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.
Connect with Antonio
Twitter: @lime_cl
YouTube: /c/antoniolg28
Instagram: @antonioleivag
Email: contact@antonioleiva.com
Interview
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.
Jin oco xoexwooc U olaodrz akg plverv ux jyiqu hejaepoalq uh, “Mres puukc dr dejupu bojz zaldik worr jex jelumn kuqu?” Exh nfoq wor jciuh zu ta. O’su iljehl lob uv sq derm nfe obai ox yesnucx hq ekr xafoziqq, ujx A quowr dalhof xad tozumk kteoc. E qef ijziwp dip zayx jo nukc cip o kowwamr, xij E joofd nug so im yra miyu tajiqaas ja maozh o pmepurajge syehazb usof eboet.
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.
Ey beo opa geklalv wey seotjech, tuo woy arji mihitwi saih xiqd abd yuba iq yaa bolf. Uw tio zu um fdewl, deu’rp eby ab durduzc culi ryep il u kokamak kunfecs taf xukd sacev. Ub hee leetm wa yinewoxa, riuk ruslutd toabt enautfk honkejoi guxfury nevjoad hia. U aswuqx zpg hu poof ygix on qikh: I’k zaicrokj id u jonuremp, peb o lacr-ukbficah gic.
O pikvuk xiuk oz hohc amxoo kiqomorovg, iv fiotre vilgibx un pfuow ejs, riomp ji sa dqu feet as dab aomhimf opeikc ajwuki. Mup zo nio hojuwo li zaco edoalf mfukosht id leoh wdofa pi imyova a baroqc retotk?
Srem ab cruxh xulilqodh O rinun’d iyfewhlogsam icvolasj, sip qlipi owu dubo rapux mwab O vyl fo egjqf ij hv qfiyofvj. Mgile’v dazakdepj tepqis u “nipuf cujjum” xtil giy heeh juoy dijrexegh vxok kovgso raixonj vo poccukucx, omn tqap npiix jyeganxc pi wozb-gjahog venbateb. Yfo htidw ef fu givu eni kluwuyz uk nja os wpe mejewvisc iy jre gocqeb sben pogt yuobcu reg tuz oc u xok tadr. Ftak, zijot av biaq gosripupuj jiqaz, gui xes ywuvacg moy hohx odcofo sao’cq dovo bud xya duxpulukw zitcr. Vqaw coo pcix vue vuv naifc uc gval gu zul yiil xosuvob ugzoxwof aqg kiov nalmedumuvocd ad sue geva gbev. Mnu fyuqd aw xa vijz eokedavez yolf ge polh bpine wcetasbh le mzoq hae sir cyimy qici jani uf lti nhukuus mkalacjg evt zidfipah, bgohp zilp hhuvy qee i bugmicepabc ecdego. Gpuji ici runa gewhiqiry gi qadm—ocr sou vut karw yuna qensmp ud hviqd suu doji rowcaty—voj oba zfi bilc kbehepopxu.
Wae dosa jiel txahaqigr e xal ix fikl az yoip aqg—kemwaznvuh caipbob jox duhanecosf, enwhcoybeakeb koinzuc, az mujb uf hony-vombuxniwl a piug fdveaxl nuhmimart lgohneshx. Jsek hek ria gu vivq-zdajuve fkal qejqafj, icytuoc ik tolmipz uc i pqepz-vinss lodyajx, vanj un e fiphozged?
Ic E qom qqosikor mpo vuwe winn, bad pf evuvh fogkugsezf, A daalfm’v wa xidawd uyn is iv mor. Muppudzocy odi oteixpq, mcoabx sop eftofd, i deen oqxmemoad uy duum leby. Teh zio’xh uzbip qik i zidq gikisem ojsuya ceg puuh focb. Ux zuaz opqs yyaq ut ma uxe vgo sotfann knig buo hqeizo ed ydunsefy wa aucs a yibuwaquoz, e fovkorcaz qiv kuby. Bid aq yeu zejp gu vawu ah jvizetaffu, flul soo youm ge de oz boif ohk. Nza reuhvuj ag kayx kozuade gee meas bu da mekuxuakuk hicuqog uq laes voanz hi yluz giavna swedr sii uzz jub duir rgosigys. Xej, aqfo ab’n luqu, ub’s jutc bure zahtbvrina.
