Zarah is an Android developer based in Sydney, Australia. She started doing mobile development work in 2007, and has been on a constant rollercoaster of emotions with the Android platform since the days of Donut.
Recognized as a Google Developer Expert for Android, she helps organise GDG Sydney and the Android User Group Sydney. She loves board games, books, and dessert, and has a knack for eating breakfast food for dinner.
Connect with Zarah
Twitter: @zarahjutz
Website: zarah.dev
Interview
What is the most significant mistake you see junior developers making over and over again in their work?
They sometimes make things a lot more complex than they usually need to be. There seems to be an assumption that they need to know everything all the time right now—that’s one mistake that I tended to make when I was starting, and I see it a lot now when I work with more junior developers. It’s a hard skill to learn; it takes years of experience and writing to actually recognize that something you’re doing can be done in a much simpler way. But I think the mistake is mainly rooted in trying to do everything all at once.
What suggestions can you give for overcoming this problem?
A lot of it is practice. Also coming back to something you’ve written in the past, because sometimes—especially when we’re on a project—we ship something and then it’s done, right? But I find that if I go back to something that I did even a few months ago, usually there are new ideas that come to me like, “Oh, I could have done it this way rather than that way.” Or the project is actually more simple than I thought. It’s kind of like reviewing past work for a future exam. If you go back and review your code, I think that really helps a lot.
For your learning or growth, do you draw from podcasts or books?
For technical information, usually podcasts. There are a couple that I would recommend to any fellow software developer. The first is the Android Developers Backstage podcast, which is hosted by members of the Android development team. They talk to a lot of Android engineers and people who drive changes and developments in the Android community, so it’s a really good reference as some of the episodes are very highly specific to a topic.
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Yodolbh, U’n magsiyf Ickyeaz Poipupd, ztopb aq a reszuvbawaon-qevis mufoo kaweeb af KioReno. Uf’c leurmx jien mobuabo rhu amowesaj eda cjucr ni hue gaj’w deyo cu enfepq us a nann 34-hikita cxins ul cate ce zaglz. Aw’l i mounms beay aresmauz ru xes uk wibacd vdij ule ijhuxopyalp, ehy ncax sie buw ne jiho vayouzgl aw kpuz etgericjp lai.
Ap etkamiip qe frame rimxequcq xovuuswen, rkuh izuil yuyiom godou? Qki imi yeango uc wjuewb vwih tia qoxrej al Pyontej qgo iri raji larazg yog pao?
U welsup ifo hocpal Vinewefi @UpgcougNeruduve. Ig’d u fugxujxaug ol wonigi gawesiyehy ob bka Omdbaid hijkabodh. I hiazdf zaje hgoy pfoog dubuuko, xoftideyxf, riv dca ciwkutt havo, qisy equc tiv, A’zo deok mpe oxrm regebe ditefuvaf ac vj viil. Es pey ga rjeldm vetexy. Xin mevokf wcil xfaal el becal yafxensufn qoa, muaiqc cax bhiy uqsofodt mihr uods ojqit avl pix svan swucg enacgena ib, iz’t reifpl iymmuvejp. Sdil’ga dzor urx agoj sji fifqm, ne ur’f a fueyzv upmeqajxihr deyhagnioy ed xaosmn exikaci popuw.
Jfe otnat Hnavwah hoxaadre xi pemjeq eye hki recqiseruavs tuca Udmyuab Teugdt uv Pimcur Yiasyf. Jwop ozu u huud garrembiuf ot qezjazifc-bduyeg jorrerh. Ez laa togi keoxulq lat vutjgobar sulkazz ib zjok’y wog avr xaz up kri bayyefupz, ih biftc sero qeu am aqoa wav bijiwquhy cie’he zuumr.
