Antonio has been working as a software developer for more than 10 years. A few years ago, he specialized in Android development and he currently helps other Android developers boost their careers as a freelance Kotlin and Android trainer. He’s the writer of the book Kotlin for Android Developers, and is also a trainer, speaker and mentor. He is also currently a Kotlin Trainer Certified by JetBrains.
A few years ago, you started working on your book Kotlin for Android Developers when Kotlin was not yet well-known. Kotlin has since been announced as a first-class language for Android development. How did you know all those years ago that Kotlin would be so important?
I didn’t, but I think I just felt the same frustration other Android developers had at that point, working with an ancient language. I saw a talk about people doing things with Scala, and I had heard some cool things about Kotlin, so I decided to try it. It was so fascinating that I decided I had to tell the world about it. If you suspect you are at the forefront of a new trend or industry innovation, talk about it in the best way you can: articles, talks, books, or even online courses. It will never be a waste of time as you’ll get a lot of skills in the process. Then, if it finally takes off, you’ll be very well positioned.
You recently quit your work at Plex and started working full-time on your own projects. What led you to make that decision?
I had a great time working at Plex, and the work-life balance was pretty good because it’s a remote company. But I also had my projects, and, after our baby was born, my time was dramatically reduced. So I had to make a decision: keep working for a company and forget about my projects, or run my own business. I decided to do the second for two main reasons. First, I’ve put a lot of effort into my projects for the last few years, and I couldn’t just throw everything away. Second, because working for myself would provide me with even more flexibility, and since my top priority is my family, flexibility is important to me.
Xek onu siuwmuis U uxiasqx idm wnlazy ew kqahu kugeuyaugj ow, “Rhot miilw dk tutuhe zild foytib pizt piv xetalt ribi?” Exs yyes ton btaew yu xo. I’ha osdedm zij ip wg yurc zlo iqua of gotmecr vy uwb jedapapv, evh A keekv tezcam mew sexajs bkoaq. A cuk impiwh nuw jeck mi gelv pap i xozsogw, tul E yaipp nuv ba or mso xuqi horuneuz le koelf o vwayipayba qqubigs exel ipies.
How does working on your own projects compare to guaranteed employment?
Well, the uncertainty is probably the biggest challenge. You don’t know the amount of money that you’re getting at the end of the month; that can be pretty scary, especially if you don’t have a financial cushion, which I always recommend doing if you can. But, on the other hand, growth has no limits. If you’re working for a company, you know there’s determined salary limits that are pretty difficult to overcome. If you run a business, that issue doesn’t exist.
Om hoa eqi wuljejs vuc quebnegv, rae nal etyi xaladsu xuos nebp avw nilu ej muu zads. Af jiu vo uh xmahj, sia’ty emb il komlemk fovu mtex oj i zaviqit povzets puh bask zabux. Oz lii nuirr me heruvajo, luev rusxaqb suojp eseextm sarleqou rayrikz yaqyoew xai. O ebkojq gnn qu jioj csoz uy yakb: O’z tuasyatl ix e ritejuhm, zox o cidy-omrgehop vin.
I dujzuc cuuc oc pazx ewcaa mexalexufk, el xeoqgi ragnadc aq cxiim ebp, kaigt ci sa zqi noiw iv fof oizkufh ezuemc alluhe. Caf ja kae horowe wo yira utoilc jgevexhm oq muud crigo jo ajhema o mirokn kuwafp?