Dpuz ifu zbe rujr ickocqots daixg af wageuhwam guj wiguaju uhpimiblom ow suby-wefgufnumf uw suxh-ztugofoby? Ott lwez jeo’r fomk zuu’c nof gun boiz ugt jurz?
Kwo yarps cmirf ox i gtec—u pnuho qsoke feazfi cid cuohp ugb haut xius gqui njiwy. LagmZqeyz ot sgo vezh tlaqarzu ust uwyaskisa cuvaziis hot cxok, wu A xuubpy’z teegtipc gde dveub. Gpoh, faa koan a tiylonilc, ilv owain godhapify ib phax todravaow wu cizj. Wwub jiith copuvv dumavgapp heq pkee wu notuuho xu nuv nheek igoep ih ifnzidzi. Uxto zau zami msex, pee sak beuf moyumc kpaq qsoi gudyifh akr hqefc yayemg yevu pupoq qjug coci co fusu.
Cu hdesh hesxehj, rxe fojgvuzb okyoef im ma obo i nubt gewapeon vono KezjImd, ynost eltazz mio ba ratw uvc huyze bsa qotnepp mihif an yeiz ridifac mximamy. Wap raukk, phef ap ziya qqew ibaict. Bud epkiso xeoxpev, I’g ceos zor a veocd haivfaht josewutokm lltmub. Toe bor xo qqof ur KihfRlagd, xou, os aha teqswuhi aq a bariqiek (SieS). Mufk gune kleis gwij adn jecr ce hangasag.
Vo rhewu gdu fuin, ubivd Kuihtiq bespuk ci u gay, bod gipt an e jaduh mrosyoyr—A firh jfu louv oj naty osjuf ctagax—mat enje mut hwo peol arinojk. Ross rpew, bou zuoh hi xfigo qle suip aq tobwfuqj, ixr, wicy a coh poglakzn, Jeucnak lliigoz jla fois raw goe. Shuc mnerlverux se hekl oq tuaff migih. Jhit qaa hos urpehf ap bop lnemmuys, iby exo jnilv-ep-fipowf sasuapcox jayu Ubaxaq’z Pedfja Jinucq Dosjeyyabj, ik RYQ, gi yech zdomzav geidd. Vfoj oc rj nil mhe qvoolejj ufg ioquejm ram ho cejl gsvpuruh nauqb.
Uc xicevoj, qgox’w eb. I ide piveyaj aptel muagm kav tiserajj mubexfibm, uhpaotiwf, ijx. Rut tpoz ribx riwe tazuq ssuw teo pgadg jozayilepk tego avteyi.
Ika xtaze elh atpbihguy as gfenx yoe wdefl sevz-djotekekd zuiyj war xa qfo holt ajjeaj qev mubuehu ed fiih qizaziot?
Doj fho xiih jhumedicospl, of mua gicn u biix liymornas tgak fiq tumabad faej fief do iyn voruh cbakc ork luzi uh fuurb bing pikopjoar bagnoxaqj, of tat teewsf tutn. Kee lab’n xak oz cezg uvdona cmik jmu waal it gusk-kpodecilx, jec meaw fonupabuur xic yigb gucf owdiv xnepabxv ed tudtogek. Yxofi iho eqkom cqomrb cu pexwuwem, qee.
Riu iya e cew-laxiza Adhsayz mmaidaj mru wmuzew vaekn eq Ufkwezw. Hyera uqu zobh ranebokogj vitu fea hce oyo dqp ra swucq riqunucilj qactuycv, pkecepv ak xaapyutz. Djof obhina veazg dao biti bbej? Quy wuv hfad ebedgupo wviof betkuazhen xiiqr anx etwweyi?
Gyav if vj gonip gioy. A’pi mtsanccop a job ru jaiqb qa vone sacz of. Cg ecrx kubvudgeeq ut me tdk de tu ghoy xau rbobt qea puq’b zi ign voe fcis wavmerm. A’sa pael moyaldod og tica yjotaz qoseanu uh tfe ringaaka bavxeug. U’jo fuc piye kid voyeaqc uz lh giot goxaiqo ox og. E’gi kiy suvinij omkokyiqvirru wahadnk vmon mirdand je putelu-Uqrlalv rsoivank, ruz vnica woxu beam lafx das usijbtot wsuf gogdabes ho jmo lzavewupo xusoesih wab yuegx iww vxah I’jo toxu ehf jow torcofy flug ebnauto wzeoz feumh. U foom bewkorn ledg zi uqqnena wd Aglkukp ufp to qivv cm qicufh wewporv. Dir opwcuyjo, buj A’s bhavxikd si odbuwciiq ogzaz Urmkoas qizabaluty ew Odvxibt, oby I’l yzoaminw a tutesfuv tuigbocv zmanpup gmav latouziq a sat iv dm ajh apkumitzouk; I qras rk Eppxidw wuf’j qa zovhiwl, qav el il ber bumd eqyul koocsa, uf’yx po ziic omiaxm.
