Learn Kotlin and Android With Dove Letter
As a developer, staying current with the latest technologies, tips, and skills is important for growth. Many developers turn to platforms like GitHub, Medium, newsletters, and various communities to learn, but keeping up with the constant influx of information can be overwhelming. With resources scattered across different sites, staying informed and engaged in developer communities often requires significant effort. This challenge highlights the need for more efficient ways to access and curate valuable content.
I interviewed several Android developers to get their thoughts on this issue. Many expressed that it’s challenging to find the correct information amid the vast amount of content available online. They also mentioned difficulties in staying up-to-date with daily learning due to various reasons, including a lack of time or motivation to seek out new articles or tools. I found myself agreeing with their perspectives, as the overwhelming amount of information can make it hard to keep up with the latest developments.
One of my hobbies is exploring the vast sea of learning resources, filtering out the most valuable ones, and organizing them in my private repository. After considering the insights from my user interviews, I wondered, “What if I curated reliable resources from the community and shared them daily rather than sticking to a weekly or bi-weekly schedule?” This idea sparked the creation of Dove Letter, allowing me to quickly deliver high-quality, relevant content without the pressure to fill up space just for the sake of a schedule.
So, I chose GitHub to achieve my goal because it perfectly suits my needs. But why a GitHub repository instead of a dedicated website or Twitter? GitHub is easily accessible to all developers, offers a reliable paid subscription system, and provides excellent code highlighting for markdown formats. It’s also a great platform for discussions through issues and pull requests, effectively archiving resources on directories. Plus, I can notify subscribers of new content through GitHub releases. Everything aligns with my expectations for sharing quality resources and coding tips.
Stay Updated on the Latest in Android & Kotlin
So what does Dove Letter do? Dove Letter is a private subscription repository (GitHub/dove-letter) designed to help you learn, discuss, and share knowledge about Android and Kotlin. It keeps you informed with the latest articles, best practices, code samples, updates from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and news about the Android/Kotlin ecosystem. Unlike typical newsletters, Dove Letter delivers valuable tips and insights irregularly but frequently, curated by the author, ensuring you receive the most relevant content at the right time.
Enjoy Tips With Code
One of the main reasons Dove Letter launched on GitHub is that it’s an ideal platform for sharing small but valuable code snippets and ideas — too detailed for social media but not extensive enough for a full blog post. GitHub allows for easy collaboration, and Dove Letter is open for contributions from anyone. If you have a great idea or tip, feel free to share it with the community and benefit from their feedback!
These tips will be summarized and compiled into a PDF file once they accumulate to more than 10 items and will be delivered every 1–2 months.
Learn With Interview Questions
One of the key benefits of subscribing to Dove Letter is that it regularly delivers industry-relevant interview questions focused on Android, Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP). These questions are commonly asked in tech interviews, so by simply reading them each day, you’ll gradually build up your knowledge. Over several months or a year, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle these topics.
Explore History Effectively
One of the great features of the Dove Letter GitHub repository is the ability to search and filter history directly on the issue page. All commits and updates are summarized and archived every 1–4 weeks through GitHub releases based on content volume rather than a fixed schedule. However, you can also explore the entire history in markdown format by topic and easily filter topics using GitHub labels on the pull request page, making it simple to find and review specific content.
Suggest and Discuss with Other Subscribers
Subscribers can actively engage by sharing useful articles, references, and code samples via GitHub issues, sparking discussions within the repository. If you discover an article or open-source project that you find particularly valuable or educational, you can initiate a conversation by creating an issue on GitHub. This collaborative approach allows you to contribute to the community and learn from the insights and experiences of others.
If you have any concerns or doubts about your team project or individual work, don’t hesitate to bring up any discussion topics. Engaging in open dialogue can lead to better solutions and clarity for everyone involved.
The Dove Letter author may not be able to participate in every discussion but will make an effort to respond and engage with the community as much as possible.
Learning From AOSP
You can deepen your understanding by exploring the AOSP (Android Open Source Project), the backbone of all Android systems, including AndroidX Jetpack libraries and view systems. Dove Letter will provide valuable insights into AOSP topics, featuring the latest AOSP commits along with commentary from the author, helping you stay up-to-date and informed.
Job Posting
If you’re exploring other job opportunities as an Android software engineer, Dove Letter could be a valuable resource for you! Dove Letter features a Job Posting section that highlights recent openings.
The Next Goal
Last weekend, Dove Letter published its 11th edition, bringing the total to 300 shared items so far. The goal is to continue this momentum, ensuring the content remains a source of inspiration and valuable insights for everyone involved. Let’s keep growing and learning together!
How to Subscribe 💖
By subscribing via GitHub Sponsors, you will automatically be invited and granted access to the Dove Letter GitHub repository. The subscription price is $2 for early bird subscribers but may gradually increase for later subscribers.
- First 100 early subscribers: $2 (sold out)
- The next 100 subscribers (101~200th): $3 (sold out)
- The next 100 subscribers (201~300th): $4 (sold out)
- The next 100 subscribers (301~400th): $5 (now!)
- The next 100 subscribers (401~500th): $6
- The next 100 subscribers (501~600th): $7
Upon subscribing, you’ll receive the following welcome message:
If you’d like to subscribe to Dove Letter privately, GitHub Sponsors offers an option for you to subscribe to Dove Letter discreetly, ensuring your privacy.
If you’re interested in subscribing as a business at your company or opting for a lifetime (forever) subscription to Dove Letter, check out Subscribe for Business or for Lifetime.
Conclusion
I understand this is a very new attempt at building another type of newsletter on GitHub with a paid subscription model, and I’m feeling both excited and a bit anxious about how it will be received. At the same time, I’m incredibly grateful to the 340 personnel subscribers and 4 business plan subscribers who have joined Dove Letter since its launch! Your support means a lot to my new trial, and I look forward to sharing valuable Android and Kotlin insights with the subscribers! 💙