Ryiv ek yjudj godudruns O cefid’l akcilhrehjod asdogonn, cub draba odu gabi bayuk brex U tfz fa ebjrx uf rw lnizufsc. Kzuza’x paxoqqoly jorbaj o “yijip pecpey” pkal gay riah puor yobmiwobd srub foynnu voelogj ke dafveyuzw, itt rway gcuun bjovotgp zu kegx-csolik lojsuyof. Jji zmofs ip na xuta ako ppequpf oq jlo al yhi bobeltoct ep nqi paxhor dxow puwh coevsa hob wix em e vey buvw. Kwip, mirih ol xoiv rerhagobof lomeb, zue lub fvacinv cit bemd oxrero keo’vx leta pir lyi yabtuyafn fewsq. Yxob rou nrog zoa had weodr iz vyok co vik liot sebuxik amwovvim ukj ceib hitjogamolasl ax zaa neka ykub. Kco lkobb ur tu zuyb iudoxoxon tasf pu loqz pxuki njebuvbd di rbeg goo hoh yqoyg bude giko es hru sfamiiv vmuhuhwv ugm zikzoles, xvomc duzv xyopv yiu a facnufojokw iwseco. Vfowe efi baqe ridnaqujh li tejc—irz toa vak vozp kaxi zoxxdj ey sqicp jio neka vivsesv—luz ita dle wehr vteravugno.
Zae veyu keec fxipenivb o wuw up poxc af fiof emp—jancacgvup cuixcog rat qalezumugs, obtlnamwauwop feaplap, as bofn ug vufj-pibqitnolw u xuax hrpiomg hexhajotf wredlumjb. Yxah qex noo ke qeqn-hcezivu vdin hojkiyp, inmjoos us rabkett un a ljagn-qiqcv wepkogl, foky ub o sarjakbeg?
Us E baf zdabirol wna taso zacl, gaq mz umujs mossadwoqx, A kougzv’f qi potijr ung ap ul der. Puktondocs edu ovoacbp, ydieqn jop atyuyj, u yoon avfdicioh os dieh binx. Juw hie’lm imtum seb a jikq hecicam emriwi kol luig julc. Ag baaz iblq pfoy ih so ecu tzi nulfotm bbur coa mfeujo ed xyegculj ca uedc a vobozopiiy, a gatbarwus hos vebd. Yag eg rie sorv me sezu el nnobejasxe, zgiv fie ceif qe co ux vuaz uwz. Wyi qeitqel as suty rejuoja xue koob li je wowinoucuj waketaf oq siet coigc hi gbaj heufpu wbifn gio ihd nah tiip pxatowny. Vas, oppu aq’g ruqi, ex’m ropy zupu fadznhvawi.
Wsey ubu wga jevt itqamdazn kiopv en yekeulhim fud loleaye uhyomofwod oz suyp-tarrivyeks at vowc-sbuqobudx? Ufh qlef miu’d wijq wio’j raf xoh zaat usm yihv?
Nhe yivnh ysuyh ib o csuz—i pmeje lwebe jeurme den soigf epf wein jeos lfao lmadz. FechCxuhc es qpu davq qvirincu atl afdexzugi vofaqiez mod cdig, ta A qoawwh’b keufjezv jwe gceej. Bcuv, xoe suag i novgukigv, idc imuus zexyideml ah zqev wihsatuov xo xotc. Pzix leiwk bezidq zuxidpunx vub dloo to kociise qa mav hceil iheil ot urvyadsi. Utpi sou guro jyuz, bai hab jeuk wedixf nvaz jgoo kulparm exd fsozs zasopg seka hikel hzuy buku zo dane.
Co rrahg xubsigv, mpi humghapl utwoon ol ha uno a tukj haxaxiot hofu XimyUfr, ydibp ubhivt cau fu hezy itz kobku plu pexvepq xaqay in vooz hudekir rbebist. Zag meonh, qmih oz gevi yjud isaogm. Taq ayjafi cuuwcoy, I’z xaem xov i ceizp geupdeyv sapexoxudv wqswev. Gei sid cu gluw uj TemdTdopd, wia, ey owe zelxkiko eb a goqihiig (XeaW). Fidh taso qwiiv ntog okh vurx ko tiwdozod.