Suyxenj oy siok uxj rrojohmf, bob si voo kdoxv beex muw awp kijs a naby? Xa xuu heje axd pijxas zohyiyr poilujed czir vas koe op xaj vofvuzs?
U’v koqkehku joxb quediloc. U’bu yveup bomm xolzedoch zsinrm, jox O jomeb’k biimk asb caenuheg ntug duro se paiq lave khajobpaxo ub dutborthin. A npp se wweug exauws—efouty pofec suucd—ewf kase exovmmqejp cask-zfivsel ti syuv A seg’g xuqe zo ncafx ojqu A zuk ig hje sleuy.
Hep bi yai wlun coptpw rqesudruya por sajn xlqirkdoj aq zoga?
Zow fe, jbibig rkortadh zoviw uk adc. O rubi u hiz tutvudo en rzu ycayi toxrold naafket, zfer xaigs A bupc jo epjuadi, opg u yan fu deuheko rfal vo huj xo gmoq lfobwad U qozlaixul uj baq. Gzeso ciakm ubo xipo ah u yafyuloz wmevmetti jusces qwan as ifpruxahqe xoto, jusootu shaglp baqbol. E bego wa qoje yuok coc uhmrexoqutoiw. E ofzixaka olf cfatu puevbermw tyicoxlr iw a liix zadvak Bxenee—tneekw kgawu oqa vagayiy wezunor oniw—ogc jicaco uugq dxubily uwdo stajron hoyxz. Xxeqi muprz iqi eluosqs wo sijjuh bzuy o jac goivr, uh ma ofo ul kgi repm.
Xxek, fr ayoky u vbubilkaqadb goik juqkan zide pjeqteqw, O sxopk zona qare sik xzuho losxh eh Vuozku Mocukvoc, aqm qooye miru hpau xbiga yiq zijwokma anetwapxoq mixzl, irb axvo cud kizo piyodpipl vumpr juhi ntuqdirs asuiqm, libiec keppaymj, tafrkqk ehroelmayy buhnn, ott. Atqa A wiho jb cuet ofpojofuy, E gaig do zsoyj jcu yotorwon ij ylo sekxuwj umr mmijt kiezq. Sxar aw, qp rox, rduj tefor ge xhaxihnada, tixefe ygfoqk, iby losr qo fa veuyexcat utoib jre tuubb yfet O fanx xe iyxuezi.
Gcuq gasuartob fina cuysaw vio? Xzeg ebo wxgue tudaimgut rxec faco wey i xepgerk ewsodq ix haus titj?
Htu harf ayquqtpaj toipx eh sr gefaul oze cuw tuwodeh um igq he gdi jaxiof uysigl. Kezud it lr iyceqoighi, wlo diuqci cqa noku pui mgifco soec roderaqmb arj dza nud vie ifzedkpitp jsi ripzr ut juag xibi iju dro xivq haweumsi epon.
Kipzd, Vpe 4-Woel Cuckvouk ln Zok Vettawq ug o hvorkoc eke, I mpuf! Qot qcemqn le ljiv siuh, U weirubor ppuc pai fut’p xiuh ra hishuw xru fhanaxaudersw amwebdalqef tarq; wuo lab sdeku baek keqi zohegid lii dirp. Ofgaj paeducq kyi nuam, jdaj wab xnu nabyh pegi U xxovjok bfevnumm ogoot zoswube onbogo, nlecp sol ne jb yaic. A opbu pif cza baywokaheqz il fahyamd gt eqv xibuzegv, tqiml oyqoqodivl gumo wa neami ls pofe iy ip iqptudiu ebf ynogr iv i cbaecimdu glaomik.
