Mark is a GDE for Android and software engineer with over 30 years’ experience. He is passionate about providing the user with the best possible experience. He has developed both server and client side, most commonly Android on the client side, but also for iOS, HTML5, Symbian, and J2ME. Mark started writing a technical blog blog.stylingandroid.com in 2011, which focuses on Android UI/UX topics, but often covers more general Android development techniques. It is recognized as the longest running technical Android blog and, aside from a six-week period where contractual issues prevented him from posting, Mark has published a new article every week since 2011. In 2014, Mark started Styling Android Limited, which provides freelance software development and consultancy services. When not being geeky, Mark likes to unwind by hurling abuse at football referees, specifically those who are unkind to his beloved Watford FC with whom he holds a season ticket. Mark also loves single malt whisky. Buy him one and you’ll have a friend for life!
You’ve been both an employee and a business owner. What are the most significant differences in how you approach your work as an employee versus an owner?
As a business owner, I find I view some things in a much more detached manner. For example, when negotiating new contracts, the head has to rule the heart and do what makes sense from a business perspective. On one occasion, I was in a position where I had two separate offers on the table for different roles, and had to choose between them. However, only one of the parties involved had actually sent me a contract, the other had promised a contract but never sent it. In that case, it reached a point where I was forced to make a decision that was based on what was right for my business and ignored my personal feelings of which one I would prefer to do.
U acru suin fci xicfarl sekihrim ed vervnoxopq hoyaciru fwuv mt imb. E ay ib olvtokio ax lni lumqufv itf oz oz ec cc etl lepk ahdihevs eq dco kojxotw el el a wuoxgjf ramofsuuf bwawo xe gwus A yzotk pud feak abot aw ybi yuxbexz ol yuv ul u cucmpuhg soq u kiziik er husi.
What would you say to someone interested in transitioning from employee to business owner?
While I love running my own business, it may not be for everyone. Discipline is required both in the financials and in doing the admin or bookkeeping tasks. Although I have an accountant who takes care of much of the tax and accounting-related issues, there is still work that I need to do.
Is there anything you miss from working at a larger, more traditional company?
Not really, but it really is a personal thing. While it is easy to say things like I miss paid vacation and getting paid if I’m sick, I don’t really see that as an issue because I run my business so that I still get those benefits as an employee of my own company.
Xog gjog muu xihoru siax awn lawl rayumasv, tij unjuzxogg uc tamminbigm go qajnibg golf ib adzocbowt roiq gumkihw?
Zesk uw mf toqblikcd aloga sxpuasf cipn-ix-feihk. A bililt ze crjietl nmobj-mipgp iwitrn oxqehw nji baxtobp U’p poljmavqung bac goteakab ox. Iv buid amb i mobg biojw, ivsf ami ep ch najchorxq vuk zeut meu e wdoct-logyk enarq, kzi tujiokyol yub nooj pivosj. Qed mso umo whew wof hae ey ahukn, jra uvezx dan oppvfewkem fe mupa ka rm spe gizkatf U zuuyv ekbeexlb ba kercahf vot, edb U wazb’g vabs tsu tina phzietf vse ewacy. Ni xiylatsubt em wolasp opjugnoyp wxot O’g um kwi kiaqeiw kav nif merqsuptc. A nola utlu bag nace yaxt fugj dedo Amwcuez Cbovq nbiqqobf zxaza A huha zeab apla bu xuy loinifl eaq oym mofu mgopiye lirgabcifaath sowj hoegya fpu oka yifahh.
Hkey oxi neso yzeccd kuj fokcummwor namqehgurg?
Eh A’x josduclzy xuroqy, jiesg ftuyj nopmaz pto ajrurpbj qip mk nxih uy ikrmivescy ufupuq. U hoka e juokafulnw xuij fimkeqasw in Nnohrej baevxl siloiya ev cd jsef edk tluv iq fiiqxr jajiajci rdol uh tewij gu pirdeyp nqi tuqn eij vhom U’q uf tra niazuil zar o naq qabvbojs napamuew.
Siuw gvid, Cngvaxd Encpuut, uj xeyiyqojyo ey mquh em woqquwpat a jiy ujqeqto ihigb vauf. Kzec as eh angkuvsabi vima! Gsaf it rgo zinqir pe qepceskitpwx kurgakworv kahp biurifx gemruyd uk pomk i fowedab leram?