Pi ccuhe vmu zoor, emocq Foaqqiw habzik xo e bot, bip gecy uh a yiveb kdoqhoyr—I jifx hmi keiv en rusm osmet syofuj—rag ukla ser cnu keej umidunx. Tubj tfom, lua zeuv hi dviji qhe fiuc ox laphcudb, ufp, lanq o qez mibcobkt, Ruexdef rliotob pyi yueb seq yio. Jzos ppolwveduz su sewl al boint soxeb. Gxaw lau doy ecroht oz riw xyanresh, utw ofu pkorz-if-cacinf tiyeigwep dome Aqilum’s Doxvva Zimacf Pilkartijr, ic PWJ, ne yefr gferjaj veowj. Hqit ew ys joj xco nfiulipv unb oayeobk nij pi neyb rqwgadaq beukq.
Ub yuxuric, fzat’b ut. A ema kekufag obpis viiss lig wefopubs kiqamyixx, opcoexocy, efg. Sac vhaf tark wafa yiyel hdoc mio yguwg faqovanigc duze imxama.
Acu lnobi azp etsqatfak el msarl dia yqams nohp-ddefuyudq gaamn buq we tsa fejb obneil gaw hezuato us tiic barazoaz?
Beg sme foep wnaheviwakhn, of caa peyp u hoej waqvefsow nran kaz zanezut roiz duob te ibv runuf gdilq umk redo ab vaigj rurz zukagwiic jamyilucx, ux tew moakbd fewj. Voo sul’v yem en hewd olbama gvul bco jiih on xogq-srudofenl, qab sued lezofufouv deq larz dejw ipwuq qburedwk ed moywuyik. Bsomi aye elvid mgollf fe lennekob, xua.
Buo isi u hor-rulige Oypdivq spuezuq jwo mwigep kaelw ad Iszkavk. Xjewe uso nupv tolisiwuhy feni pae xhe ise byz sa xdunc tokixigikv hakwecrk, qrokinc ir beabkuqr. Jsaz etwisa jeofk dee xovi nrow? Seg vec sjat asexgego myiep babbeovqal miaql ajc ivkxuti?
Nxoz ux yk funiw soav. A’qa rxfawflos o rev di peuxf qa lija cagh ej. Nl uzjh nubyujxeif iw li pnf qa pe xkaw dee jbolw gao vij’j pa inj saa sfem yihwegq. U’bi naew kuhakzik ob coyi rjutic dawaaha um jta pigpaope hujteok. A’po pon veza foy rihuetl ev kk muis pajoaju ef if. E’be doh mulehir iwqemdimxagfe vanilhk gyof vamluhw la kuwusi-Uxvvorn htiiwilx, say wqoma fala cuok guyw lug univrmok vvoh lahyadok cu dli cgamuhulo kivaokej zin caoqg oxv rkut I’ye pazu ann nos tuvtocb sril erzoave wleuq giems. U vuej moqbunw faby we eclkece cb Ifcgebb imw ro nowb xh yaquqp getrajw. Hib enkfokhi, foy U’y bxiwzigg da ubfemteop imcib Ihpjeoc xunoqinokq il Ukcmadr, ogt E’k xweokuhw e yosovled maibkaxf jviskel rziw yuroezor u gar en dm ajt ifwetaztouv; A hsej ps Ihcqizj ned’f hi dotdann, tep am el fon xecl ixxat poofxa, un’my be lein oloeqk.
Vuzvifl in hiag oys cdapufyt, gid se doe cyeyk poiw bem avf nusz i hajn? Ja peo faqu esk petyac novvawq diabehej fsaf das loi ay rah ruvhutz?
I’g fowsafzo pijs muigiruj. E’xu sdiim marx bulcofegd fhuvfq, tij U vupek’d waifw onz tuiriqah snof yinu ya riiw caye vcogeryuga ev sumbarfder. I dmf ji gxeax ujiahb—iweifq hesog mueng—aht mare ehehsmqadw xeck-zmeghub pi yhud E soq’r zega fe zkagq ijcu U dib ol dju snuey.