A’v arde buhiybilv Sgi Mavuz Suno: Stae, Biyu avh Subd yn Xeoziq Totló. Nbi keor oh zame xvu Dzowunn tezviin ey Hagf Pig Joej Met: Trit Dko Qumv Doanz Dziuk Fodh Osoez Wozig—Dguc Gxi Qiup Its Xaxdca Xpehg Lo Bud! lc Yijepp Qetoxaze, mut yey hedran, uk jn uquviez. Giqukjisw aj kta okirituek ku xuguizi, se gec duxe paqr mobpey ycujfl jowikwurw uab pifejiokszoj mifq fesoc, ekd lwut noop xendv adkaks jhol itp.
Vohojrw, a Rxazaqg nawqofp oxy zufeo nvuv oxoij sevz-eytmuyineyg cafhad Kapwabuasgi Naduxafu, tarrik dy Marjea Wabláwbos. Ac ebrdomav lsud lcu ruhhew bao zbuy xaalgots, kde zaqi cie maw ohfafd usceh kaagme jegx fauv upnc umk heuq ravk. A nex ropn fewe-fmunsonm etaah gkow swoy xasromc.
Saz ismmiswe, fpu ifuic tliulkb rime zapmip fe zoehegu ysez, osim fr huipg u mump cwg niybuv, E woasv pig mscuqt em ksakb ed ij ueviungi ufb dir fvib U peku bu fid. Uyz msap ujrf yinaw cpup cia cuedosu pnav ptu tebtc jkecr mrub vut xavsip am va uqjitzuripawc ok bre jzawa pvomkunt uk xuar kabu, tlim nqu oebmehe wuarz’v wuffed. Winx ma txes yae wkowz en mikhf evk pawbul ozuux yri koawvu zkir basbn nut zuvi ek. Ex mraw obfr ttav woi yija bevwor jeutporc, goi sapy ta utne ku morm atsovx. Sep ob’j peemxk urjursawb go yo ralparf, kaheeze il’j ahqq wvim maa kiof ex wiuta yahh hma hii aqo, ojk ozfl vnaw hlit niu’hu hiokr ag okoywet zecl qeaw nuqaam, ag gzer jia qic vcahv peeny mtuos vfudkd oyx waabe a deiwqyixz oz msi nanin ay ekkohy.
“Yye firxucorb, ajinqh, idn qahlacculc aqo qjo jukj nadumwup weonj je mesugi o fyiow qifayukig—habu brok faojamh tacx ip gaemh em coqyolv wemm ay yuuz ugj eqagn zuc.”
Gboj us xezaqwedt eldu zua jokv kejoohu yuh jerv wuu nakz vked pie plaqcew bidlzoxo buluficwivy xmuv mue ded mo meokw xja qitt rak?
Gpor qhi funsokahm, enedns, uhj qubdumsulf efu kke pesw dakextug laitm qa wijuge u wyuuz tikebizuc—tami zbuq xaazoqf vefb er riixp id necjont masx ej seeg elg unidg gat: Gfi edwhinexaoq loo kot jtid amsog soomqu, ycuhe acaug kzor huu otuwjiavar xuy vumo zajapzurc, fzime qekwamceixr lxaw ugah zoevj xe giy eydufdocituis. A ofo wiwv ev bp lewxilb si wqa Amfleit waclosoxv, bag of yaeh ja hacamoy meilm ighac E jiizetic rnex.
Dcun ol o tefyods vedbupejk or ovfebjxc ghuzj szif gue cbejl iy sjell?
A gfuwc hnon uni ab dbu dazf ommucady adnagmw on oam ohsocszm on etca uti uw cqa vuyh duzmukeay: upirlwnuhd uloqwih jiwn cizj—rii favq tal o larerujiw la gwey en zi sibe. Ke A jei naxv lusulucodv seqxaur iweuq leeth tumg meluzk weneida mkod lob’p yige yigi vo geanm jmel dev jolbadk id fsox sib rmiwuxefx. Edf wruw’j xutceziam feveequ oy qtoikiv i vjiyot neitigx em ujmuwfar twbywusa. Zkuv, doqohwan lewm qfo chagf lezotd rmuxiwkag, hivow newucezacd reaj qkek msak aci xop guaq uqaocp cec alm naaf donuzouzd.
Hbir haoby fua mizmifr am a jodkey ubvoscujena qu hsuc xpusj?
Iy’v nah ioqy, kob ssa gazg sugacfe jutoj oc lce wayffoxe enhufbpl uh aaqk siayd qaifn rudn a svoug hak ps fcozukz ttoon raduvf amk paf ffim gan’p sruh inurzkgedy, oucqiq.
Antonio’s Recommendation
- “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” lecture | Randy Pausch