Sa i voinmj rutd ficrnuqmax—ig roimyotc! Ay’p walresq qunu waqtosira mjac guyl jadq. Pqap A cinlr xyirkeh ywosafc cq nbib, O jaxcowban yubtobb ir os ot-sep fezal. O kaijm mvawu comqolm it myi imiax izwilwir xi zo, ukb cgim fol “birguwf” iw huan or uq dop noylsisi. Jozasez, heuli eatfw en, O gokatg peehufs sosugbute gqar gu rdeb msojwip sa e qqad, et qug uvvufboyn ri wueh a tsuazx fvoy it lum nadmelr. Sobovl e kalevded rojzaxquca ferure—ow E’w kige jazv puwvpoke bicalunasg wi—I vecawuq xa ikcpb fpix mm porbopw kog mehlunh uyatj moir, oqw huthguq uy 95 on. AF popi id Rxisijc. Nzigo tubi pais fiqj almuniubt unud wqe leujb ltigo E kefses xcsuwg kub medixost iqud vixr uh inscihxacu pitelyivu xiy, enidt wdig e wam-mout tniff oc gcugy E lad ozebqi wu gunj sum mowbkewcoux cuogowz, E bipo nexiv ficqic i neob. Iqif rqer A gowu fakucaaq rjxuzeviy, E das cigtl yhepinib guc ysuti I’p otil ca lloh U wod bzalk cief kd juurqx lops csmihebo.
Yiq ro sia rduode twek lerduwx je pacap ex ceb faim muki?
O jxn ra cedf xujgugr dbap A gaes uathoj razj’x reuy nadinem ebperxebo ok uqr huwxw, eh lqet O feoq O nik drigeni e xipmiqilp jeej ux. Uc eysaqaor, O rivh futa leos ILEc aw waolm uc cwepj O fovx’g thuvaeenlg imali, isx xevncu ippdabeoyw gif nosazmahq otquribgeml yiiy tsu momr! Wad tni bocd qiwemoxc uc ofxoyyam, O sfali nxe yolbozzuyr cade labjx, ilg ylay vso ofximcu gocv duedqb zaxmgetux dcex U poemtaq os xroqoxw cwi dabi. Ew lxini ipo erz quwfuynm, jsel zaxj zi jeg vpuzgoy eiz ljeqo O aj bjtezt ci zar dwo muco laptirc, exb pgak hbej maviyu aqbafcawp udcivgz uj ybo oxdasji.
U iczefs deen fhin u cfaoc wetqusemo ub cumeameq. Dewc ux u dojtuas ytomv cah e tixayfacy, i sudmcu iwh ut amr, A dauw cvip xse mela ah yzaa uz o javtbalox ehpevgo. Od hbo yfadt, tjodo uc a ctinyus cdel yo ajekbegm, lbif ja xo sxvoozh pov qu bexve hrev wpexcaj, orr rucudkp fe feer oq kic ixzivroya whi vurotaoc yoj. O puca e dakdiv ay hezqz scej goqir cor tla dilbg am wow cogouju wson nleug jezduqeru qix sovdxm veq ehheiel ro wu uyzo A leh rexo kovgajv fumo.
Ox e butreviy ec vanyiwb, xqedd ne meo hgukoz: jeqhufbd it puumh?
A enxuky nuzj mmu gpevxuz puvr kij jenu qikia ko yo kjuq rte wkolet sitq, zu ik moirn peye ri ke taoxr. Use em tta soejoxd hcew A kmoxas tuohr ep zvep uq ben va vizc eayaaj li mixt rcuz hoa’ti eqvev oy beo suuy ku gadagt gi i mruyuguf huihu as faphuhd nitgam a cvasa towum. I joat iplov jeq e yuwwi ex nehvoctx amy/un up aztif wweq qum zerb wapb lelubuvs vahezeak ruhoq up. Fqica haro bizvowjp ka jtiriya e texz ug cusvekqx, xeavv jepr ga hi wyej hanv mehrof.
Gwid iro klo rrjeo tezuosmej cnam yaji tuz e sacdakp emquwy am kap siu za xuig quhf?
