FlutterKaigi 2024 基調講演

Summary

In this heartfelt presentation, Kevin Chisum, a Technical Program Manager at Google, shares his personal journey of living in Japan for eight years. He discusses how mobile apps, like Hyperdia, Yuru, and Line, helped him navigate cultural and logistical challenges, including language barriers and natural disasters. He reflects on his transition from being a sailor to a developer, his exploration of web development, and his eventual involvement in the Flutter and Dart communities. Kevin emphasizes the importance of community contributions and shares his appreciation for the collaborative, open-source spirit that drives Flutter's success worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kevin Chisum is a technical program manager at Google, focusing on releases and infrastructure for Dart and Flutter.
• 😀 Kevin spent eight years living in Japan, where mobile technology helped him navigate cultural and practical challenges.
• 😀 Fear of language barriers, cultural differences, and missteps in Japan was alleviated with mobile apps like Hyperia, Yuru, and Marari.
• 😀 Hyperia helped Kevin navigate Japan's complex train system, providing real-time information about routes, costs, and alternative paths.
• 😀 Yuru gave early earthquake warnings, helping Kevin handle Japan's frequent natural disasters with more confidence.
• 😀 Marari was a vital app for affordable secondhand goods, allowing Kevin to furnish his apartment and find unique souvenirs.
• 😀 Kevin used Line to connect with Japanese culture, making friends and understanding communication nuances in group chats and emojis.
• 😀 Kevin's journey into app development began after using mobile technology, eventually leading him to build web apps using Ruby.
• 😀 Dart and Flutter were the turning point for Kevin, as they offered an easy way to build cross-platform apps with a single codebase.
• 😀 Kevin emphasizes the Flutter community's openness, with volunteers like a Japanese community member helping translate blogs into Japanese.
• 😀 Kevin encourages everyone to continue building innovative mobile applications, as they may help others overcome their own fears and challenges.

Q & A

What was Kevin Chisum's role at Google?

Kevin Chisum is a technical program manager on the Dart and Flutter team at Google, focusing on releases and infrastructure to ensure high quality during Flutter releases.

How did Kevin's time in Japan influence his journey into technology?

Kevin lived in Japan for eight years while serving in the United States Navy. His exposure to mobile technology in Japan, such as apps for navigating the train system and emergency alerts, helped him overcome fears and led him to pursue web development and mobile apps.

What app helped Kevin navigate the train system in Japan?

The app that helped Kevin navigate Japan's complex train system was Hyperdia. It provided crucial information such as departure times, arrival times, costs, and alternative routes.

How did Kevin cope with the fear of earthquakes while in Japan?

Kevin used an app called Yuru, which provided earthquake warnings, allowing him to take cover, leave a building, or simply finish his coffee before everything started shaking.

What app did Kevin use to find affordable secondhand goods in Japan?

Kevin used an app called Mercari, a digital flea market that helped him furnish his apartment with stylish finds and connect with local sellers.

How did Kevin experience Japanese communication through mobile apps?

Kevin used Line, a popular communication app in Japan, to understand the nuances of Japanese communication culture, such as expressive stickers and emoji usage. This helped him build friendships and feel more connected.

Why did Kevin initially avoid building mobile apps, and how did he eventually start?

Kevin initially avoided mobile app development due to the costs and lack of resources (e.g., not owning an Android phone or having the funds for an Apple developer account). Eventually, he turned to web apps and later discovered Dart and Flutter, which enabled him to build apps for both iOS and Android with a single codebase.

What are some of the key features of Dart and Flutter that appealed to Kevin?

Kevin was attracted to Dart and Flutter due to their ease of learning, modern features (like generics and lambdas), and the ability to build both iOS and Android apps using a single codebase. The framework also offered tools like stateful hot reload, which made development faster and easier.

What is Kevin's favorite thing about the Flutter community?

Kevin’s favorite aspect of the Flutter community is its spirit of open source and collaboration. He appreciates how the community, including a Japanese member who translated technical blogs into Japanese, contributes to the framework's success.

What is Kevin’s opinion on the future of Flutter and potential collaborations with other movements like Flock?

Kevin believes that while Google has not yet created a foundation for Flutter, the community has a key role in its future. He is open to collaborations with movements like Flock, as long as they help improve the framework and keep it open source.