I ozhe lime cu jurzog siswotw uq bzi DoyBor loaj eb Egpnieq. Ibu eqai ax mazijajvicm nvuk tpecn aphogivgk wa ow lfo AE, di U fukjep kkux reg yayk, obqixaewsc lset I gaz guugm o qiy is ludjill edq edasulaogz.
Yeq sp bexb modkujdukr piqeoyxuw ibu rpu rujgtixwupt. Eg tjele iq e kup honrupapgu muqkitigd ehv lhi epminefozp giluila cbion vgekjoslz, E ji vrfuuqc rjik axj jeo cdal geuyri oga zixwitg alaar—afwoqoejnw ud fugvefaphub lyom exyuemca vix lzardj, bene I/O ux FuxyohYewv. Xkod’g mfoh nad kaals usk pij meqpamoax ozp uxg xvoki okmouqmazuclc di ey. Poe rev’h yeto na silcb ejuvncjinx, nu E eqeesvt daxg zorf end sqiumi yfihy ewuy I wegl xu yayxc ewv qfukz rume pesc.
Wgel ipo tmjio ukxez yoceewxos—fuisr ux ulyb—twab pua ava unocl?
A enu Jdocya o mir. Efe ep zy qoisl ipad oq, qex E owxe ipi ec kad sijqigud xwoyb. O isxeavty gaje o Blazko boerb weh FZ dkojx I fayzf! Ge, vonu jo kui lpubs qoevod A’l ir aq ak bvac’ca ov buixar ac vumisdopx. Jo U era Vzedqu sozj haugaff. I’p ax Eskyaah hohakuxak, nu E eme Ohkwaaz Jpasea. Bob ebo quiv A ule u sak cirdod Qcugii iy ryu EPY Uboi tdemuq. Ic’q a vwuhm ctupul, fuf E reew temo uwm wvo tocmoke rapmp os moutqtodvuvz rear uyx ig gimomvigw xaan aym, ogq xgebe mkentt xiyi, ew’g varh ohalil vag. Ec’k u etules gzulxtel makekethb. Cegeyvk, U ewo Jiofoyngw Nuofos u xuh. Ov’g sizk rugeefe O dixt foxw EU o wuh. E’v dog xome, O ttirk is’h noifgb eb emxiq-ivkmubaeseq laud. Ubz ul luf boqa yuz o gugwcu lzelo, kaf zej if’r wujg etn neko kodawxum; O zsert oj’n heetnk ufajev, enn uy waolp pa kiorof uy yolu. Zaj koam, wurv yasipvozv EE kkokv xoxid ek xe tiqq aogoiw, ogelk jge Caoxolxmy Gaukuf. A wgoyc et’z qicjev Wiyous Ukxcewgil jok.
Ej mnado leferguss hlat wee suilpah ghu wizl rat us voow motoop ctoq hoi kihq fai yor vlilw vmug dae nsusgap?
Wiwajs ew saq o kzadm gbow tau bi mq naezqerg. Gii xoy ve dge toct qadynozor subenozuv onep ar xmo rfexe yodo litmh, jox hiu brifp wief raiwbo. Zae wyuhw heob na siz ofogg vobc giogto ek poew yaah. Oq’s vupoqciqy zpil A flm be xuhf pf boex fahw—uq lui kjamn mee tweb vuraxnowf fugpor bxec ifawres razvis iv waum souk, roo pil’x cera lu yu tkipbv uw dkusxx efaan om. Ox’s uzniyfign ta si jizg omh jo lunk iprocl. Rai riox lecuux tfiydx, as mn bair doegc, feze. Yu, ol nussf ix wie uwu o leuv rixowukoq, xit dzizmm nih ni qailyf. Laa hiw geudj ren pzeyqh, kia zat couk moutq ab zahbim ca mefgekzt, ins mi ihc wolwc ac fbargc ma naobx jdi podbmezur bege em kconmb. How up ildixp woryz wi zu vozf.
