UpHabit
The Birth of a Personal CRM & My Leadership Evolution
UpHabit’s goal was to simplify and enhance personal relationship management. I came on as one of the founding engineers and was responsible for bringing this vision to life. The app was built entirely in Kotlin for its robustness and flexibility, initially implemented using MVP but later adopting the MVVM approach using the Android Architecture Components. I was also inspired by Joe Birch’s CLEAN Android Architecture template used in the Buffer App, and it was adapted to our use cases where it made sense.
One technical contribution I was particularly proud of was designing an intricate algorithm to manage and redistribute reminders. This algorithm was crafted to consider user priorities, frequency of reminders, and practical user engagement. This challenge was not merely about writing code; it was about understanding user behaviour and crafting a solution that seamlessly fit into their lives. We all get busy, and these reminders pile up. This redistribution feature garnered a lot of positive feedback from our users.
UpHabit was also significant for another reason - it was the first time I stepped into a leadership role. I found myself not only managing technical complexities but also leading a team. This was the point where my knack for leadership came to the fore, guiding me to transition from a hands-on engineer to a management role.
Adding to this journey was my first experience of interviewing developers. Being on the other side of the table was both challenging and exhilarating. It allowed me to see potential in others, understand different perspectives, and refine my skills in evaluating technical prowess and cultural fit.
UpHabit was more than a project; it was a career-defining experience. It honed my skills as a mobile engineer, unveiled my leadership potential, and gave me a new perspective on team building and talent acquisition. This journey with UpHabit was not just about building an app; it was about personal growth and setting the foundation for my future in engineering management.