“As if you were on fire from within.
The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
― Pablo Neruda
It has been two months since I embarked on my journey as an Android app developer, and what a journey it has been. Every day has been filled with learning, as I’ve delved into a broad array of technologies, including Android Java, Git, and configuring Android devices for development.
To me, Android is far more than just a mobile operating system; it has become a central part of my life and a true reflection of my passion. Even on weekends, I find myself immersed in studying Android programming to enhance my portfolio. Fortunately, having started my professional career with Java four years ago, I now leverage that experience in my current projects, specifically with Android Java.
What makes this all the more fulfilling is that I’ve been able to turn my passion into my profession. I can proudly say that I earn my livelihood through Android development—a fact that holds immense significance for me.
A little Java experience and Shell scripting:
Over the past four years, I worked with Java and shell script in my previous job. My employer was a staffing company, and I was among those assigned to work as an engineer at a client’s office. However, due to the widespread impact of covid, our team was almost always permitted to work from home.
Although I was a full-time employee, the nature of my work closely resembled that of a contract worker. For my international friends who might find this concept, specific to Japan, a bit unfamiliar—this was essentially the working arrangement I experienced.
Although I was assigned as a Java developer, my experience in the language was limited. While I had some exposure to Java, it mainly involved making minor modifications to an existing codebase or writing JUnit tests. This left me feeling somewhat frustrated with my skills and experience.
The only language I felt truly confident coding in was shell script. With Linux being one of my core strengths, writing shell scripts came as naturally to me as breathing. However, what I truly needed was more substantial experience in actual Java coding.
2022: The year it all began:
I believe 2022 changed my life for the better. The previous year, 2021, was marked by inexplicable pain, particularly with the loss of my father. The following year was equally challenging, but 2022 brought a turning point. With ample time on my hands due to a lackluster management team, I was able to focus on my personal portfolio. One of my key goals for the year was to complete my Android app portfolio and publish it on the Google Play Store. Although I didn’t fully achieve this goal, the experience of writing in Java to develop the app allowed me to refine my coding skills, often without even realizing it.
To the best of my knowledge, that period was likely the first time I was able to deeply engage with Java outside of my professional responsibilities. It laid the foundation for my journey toward becoming an Android developer.
My life as an Android developer:
It’s been a couple of months since my dream came true, but even though I’ve achieved what I’ve long desired, reality has set in. I still struggle at times, facing a considerable amount of pressure to meet deadlines and complete my tasks. My anxiety tends to skyrocket whenever I’m assigned coding tasks, making the experience both thrilling and challenging.
I admit that I still sometimes struggle with coding. However, one significant achievement I can point to is my ability to read the code. Everything is written either in XML or Java, and I can read Java. Despite having only limited exposure to Java over the past four years, my self-directed learning of Android app development has enabled me to understand the codebase. From interface implementations to more complex coding mechanisms, I can read and grasp what the code means. Of course, there are still many parts of the code that I find challenging, and I often notice a significant skill gap between myself and my teammates. Nonetheless, being able to comprehend the codebase feels like a small but meaningful victory.
The future:
I don’t know what the future holds. For now, things are going well—the environment is pleasant, and there aren’t any difficult personalities to deal with. However, I still find myself occasionally hurt by comments about me or my abilities. I’m far from perfect and still make plenty of mistakes, sometimes even repeating them. But what matters most is the undeniable fact that I’m now part of the mobile industry. As long as I remain in this field, I can continue to develop new skills and earn a living doing something I’m passionate about.
As I mentioned earlier, it can be incredibly challenging at times, but I believe it’s worth giving it at least a year and seeing how this journey unfolds.