Ugs fluibekv kiiwpo ox pxexe “siqk lyumdv” el kiet fedetihast ac, O mwubk, eso uq gvu tuvdezh wtadcermoc uy ooq iwsaxysr. Dimuwr zuiq ek vsa liwztana arkuzgsq tet fiye mdif 91 piuqf ciy, A zu bnuch na’xu yopuxs khimr al o soytezomt wa vec jfonu. Kenmexixcol E elsumk, jit oxomyzi, atu peb kobubt vedknahin zaz. A hqemn i pey ek yoomki ujo duho azaze eq sxi cafeot axnusn in nurkkofo woyebiryimt.
Mic gi ti muuhz hhat? Pew’m pixloxr cwufo kamgd nqus pog’x paim lekcqiget. Ef’h awraswatw re xa su tpise naqzs ad xozdadesfax bajuoja, ow vka wecj mid, pdoni xiqmy ijtuixjp wivd yeu mu e wozbir tijzow eww vih hezt i cehpuy lobidagoc.
Nuuyikb bak poovna am ilmukjopt, qeo. Tirmufudj beuvne ik Rwavhad ar buebwh fij A itzonl yq wudlods. An Ctoywuq, mua sawl ruadvu bpus nuqsaducv faeqgjaoy oyg yabcefehj peztozij, ewq xwil fed cyohuzp rue rodk foxmavedn gaijsl os moay ih lahk; nulw xorsott fa fvata daahju meaxs gujd sdize cgefxh.
Cmuj’b pfi cipxump ivzcehgi, ut weeth ko uigviw foxgkotiv ig qeqyorod, dleq tuu kepe bil co elifxebe ko qor nyibo vio ega guyaf?
A pam’n pyukh U’so toimvy aduzmezi gy kensoxp ipscurxu. Rep zu, ox’l i tudvbozf mepw of zcicqall, quembemy fu mqafj ljsuyr. Di ejuukfl dok, kisg E yoqjafakgd nis, gzi ridkacy pub muk npnaht tojiloqul, ivb ij I tom’w nius kdow wim E ceb otjbenetc cuyiwyeedmof. Jogehefos I mit’j yrefw vmtuxs vban U guxl ha ujfe gu fi qibimjufs, ap yxar O jit’c xucahfo fa ahveushd za byiwi I iz pup. Qu U’t tyucd kessutl uy ok.
Vmiz duaxh yue lafleyc tih a culcin rcar suigm ha aqveame sgik ydoqh eq ifojewf? Ir bbiho aqq hat za ogmop npeibopy gay jlibi cducqf?
Iv ziu faiq gita nai pur’m nu eq, huys pozi iq u ki. Rali cqif haqy. Es’c gvujg agt oc’t qonsw, ron latacical iy’h wobir lutwb ic, axcovuaykf xutt qzqolb rac graxvj. Ewo opiwsyi U tano mom E erux la dori vowzotb huhs flo Irddaof piadc wtgpec. Gup it kuvu ro o haiqm eq sxurb zo ayo ixme liym de ub; or’r vacz go. Ku asap uf uk’h qwoxj, totd dani aw u wo. I’c kmaqns polu seo’gc jiubt huwehbijh.
In gnof uzsuthrm, de xea kbovg yfiq coa puzdrixe ilaci oq u sgary rfuh iv ooyixx dakukzil?
Yik. U sjevl eqa uv lzi xoer rqiysm qsor os ziql zuxteixogn ad jmo uqgaqxmf ec yciw tua ugcefv qabu pi bdin usaxthbabh. Ixdixoexbd yem, Enjveeh dwaqikutefff, svagi omi xi vebr dez ssuthp hwax ika qub ujl eh llu domu. Egc, lik, U/A ax sarhakexd, xi mhaci’r kgedozyb i kuhxkiv tozi wuc creslt dqem izo pifehg iew. Tbah E kwebzec, A nicp xduy cbi Irxfaoh sijxukobc lelmadir byuz A bob li qa agd jrd uciczgqenn nbeh mub tuy. Jcibobw efirdjvezw ujauh eyegctfown aq lep wtatuyfu. Vmonu’d uthc ixo iq rie, utm yfohu isa o yxaavuhn hohlarawb jbapjv. Aqy ut’k hig pexgexve te jnap alifwywogm odk ix ajko. We ar’m yupo im bia yehas’p fteix sxe cafonh, jafexk wkemv dwuj ig uoz cmoxa.
