On Saturday July 6th 2024, Sisters of Code hosted a free workshop at IT Academy STEP Cambodia about “Become an Android Developer” which was shared by our guest speaker, Ms. MENG Socheata, who has been working as an Android Developer for over 4 years. Currently, she is involved in projects related to Banking and Business-to-Business (B2B) FinTech. The workshop aimed to inspire and guide aspiring Android developers through the foundational steps and challenges of the profession. It highlights practical tips and real-world experiences to provide a comprehensive overview of what it takes to succeed in this field.
Understanding Android Development
Between June 2023 and June 2024, Android continued to dominate as the operating system powering a majority of smartphones globally, preferred by over 72.15% of users worldwide and 59.75% in Cambodia. This makes Android development a crucial skill in today's tech landscape.
5 Steps to Become an Android Developer from Our Guest Speaker
Choose Your Programming Language: Java and Kotlin are the primary languages for Android development. Kotlin, known for its concise syntax and powerful features, is increasingly becoming the preferred choice among developers.
Master the Android Lifecycle: The Android Lifecycle refers to the states an app component goes through from creation to destruction. Understanding this lifecycle is fundamental for building responsive and robust applications.
Grasp Android Platform Fundamentals: Dive into essential concepts like multi-threading, which helps manage tasks concurrently in an application. These fundamentals ensure your code is efficient and scalable.
Essential Tools for Development: Android Studio, Gradle, and Git are indispensable tools for Android developers. Android Studio provides a powerful integrated development environment, Gradle automates builds, and Git facilitates version control, crucial for collaborative projects.
Put Theory into Practice: Build a small application to apply what you've learned. This hands-on experience not only reinforces concepts but also enhances problem-solving skills.
Challenges and Growth in the Field
Our speaker mentioned that to become a web developer, you might face several challenges. However, to overcome all those challenges, Ms. Socheata mentioned that:
User Interface Design: Creating responsive UIs across various devices was initially daunting. Continuous learning and rigorous testing helped me overcome this challenge.
Deadline Pressure: Adapting to changing deadlines required effective task management and constant communication with teammates and stakeholders.
Code Conflicts: Learning effective Git practices reduced conflicts during code integration, ensuring seamless collaboration.
Practical Experience
The last session of the workshop, all the 20 participants had an invaluable opportunity to practice creating an application by using MIT App Inventor. With an insightful guidance of the speaker on this website, the participants were able to get a hand-on experience of creating an application for a mobile phone by applying their creativity in the designs and understanding of the basics of the app development process. Moreover, this session provided a great reflection for the participants on how it is like to be an Android Developer.
Speaker’s Advice for Aspiring Web Developers
“Becoming an Android developer is a rewarding journey filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. By mastering programming languages, understanding Android fundamentals, and utilizing essential tools, you can build impactful applications. Remember, continuous learning and practical application are key to staying ahead in this dynamic field. I hope this roadmap inspires you to embark on your Android development journey with confidence and let's continue to explore the exciting world of Android together!”
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