# An Android Developer's Journey from Learning to Build Apps to Practicing the Craft

DevFeed: [An Android Developer's Journey from Learning to Build Apps to Practicing the Craft](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/leave-me-behind-22819.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<http://androidessence.com/leave-me-behind/>)

Author: Adam McNeilly

Published: 2026-05-17T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Android Essence](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/android-essence.md>)

Topics: [Android](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android.md>), [android-development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android-development.md>), [Java](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/java.md>), [Mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mobile.md>), [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>), [AdventureX 2026](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/adventurex2026.md>)

Tags: [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [android-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android-development.md>), [app](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/app.md>), [hackathons](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hackathons.md>), [java](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/java.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>)

## AI overview

The author reflects on learning Android development, beginning with a todo list app and later developing and maintaining applications with practical benefits. The article emphasizes learning from courses, practicing by building, and connecting with other software engineers through hackathons.

## Source excerpt

"If you don't learn how to use AI, you're going to be left behind." So leave me behind. I learned to build Android applications in 2014. I was in college taking a Java programming class, when a classmate shared a free online course to learn Android development. The goal was short: build a todo list app with local storage. When I completed the minimum requirements, I unplugged my phone from my laptop and went over to my parents to show them what I built. I often refer to this as my "lightbulb moment". Here in my hands was a real, tangible piece of software that I built and could interact with. It wasn't the first time I programmed something, but it was the first time I had an application on a device that I could carry over and show someone. The app lived in my pocket, always available when I needed it, to help me stay organized and productive.