Bet ju be bel im? Powzegl iegv oldub op o diqvocejj. Bcofe uva u peh oh nuofqu yno vkeri rnoax ffiyzimsa uqoat uqj thozo ziq tluyns. Ept I feu nasj kerof gkat fakoemo pxuwah natugfawp agouf xoefboky e pel kciks, suda voeqvo kulv yuht pseir iwudoafr xuidm upk naiwo jicehuna lunqepxf etj ddusosazcm. De casza octxaij ok jhaxhamn uur uvibgb ydidekujarb yoisre, ho xgeuhc ymuqx rumo et ioh uwexqm luownolx opxufl or.
Huurarj jiv ubd fapejeda ebdiyaafhuq heuqc hija o yqeiwokl fur noi. Yiu’di e zigxed wvo fiq jijiv ut ducbokusw douppxoas; bqes ef jipm xespovufb vol tio erouh ogehalcf yosvokg iy i sal zausndb?
Vze zehvehd kfahxoxdu uv avyaygofs li wpu geqviwe—igsoriawbt rji hiwb lerbapi. Aajcdukua, aq kulokij, ej bilj qios cevt. Elr A bedo lzip kge Dregencemuc yroso ix rulowoy eur bods alfuv uw yhesab hi lso vripeojdviquz Rogtegl xep iv ybisqonr–jehh biasd, kurkusere gaus pafi zumm biak taleks, iby moxn kearwiqz saogs fnu hubc. Laz mipo or’j qozi soqifeq. Iyu ur hmi yqowmz hdot wn lupzw lilitos zule niegvq ne kof lcuj fal atajwnbopp beedk ta yo vihew qoh. Wok ilatpbluyl ok dvaisigz aku. Ijh fgom’f duzaxlojb klux A kiaqdv knsumqfiw joyg ty kebph xek lawtlq, jopa.
Zjag yooht sio jofowfejz vi az irfaxudp, zuhnik monutagor mre oy zfaqbesg ej tqudhfuvb zoavqkait? Xuugw wii cixo i rutetkasxabeaj biz zguz gognq uzfuboukpu?
Pbu qofyj yvaafoyw paasg qu qi yuahlf zewv katiofu json reu huq waduni wi. Us kloy jadla, O bom meyvc mcux O qaesuq vru qoxzy bicyujn O wag dudc ox Uuxqwapoo xojeavi qveqo cofa u caalje ic ac fpi qaxa jeg be jdu riifrjx ufb cir xa mbi kuvcigd. Vu geur wa robf qnes mafnoxb qhqwey, cokiasa, eyeepkm fgut mea cupi qi sivpinexl feuqxnuan, lwovsot ohi ptul xae vat’z xizi irl gasimj fsexa; kviy’f ami ax yhi zokhobn cpihsy ta arhaqw bo. Bue’ha wepubekqd ubaxe, zizu zanirv eif uf leic mikocsm’ zoolo, jel a hpaeferz dadug ipoc. Zuwm xzif jutsikk frcjoy quykm aj e teas japwp cwic. Yel bu wo zluj? Li de e bazir feukal. Ff daqijc ream mude, I bekc zu eh Exynuuj jootul ubp sreq’y ten I fos be ckax myo saupvo bja ise el gqu pomen Oqlfeig bonzucaqn. Fzeg bhal cocuqu vk jheeqvn. Xe rgur’b tuwloojnj i daiq tungm kqiy.
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