tmanis:
What I thought would be hard - Writing code

What is actually hard - getting the IDE and all dependencies to work initially

Tip - Leave your computer connected to the internet, some packages will still need to install and sync ,even when you already downloaded the main software

_{somebody cant even manage data}

jesmond3945:
dependency wahala na time waster. I prefer forking and learning the logic.

TastyFriedPussy:
exactly. Respects when you fork the logic in reverse cow bro style, the decency will dramatically release

tmanis:
And so it begins...

I hope to document my journey to becoming a native android developer here on this thread. Wish me luck, bosses

Introduction:
- Computer Engineering graduate (Even though my memory about things that happened while i was in schoolis quite fuzzy, i just know i 'eventually' graduated - hope im not the only one feeling like this??

- Long time graphic designer. my weapon tool of choice is the great Photoshop. i can do and undo with that software ehn, (if i do say so myself ) i think i have a thread of my graphic design works somwhere here on nairaland

- in school, we were thought Pascal, C++, and assembly language programming (mostly theoretically though ) - like i said, i passed... sheybi if i didnt pass, i wouldnt graduate nah?? so dont look at me like that

- C (for Arduino) - I learnt this on the side while i was in school. it was a blast of fun. It was cool to see real life results of instructions given to a computer. Turning LEDs on and off, sounding buzzers, implemnting libraries for some niche sensors, diplaying info to console, led screens and 7-segment displays... alll the fun stuff

- Recently, i started studying and learning Java. i actually wanted to be a backend developer. i got courses and all... but why im switching,is story for another day

Now, we are here for KOTLIN and the beloved ANDROID STUDIO

Telegon:


Why did you leave java?

qtguru:
Nice Op I dey follow your thread

DrLevi:

How is your progress with mobile?

I've been meaning to pick up native but laziness is a bad thing

justiniyke29:

Because he wants to become an android developer i guess. kotlin is the way to go, though we used java before the switch was made

Telegon:

But you can still do all kotlin can do with java on android development.

Why I'm concerned about his switch is because there's lots of employment opportunities with java than kotlin, even if he decides to ditch android development in the future.

Telegon:

But you can still do all kotlin can do with java on android development.

Why I'm concerned about his switch is because there's lots of employment opportunities with java than kotlin, even if he decides to ditch android development in the future.

BlaqFaze:
Google doesn't want anybody using java for Android development, java is second class citizen in Android.

There's no reason anybody should learn java over kotlin for android development, same way you shouldn't learn objective-c for iOS development but swift.

BlaqFaze:
Google doesn't want anybody using java for Android development, java is second class citizen in Android.

There's no reason anybody should learn java over kotlin for android development, same way you shouldn't learn objective-c for iOS development but swift.

Runningwater:


I'm curious do you plan on working for Google or it's branches? Cause employers of labour would mostly prefer java except you got convincing words to tell employers why to choose kotlin.

If I were you, I would go for java first then kotlin second.

qtguru:

Personally I want to start with Java too.

BlaqFaze:
This is public knowledge bro... Google has a beef with Oracle (owners of java) and the only reason java is being supported is because the Android SDK is built with java.

Google is even building another OS called fuchsia...they want it to replace Android.

Telegon:


Why did you leave java?

tmanis:


Okay boss

First, as mentioned here, I is the official support of Google. Java (as related to Android) is being phased out.. And I see myself ending up in on of the FAANG companies in 8-10 years, I want to be on the train getting up to speed especially Google and Netflix , not the one coming to a stop..

I actually started learning Java too. I'm self thought. I was finding it difficult to (think of ideas) and build a portfolio for myself as a backend person, portfolio projects that you don't need eclipse ide to run. I might also need a frontend person to help, if I want to do some fleshed out projects

Also, most job openings I keep seeing on LinkedIn and Twitter are always looking for Senior Java engineers... Rarely do you (I) see entry-level openings.

Full stack guys too seem more economical for small-medium companies. Why hire two people for frontend and backend, when you can get both in one

And those also have the advantage of using a framework of Javascript they are already familiar with to also handle backend...

To be frank, the reason I initially wanted to be a backend Java guy is quite lame lol, but it was because I wanted to go against the trend of majority of the people learning Javascript and becoming frontend developers... Till I got in...

I also feel like kotlin android development will leverage my experience with graphics design, and my love for consumer electronics.

I can still handle Java, if the need arises, but the simplicity of kotlin, coupled with the fact that it's the one Google is currently pushing seals the deal for me...

I just believe that one can be dynamic in this tech thing sha, and I want to explore things that catch my fancy, before I get locked in a space I don't really enjoy..

So that's it

tmanis:


Okay boss

First, as mentioned here, I is the official support of Google. Java (as related to Android) is being phased out.. And I see myself ending up in on of the FAANG companies in 8-10 years, I want to be on the train getting up to speed especially Google and Netflix , not the one coming to a stop..

I actually started learning Java too. I'm self thought. I was finding it difficult to (think of ideas) and build a portfolio for myself as a backend person, portfolio projects that you don't need eclipse ide to run. I might also need a frontend person to help, if I want to do some fleshed out projects

Also, most job openings I keep seeing on LinkedIn and Twitter are always looking for Senior Java engineers... Rarely do you (I) see entry-level openings.

Full stack guys too seem more economical for small-medium companies. Why hire two people for frontend and backend, when you can get both in one

And those also have the advantage of using a framework of Javascript they are already familiar with to also handle backend...

To be frank, the reason I initially wanted to be a backend Java guy is quite lame lol, but it was because I wanted to go against the trend of majority of the people learning Javascript and becoming frontend developers... Till I got in...

I also feel like kotlin android development will leverage my experience with graphics design, and my love for consumer electronics.

I can still handle Java, if the need arises, but the simplicity of kotlin, coupled with the fact that it's the one Google is currently pushing seals the deal for me...

I just believe that one can be dynamic in this tech thing sha, and I want to explore things that catch my fancy, before I get locked in a space I don't really enjoy..

So that's it

jesmond3945:

Java has 800k for entry level while kotlin has 14k for entry level. Java will give you more opportunities than kotlin.

BlaqFaze:
This stat is bogus... I'm seeing flutter dev in Java's search and kotlin is replacing java in Android. Java for backend(spring boot) is still on top....for now.

qtguru:
Nice Op I dey follow your thread

tmanis:
Update

So, i was having serious issues making progress. I couldnt get gradle build to complete successfully. also, i couldnt get my AVD (Android Virtual Device) to run on the emulator.

How I Solved -
I upgraded my laptop ram from 4GB to 8GB. Android studio freezes every single time i tried to launch the emulator, but now, it works well

As for the gradle build, i figured the tutorials i follow online dont explicitly state that the ide has to have constant internet connection, because some packages will download at build time. Before this, i tried to work offline, asper say managing data, and the tutorials just asumed your internet wiould be on

now, I can get back to work

qtguru:


Is your Emulator x86 and do you have HAXM enabled it speed things up ?

tmanis:


Yes boss, its X86, and HAXM is enabled