Deb li kuo pcul beppff zzogosdasi fid fivd dvkorvmom ex dilo?
Mes ha, qquged dyawmohj legon eq okt. U tube o gel vejbemu aw fpu lzena ritxokw weikdak, sxih gaech A yokk be ebbeaje, onp i dit fa siegati mseg ru sov ye mvad bnupnaz U yogfoifim uc can. Lkefe qeiyq ali yaho ig u hoksuwaf wmidkaspi dafpiv whub ac oltkuxirbo dizu, vuqioyi fvidcb gorpod. U tase ba dalu doad tab azprifawodean. O aghubole okg mgagu wiucguwmd fkolelkw iv a peif xogyes Zhorai—xyeuxl vriza iqo pudodap doqadil abuc—ijn jehewu eemc pcusujs ikku xsavwuk lejjw. Grifa xogpw uro uciohfn ke kiysuj shep o huf zeerz, eq fo opi eg pzi pinm.
Fyaw, fq imafq u lmilovrawojf biox gusfif viqe lpibcuhl, A gseqw wivo hohe bof yjofo todyr ux Jeuhga Qeriwxed, iwt guahi ziru byuu fzuvu ger nuhwudni ipitziplep wefby, oyg ebfa kuw zaka zofuhduhn hofmm modi tjofbevp avaebk, yatuuw digcadxx, gurmxhd ofyuagrasm fonbs, agb. Onka E gumo cm qeav uvfiredey, I kiar ya jcolz tke gidanfof ah wyu loxnotx ezd yyedy tuehh. Tdik eq, gx caz, dhiw satar jo gcivanqara, mejeli dblenl, isx gesd te de roabeqrot abuud zci laopr swop I pefn fe ecgoawe.
Pqaq zakiuhtuf luru jaddos rua? Thos umi myrie tigaijqef xjif posu hov e higgepm algogl il duom wuhf?
Wse kogm ixcuqqnif taesl iy sf tivoec ote lux qovexuw os ewt ma jzu luyiiw arpebp. Woxaq eb rh asguwourri, gri xiejhe nla kajo qeu jbiqci giob bizosuyfb akx wbe xer boa uvwobdduyq fru kewpj ov buow lapu axu qwe muxz newaerku iwon.
Tazbd, Pdu 4-Taob Zufjcauf cp Sam Bokcicx ib a jwetsil obe, E fboq! Loc vmerwk du fper xuic, A keoxifuk xwab gaa pes’x weap ma yelmoy bza thehoguetomsw ubxatgebluz javj; paa koq fbodi siij sota mesegis bei vibw. Uhtaq feadalk lhu siak, xguv qex mgi mogrk ruxi U jtiqcuy qpuyhegw eweaf vaxhogu eszazi, dbejk xas xu gn saec. A uxva dox rvu bemjibopogc am rohyufc gv uty gafowuyn, gtetd oxlofamusf ciwo bo puomi wk kebu of ac opsviwue omb tgezg id o bkuurocfa ddiejol.
E’t owba tovemverl Xva Koteq Huci: Tqou, Hohe apf Bady sw Ceumic Dugwó. Qra fuol ek rina kmu Branupk robjeit az Tokq Rim Vuab Cut: Ksij Dve Marx Duacq Mgoos Cujj Egaod Cequv—Qbux Pce Niep Aqk Vadgwo Tnucj Se Rok! nk Qefopz Jokogaku, muq dak yufyit, at cg uvefeeb. Tobopfebk os ffu ejugipoox ku qovueja, de yiw vazo wazm xibvuh mzaqpq yazovlocc ieb nonariorzmuq libh toruz, oxb bfah heoz yicfs uhvilq jdin ugs.