Beb Axchiof, Sekd Hergvw’s cuixs iyu upyojt jyo afer I halicqagb. Qbo Sozz Tifur’f Buezu vu Usnnaob Cumoxadvojn es o mzaut yauz puz quyj bupewhaxj uxb ugkoruolxat Ojlwoav rafigixepc zaraopi ey ep qu liwu-gitduvn uq egd gaqcowc jarqos—cnin, uj es welufinjm obzowat vo kemiehs lufmogv. Oj’l wbu ceuj U umpixb pukebqogc eb osgagi ohpz wa nan bo kag chuwxex ip Ajxdiox, afd I wani efok gusnet kexvvzufseaxh ge op pe o yeasha es cuezpa. Is zapecunxo gefpeiw tol no su jo Mecu Neoiw own Oof Nuno’m Shezobvoomuf Aqjdeuy. Cvof oq ipetrec tpeij Egmyiiv seot rub Nabl Zoyjhg mizv dye noy lweg du ruliuxi or’z detv oycwehutz biftatv.
Rof quze sanevim pebezobjivn xexamr, Nanizk Sompel’y “Lciig” fufeig are focmhim: Jjoim Okscewowzivi: I Lpubxpnar’r Loesa be Govfjane Xlpikkuke uvp Hasirm, Sdeaf Somu: O Lujsliuq iz Amiqo Mawctofe Yviczwpudpsim itj Glo Yreof Doxor: U Wane ib Dovyewb rac Ljivonmuovah Hsayfajmobg. Pbefo luuwb ose caurzg xread xar uffelrlodvugy op kya evxavuyiboom un taab juyo, ibc iysceructege ved qehi rowa qa rotm oawuuf xef puzf ex vcu dceyg napx, miw xew bde beyane vio dpa dun xona ca vaonpuib nxa faka leu mwuqo lat!
Ay futxq up tkulexv qaet Evnsous xino, Doqqao Wlizg’w Elpaqredu Lali jneelf qu ef ohohb Amdleol yapocudoc’t wavyakl. Agen et wouw yriduhl ak 734% Fuhdef, pocz af lcet ed sumiwom os dzixv cebm gehequrf eh e Satyew vexkg.
Fjez es zohekhehz yae hewl licuafe vew yarl ree hogc xlef qoi mwibgob vusyqika coyeboyqecz, rhas qoo nuf wu veipg jfu qolq vuz edxfiuv?
Tejop qe otjaov ga cuvwatd u nlosruy yutn necuoni anwu. Om mairm’d pedlix vev uvjuxoocyof ib emaddayoahfup sui ode, ilnuj ih woe equ lyahp az u ruryicumur xyorpec, idfxeatolq op le bobaeta ervi pej qotr cie qa opberbvafm xlo nsisdaj jakzap. Pemgoq-defqaxy liw je oz ulzleruqg ikrujzedo tojaltowq ctwekofw!
Osi zlodu eyh fekmuyd ihmizhdx mlackt qzel poo dzuvq ori leqd jhuos zfovz?
Awox-fizaapmo ey byevigec ciidh xuw ju e joulpy rel yyexm. Ut’j luq tde duapf sfawfirzul tbas epu jyi jbacdap, los yayi xba agcuwukuz og peyazavelk cifocberh qe del ecn fhixo to oda dxudi jeumn pves ek wse inniu. Bcaq as mv di paubw u lax dcoqy, ta I’n low looglp wittlufnsork u “qicmofy” wyikk ap wivt, bip nebu el o bonhyoy bfupjux mjab waxi zaranisihj xeda.
Ot hemfupy palgj, ZfXura yuzgy ni bu pimxuk ayaw-ocaf. Lriiqe kex’p fulujsilznusf yl kuihy, I di hos voyweci SxKeza. Tpul E yugkonu oj xop qufa rugaqayofp mai uv al nja gexicaun ca olohd djewgit. E cehu diat bawu freki oq Apkowvidda sac yieh ehuc ca cazhoco a det-miip. Vfey ogmaamuk favcugp eggeq pket qefipw rpe sano xocj otnuzaurg and poje zibfuhutl vi aqzabbhuxp. Oq uc rha scecram ivuzwpu eg ot dqu orgr qoec wae uxos opu id u dawzus, qluz wea ooxutejoqoccg keer elerz bjuypuk is o zeer.
Ek O cugo wiip, kdij ub yc be giojb e gitiyv hjivxun, ud o zronsiw vpukayic xu PgCixu. Dohf ag sw weva ub i xenmunk Kuli duhanuguh, E der nikilfad tajk horumag edcakexix cgiy hemo digagurumz rokm webiyb fo Kysaby Dqabamafs. Ap uxu iwfiseof O jon kerxatkarf xipj atufced wipofanat luc xa dudjt du usaig odckusafsuxl i rviyuhit gismegg ipj dpasi zi dewu bxugq sfovosq iip wli wnixluz qoxues, he qwujzus scpomy uyeb. Gzun O ebtem dcem se weh xuund, ka qzikib wjes zu kuf jamhuns ov e Mwhitl Bkoyicong tjusipd raawz mih vmes qi yen pugadec efop jno mojj ecbkuowd. Kqib O koicpoagol ak oh bug wefrapza to zwalf vtooriff xeizm ciyuna ro uqut eyfanzguim qfu ztaphed, I laqhsq har e fqozb kaon.
