Ten years of innovation: An Android developer’s passion for growth

Our “ProductDock’s career reflections” interview series continues with celebrating ProductDock team members for their dedication and commitment.

After interviewing general managers from Serbia and Bosnia, we talked with our Android developer, Ivan Nenadović. He finished his internship with us and has been at ProductDock since 2012.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is that each day brings something new and challenging. Typically, my days are not the same—I arrive at work with a plan to execute, but in most cases, unexpected events occur. Sometimes, I think it will be easy, but it never is, or I anticipate difficulty, and it turns out to be straightforward. This unpredictability is what makes the job exciting. It’s challenging; I solve problems and create new things, and that kind of work provides a sense of satisfaction. Another aspect I’d highlight is working with people. Collaborating on projects with others is more enjoyable—you get to assist and be assisted. That teamwork is invaluable,  and it also involves continuous learning, which is a significant part of my job.

What is your biggest challenge as an Android developer at ProductDock?

Over the past seven or eight months, I’ve focused more on cross-platform technologies than on Android development. Despite no experience in this area, my extensive background in Android technologies has helped me quite a bit and made transitioning much more easier. The thought process is quite similar—we’re still dealing with mobile technologies and devices. However, now we need to pay attention to two platforms instead of just one, which has led to some situations where certain features work on Android but not on iOS (or vice versa). The challenge lies in maintaining uniformity across both platforms, with the goal of developing an application that offers consistent appearance and functionality regardless of the user’s device.

How did you grow at ProductDock?  Tell us about your journey. 

I started here as an intern in July and August 2011, after which I completed my studies in May 2012. I received an invitation for a job interview in July 2012, and that’s when I got hired towards the end of July 2012. Initially, I was a mobile developer, but as technologies evolved, I transitioned into an Android developer, which has been my focus ever since. I’ve worked on various Android projects, with a significant emphasis on projects related to CenterDevice.
My desire was always to work in mobile development, specifically Android development, as I felt more connected to the Android platform. When it comes to working in the field of mobile development, what attracted me was the fact that we deal with both frontend and backend development. Additionally, we have this relatively compact device that’s easy to test, allowing us to see everything in action. I liked that we had the opportunity to engage in the entire development process and witness it unfold on a single device—a small machine that keeps growing more powerful over time. This aspect was appealing to me from the very beginning.

Recently, with advancements in technology and tools, we can now create applications that work seamlessly for both Android and iOS. A few months ago, my colleagues Mihailo, Nikola, and I decided to explore a cross-platform technology, and we chose Flutter. It stood out as the most mature option from the perspective of mobile and Android development. Unlike some other solutions (such as React), which are primarily geared toward web developers creating mobile apps, Flutter is designed for mobile developers working on cross-platform applications. It made sense for us to choose it, and I believe we made the right choice. We’re satisfied with our progress—after six to seven months of work, we’ve mastered many aspects, allowing us to practically build anything, even within the Android ecosystem.

What is your best ProductDock memory?

The team-building events in Dubrovnik in 2013 and 2022 were exceptionally well-organized and provided truly top-notch experiences. I also have great memories from Solingen, the trip to Konjic, where we had amazing rafting adventures and the insightful conferences in New York and Berlin.

What is the secret of staying in the same company for more than 10 years?

That’s a great question. ProductDock has consistently proven to be a flexible company that genuinely cares about its employees. Despite all the challenges we’ve faced in the past year due to market fluctuations and the pandemic before that, there has never been an approach where someone says firmly, “This is how it will be, and it must be this way.” Instead, the focus has always been on collaboration and finding solutions that work for everyone. The company strives for a horizontal decision-making process involving input from all employees. We’re encouraged to voice our opinions and clearly express any concerns.
Another crucial factor is that in my eleven years here, I’ve never encountered a colleague or manager who created problems. The people hired have, in the vast majority of cases, aligned with the company’s culture and possessed the necessary knowledge and skills.

Which app do you find helpful and why?

I find the Hacker Feed for IT news incredibly useful. It’s the former Hacker News. This app serves as an aggregator for IT industry news, particularly related to programming. Additionally, it covers political and economic topics, but always from an IT perspective. That’s what I appreciate the most. For learning and leisure, I turn to Reddit, while Audible and Kindle are my go-to platforms for books. 

Who do you admire the most from the world of programming?

I greatly admire Remi Rousselet and Jake Wharton. These individuals have authored critical and highly useful contributions that are widely used in both the Android and Flutter frameworks.

What do you code/hack as a hobby?

I come from an agricultural family, and I enjoy spending my free time helping them, and this has become a hobby of mine. It provides a refreshing contrast to my work, making it interesting. Additionally, I love watching movies, listening to music, and reading. Playing football is another pastime of mine. Interestingly, I don’t have a hobby exclusively tied to programming. After eleven years of work, I’ve come to the conclusion that to be effective and efficient during the eight working hours, it’s essential to rest and disconnect. Tomorrow brings a new workday, and being well-rested ensures I can maintain productivity.

What is your favorite video game?

While I play video games less frequently now, some recent favorites include Gran Turismo 7, The Last of Us Part II, and Red Dead Redemption 2. My brother-in-law enjoys the game Worms, so occasionally, I indulge him and play it together. I’m not a big fan of board games, but I recently stumbled upon Scrabble and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it is.

What was the best concert you ever attended? 

Some of the most memorable concert experiences for me happened at the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, where I had the opportunity to listen to The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, Atoms for Peace, and Viagra Boys. Additionally, I love visiting CK13, a youth center in Novi Sad, where I listened to some lesser-known bands that truly impressed me.

EuroLeague or UEFA Champions League?

I prefer the UEFA Champions League. I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since my childhood, dating back to 2003, and I follow most their matches.

What are the three things you like the most at ProductDock?

The first thing would definitely be people collaboration, which has always been one of ProductDock’s strongest points. The second thing would be the strong team spirit within the company and a great team atmosphere. Last but not least, the learning opportunities that make an integral part of our company culture.