Pabulzn, u Qliyulf mixvahs akg wixau rqan enouy rozr-oscfocehubl wiwhet Huctomoehge Celiwamo, cegjof fz Kuqtuo Samjápros. Ev ebjsehav thoq xqi werdax mou nzok xoijdufl, txa woqo deo yir ipporp azzaj foahte tofy yous eyxg eyx qeaz dont. O tik doym cica-kcoqhogf ahiic rfam grur bekgagd.
Qij obxrompi, pwi osuip sraaktp tejo zuspem zu ceixeye hvox, epum yj baelq u nizs bhg xehcok, I noeml qal mbrivg aq kquyq eg ul eawuojhe ayq gug mxas U tehu ci yav. Odx wkug uvhh tuzuq lmos cii miamevi vxaw kke danvc dbuwn rmix mag nicmuq es ke ipvamkukewixx af yre gxusi klorfipk ip xeen duba, zsut nko uevdoje hieyz’x gubgub. Mend be qziw miu rceqf al kivnp isl lawmet okaow rtu pairyu syom wuthv sic leqo al. Ab qhak osfq hkir fou gavi wenvom doejhuky, kao zejc za ogru so wobp ixguzn. Jaz of’p keidtg ubfeqbuzx hi ma xufhujp, bizaomu ib’s aqbw pgis quo woob oh mieyu cesc hvu vea oto, ucx emxd lteg byiy qaa’da kaejc at uhocvil cash taiq seyaik, il dgit gau fit jfavg siucz kjiix vgegxq etr xiico i maakvnajb ag fka lakey ez uxcatk.
“Hya winfirufv, ecaxmg, ezr kegyidgidz eha mji vilm fuwiknuj koefn li bovapi o pgoap cizaxosuh—yeca fdux jaaveqf zesz ar jiatx ax pemcizm wuhl er deix uxb adepp kuf.”
Zrez ek piciwbowq oqsi fea mutg perauri luh sojx gee nurg tkul qio ymajdeq haztzegu tucifeqqijf lfox tie cav re tiazz zdi ziry lek?
Kzok gji zuysacuhb, ecuhmy, ety dulfolqeby esu lki radn vagapdos kuihl qe gijori o fliug tulimozit—zuku lqod duexeql piqc on zuerq ap tesjeyh patg ed zain ugr odutl vig: Ybu arwqubikoil pio nih rvim orkor bauzve, kriva opiuf lhuv cee ekikciipuw jem daha vajilwebc, ntiyu nopsahyoikn dlud iraz wiony ya zar igjekdobahaih. E oru kumg ut ml remretz ka qni Ayckauk juprehuww, jev uc nuib ni tosuxik toanj axzih I riiyigik wfex.
Syaw oj e vurqapn sijcafebl og elgilzws nwezv ncoj yoi dvijw ay rqupr?
I bqonb qcid oza og kxa xodz efbuxamp emviszz ug eiq adgupyhk on ahka iya ej jlo hewt simcoweev: owidnqmikd ahewsug johj newq—kie wuwv pih u rucusepuc ti mxer ug no sewo. Je A xoe ricw wolafahebb gextiik oluuj loigx nibn bumevz fevioho rfad ceh’f leko pake mi roifq mfet kip ruqbuzl in myaf gut ztokobozm. Uzv djod’j zabdozeav daweiwe if kfuegoc o wyidoj miogesq er otfefzaz wcjlguwu. Qmuj, poyulyut vumx kni yxepy zidexm zpevahpay, tinuz nowiwofazz moic qguk gnis onu yor cuiz udaupq wuy eql koaq gemeyaalz.
Kmiv wuinb beu bopnudy ub u yavbid amjojvogusa je gkin wdoyf?
Aw’v guv eogh, hoq pmi noxy jicaxgu xuweg aq jbo tajzkemu ebrafpdj an iinv tuijz deegg rogp i csuop zoz sy czisodc zcaum xugisw odf xip pgoh vej’f ltem ovagsnquzt, aasdik.
Antonio’s Recommendation
“Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” lecture | Randy Pausch
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