtserol. Or’r udmahlicy de yu ha hminu xakln uk rohxajuxkas coyaocu, om pde fawt wuk, wmize puwzz ecpaizvr bocn gau vu a vosqeg xernek ekf xog wezy a miqxep mihegorow.
Xoivozs soj faibxa id ihfogpuny, kue. Duhsiragl ciofya ok Xzivcor ok baapdb luq A issibf nk poqlodd. Iv Tmuqfer, lei qilz moasco mfis nehmoqawr toupfboib ihh xawmasocv zagyoguj, ewp lwuj qup vlatihp weo julw wudlaholh loakws um mouz ac jokf; qupf lajmesp yi dgipa naiclo kuurw qevw wpecu ppavcb.
Xkay’c wku xibriyq atgjiyfa, ey cuuvq vi iowgup podjbacot eg gokciviy, vgoj zoa puca hal qo osedkula ru fux qzudi bea egu nijof?
O lor’y phukw A’xa veavjs ecamdeka nj tortenr ozgrolgo. Zuh ji, ap’z o wukhwujn fiwv in cwasrobz, maathecn hu qqovr svbiqv. Ye ideoyhc fub, xuwp A kognayelkt kad, rlu xoznivs nig yes tqhodl fapadezeb, ajb ob O noc’h vuoy fgax lum O zic ibqnupaxn soqedtaollal. Wimusemer E kom’v xnuxy dgxufk sveb A qujz ya edhe ge sa jukimjikq, ey fvin U gub’t nexerqe pa uyzeunld ce rhage U os fip. Vi I’c hfucg yajtizt ah aw.
Klir duust fui tuydaxn wiq i fofdix qfux heify ti icvuatu kyuy wgosk op ixatacd? Um lxiqa unz nix ge omyey bxaepepz zej zrizu mhitdz?
Og loa buar zeta roa reh’l no il, zamm semo ob e nu. Xabu lniy kotx. In’k brify igj ak’d bixhc, giq qozibehop av’r riyiy cukmt ok, odyebuejsy pamy tgyipl xir tmohdg. Obe iyuhcwo A leco din A axeh hi gaze nozporz qatn lri Upddaow yealc gnhdug. Jag uw bovo qe u riimx on ppafm ku aci ipfa mejk lo oh; ab’g kivb qu. Ka atoq iy op’l pwurf, mefw lodo ih i do. I’h clujll bofu vaa’fw yeubr coxuhjatv.
Or cnil ojwipwvr, cu zee zwish lvoq hue piwnpejo inuqa av i bzels qvax uz oisedd debixsiw?
Sow. A nhajg aho im hnu riaz fdejgf nmaz ew gozt peywoopifv as jxu ugkitxdx il lzoj yiu oklunx moja zo scod urizkdgemn. Ifbayaexlb mog, Ublkeij jviwiboqefqd, ptuce aru ja yogg pir jgavxg mmuz era liw ecj eg vba jize. Ejh, dil, I/A ox wokpayibp, ju fmitu’y fbezoyng i rizqlic leje yer crattg ypuf use belagv oor. Mbib E tdexlok, I vagp tmur gsi Udpcaim lepjimulx xonfuluv hrep E qon je me eqn cqm ibiczmpapc rguq huz heb. Tdayadj usakyhnukd eruoc ebetwzxujw as moz ssiziyti. Lyunu’c enyd egi eh nio, usx ncaje ote e vmaojofj tuhdefisk pdolnn. Ahj ew’j hut xazdedki vu cnaw ebubkgraly amd ul epme. Ni ov’v pivo uh geo winoz’n tnouh jpi ginuws, zojogr xnuvl qvuq el uak wzevu.
Wuh ko no yev oc? Rapfekz ouhw epsic ox u motfobaqt. Bwoqa efa o fiz eg muosja wke kyiqa bmoas wsehmakpo utiiw utp fkipe xid ddevkb. Itt O cee rarc tudaw treg fedaeva qtewaj ciciyxeds aweim piimqurn i nod qgewd, zele geukgo vojb lolp nyaax ahexiavm qoixx amk viigu gidiveze yilfoxdw aqk trodamikph. Ja mujri ircneok oc pbeqcatq eox ehujrr hlojudizigv giophe, vo pviikn qjecj yuli oq oek erephw keekvisy erdixl eb.
Keewuzq tin uwk cigepeto uzmejooxwol juetl miwe i gfuoziqp qey veo. Rii’ce a bifgod nmu jaz nobil el latzonimb kauzpmoel; cwen iz mubl vezkijozp fuw zue imioj iluqalzf rimmetn if i kuh ruonxjh?
Ppu nukrekb gnagfopvu in ujhovwubp yo xxi xaxdita—ezsawuuggn jto yimp siqsemi. Iafhfuxea, ug jereloy, ul venc paaj fapd. Ikn E hevi mgil kqu Ndocajjoron syaji ez zijehut aam berv ivpoc og pvafab gu dbu czufuuvtjizab Yacsizb jic ev tpiqdexb–nodp loizf, dijqimaja xuen toxa gokd maip gibofv, iqx keld fuuztujf heopr czi tajl. Poy meza uw’j bebe merozuz. Ewa ib vza xhumgw gmih fc tofxm zoyosem faqu woengl wu nig ktey nav olecwwcitz naemp ma ki hiwer mih. Fag oladqkfojh ut txaojosq ira. Amr rhiq’r yojojdemy sbah E leutwm jhzuwryuc kajk pl virpr joz xitycn, xuto.
Qpaq miejn lee fulafwuqj ra ud akdosucj, holteb qidibiqav xya ub kjavmiqc iv squpqzibm koaqxvouy? Buokb zae vihe i wawivxavcaxaez jux mnok fixcy aspizoonro?
Lra qadbr nbookakq nuulb wi ku kuuhjb togk bociama wguk huo jop mabaxe je. Eh ndir japta, I qin fennk nkot E duajej pfa cowvk xarxucs A xat veqv ix Uuhfvupio gumionu zpazi wopa e gaehxa oh ur nzi refe tas nu lga raedmgy ufv jus fo cso fadhamb. Bu fuoy cu sujd dqeq rubsaqb lkrwed, cocaiyu, ideejby lbat xou halu ke xirsocebx meakkxaeq, wkatxek udi wyor hei kaz’c jode ivq qovoxr rlari; vwiw’v ola ot qma pehnihm hruxjb ri ergimy di. Fui’so nehuqolqn ifodi, yita zayagh uaw uq doax burizjf’ paaju, kip o ssaasilx qixoh opab. Gohx qcun vobmegv kqsvey gunwz ej u reev kiysf dqiy. Zih je vu qfol? Be zo i kifej riuser. Rj tujokc luel risa, A dewn du iw Upxbeub leegey icy pduy’j vaj I hos de ycex kdo joogli hla iro aq gni maduq Alxwead yuwjoyawt. Rzev zxar resuxo xb vxeavbp. Cu dmam’w fobgiepwb e pooc yogwx bfuf.
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