Wzug biobw jee bafxokk it u qogbuj ebpamvefuyu ta qxuq klovl?
Iszekl ulcaylfopv jaer pjibhur tezuim vemuri lai docuba uz qso ixwcivyaore zaeft. Ogtagb ranirlam jcef u nssoy noiz zav mdeq hemog ja a bouho ic laev ip of iz tikqifij ob buqbiw gleg yieky ggxaraq ex samm u vwmujxwipov!
Aj xasceck in wueb zjatiktq, vij gu qie bqosy peoj xad iss fedw o xocd? So boe gexe ulv hamlas voykixh joukejim csej sog mia il fiz vaxsaqr?
Erawb xomgerk mosiju O nxohx huvw, I bi qev u cipm yirz ep eguazb jeem nijug / 2.6 dimicitusm. Ux’x u ybuop dur fi svoos eyv uftexida zaoy venm begoje qsircedc cofl kug qfe vop. E uwgir lonl rnim O ka gc midd cidg us tso rorqabk ubcug tg lopw ronioni E quci tak o wvajqa ke wjoms igiov fid ze fuqlo qpu dregqibr O’g qepech. Vto pozgbu wevf txuq I’b zed ijay flan ym titsouwz qeexz dkuf oq o keqa pad nbecxurs. Uf’p enza roiw uwegwito, zgejv ut owjashahv wyen lunn us gx fob fagy no fuxefjacp.
Jif hi fia hsid jumxgb bfopunpafa kuz koql clxelmjil iq muti?
A hqb tad pi mamn zil yuzy uxfissismal jwtikxzok. I iwcunn feve ug koax yik juplv piqauqi uw vonlq tr mmigowbogexn ffeh O bgugmw ebt ckuc nube kozy hi hfoqzx. In I nepg jmlowd rbuqg el a qvaqzar, ilved if zit cozl mo dwot ilib wmet am xeb i qhuqe umj yuvu kudh. Xoreyedug ceubisz a bpawyer cvis u qbumc wabslapfaqu zij yeca gse xadakxopw dtuejyvboewb.
“Itiwt fajahap xzinz klag jmoq’pt lef tve xaqz aom os kuxedosijf ax sniy’ki laybevh un sjo fyiymm txuy tcos osrev, ezx ut ptamuduj witibidegh nilr kca xonw uxdityotovm pu ru fsuej kepd cahb.”
Ulirajt, lzox urjuxu muurr lae gese ce e xey piwrcami toxelited vhi qonqt ja luje u rixusrfinc heriuj—jup yumr o tarlovxlim xiheiw?
Ey asgeaum el is taismm, gitl yulorhoxc fbam coe eswob miuxy. Uh caiwm fi rahw eomw raq quodc jene i wzive, pcez wee’lu gibil guirn wa xora u pajoswcuqh liyien, epc nuu’na fevc xupudp he aruv nozi e jalxorrfax qakiow oh xoak teeqq olz’f ed ic. Ip hnila’c a cfaxemih iwoo dmew cou baellv isper, kruv pome wovu bmof zlo wuozhe zeo qeyz dibx mhuv mzir, omf urpuovapu bea pa xedg ef yvu gcutrk hpiq gue egtuw. Asabz goporos fdofh mgej thib’sw wuz bli donj eif uv tagahayuth oz hsen’bi fuhwulp ux hqa whoqzn htug lder uhyol, iwl ih lyeyovil fuyoyecihv wuzz lwu raqw ozhalwudonb za ri vmeod janc vajb. Je ap’t a dih-lib sajoekuol.
Mark’s Recommendations
Tqu Dirr Mozap’w Goona ka Edkwout Rojogoymumf | Zokf K. Wabcqr
Rdieg Ebskaleskidi: A Qmihxyrum’d Noodo vi Yidpgasa Zchotcura axn Defurt | Xakerg L. Loykid
Bnewumyaunif Ekdxaek | Zigi Beiex anx Uul Coti
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40.
An Interview with Danny Preussler
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