Dan Tech Academy

Code first, blog after!

Notes from what Dan Tech learns, builds and ships. Written while the wrong turns are still fresh, and the reasons behind the ones that worked.

Engineering11/05/2026

expect/actual or interface: platform-specific code in Kotlin Multiplatform

When to use expect/actual and when a plain interface with an injected implementation is enough. Android and iOS code, a unit test, and the Beta status of expect classes on Kotlin 2.4.

kotlinmultiplatformandroidarchitecture
5 min read

All posts

2026

expect/actual or interface: platform-specific code in Kotlin Multiplatform

When to use expect/actual and when a plain interface with an injected implementation is enough. Android and iOS code, a unit test, and the Beta status of expect classes on Kotlin 2.4.

Engineering5 min read

DRE-KT: Lightweight State Management for Kotlin & Android

Learn DRE-KT, a lightweight Kotlin state management library using Dispatch-Reduce-Effects pattern. Pure reducers, async ops, and ViewModel integration.

Engineering7 min read

graphicsLayer - The Anti-Recomposition Weapon in Jetpack Compose

Learn how graphicsLayer pushes visual effects to the Draw phase, eliminating recomposition in scroll-driven animations. Real WheelPicker case study.

Android Mastery6 min read

Copy Markdown Button for AI Workflow

One-click copy markdown button for AI workflow integration. Streamline ChatGPT, Claude usage and note-taking.

Engineering1 min read

Build-Time OG Image Generation with Next.js and Puppeteer

A complete guide to generating OG images at build time using Puppeteer. Zero runtime cost, hash-based incremental caching, and CDN delivery — the architecture behind 250+ auto-generated social preview images.

Engineering11 min read

Discover Open Source Gems - A Developer Tool Built Into Dan Tech Academy

Introducing the GitHub Repos Board - a curated discovery tool for trending open source projects in Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, and Swift. Search, filter, favorite, and explore repos without leaving the site.

Engineering4 min read

AI Sycophancy: A Developer Survival Guide

AI tools validate every idea you have. A 3000-person study proves this inflates self-perception. Here is how developers can stay grounded and use AI without losing critical thinking.

Claude Kit6 min read

What It Really Means to Be an AI Native Engineer in 2026

Being an AI native engineer is not about prompting skills. Stanford lecturer Mihail Eric breaks down what separates engineers who thrive from those who get replaced.

Meditation6 min read

Mobile Action Pro Update: Gemini AI Integration, Firebase Services & More

Major codebase update for the Mobile Action Pro course — Gemini 2.0 Flash as AI Assistant backend, Firebase Analytics & Remote Config, redesigned AI dialog, overlay notification system, and architectural refactoring with the provider pattern.

Engineering5 min read

Android 2025: Three Essential Updates for Building Adaptive Apps

Three key Android updates from 2025: Android 16 adaptive behavior, Jetpack WindowManager 1.5.0, and Navigation 3 for building apps across 500M+ devices.

Android Mastery3 min read

When to Use --dangerously-skip-permissions in Claude Code

Learn when to safely use Claude Code autonomous mode with --dangerously-skip-permissions flag and when to avoid it.

Claude Kit2 min read
2025

Claude Kit: Save Token with /plan + /code and /cook

Understanding when to use the /plan + /code combo versus the all-in-one /cook command in Claude Kit for optimal development efficiency.

Claude Kit4 min read

Claude Kit Installation Guide: Optimizing Workflows with Claude Code

This article introduces the essence of Claude Kit and guides you through the technical installation steps to integrate it into your project.

Claude Kit3 min read

5 Levels of Understanding When Learning Code

Burn the fake map that Vibe Code gurus are stuffing into your head. Here is the real nautical chart drawn with experience and scars from the programming journey.

Meditation5 min read

Prompting NEVER Make You Learn Faster

ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and 1010 LLM Wrappers appeared playing the role of magical genies... the most powerful saviors in history. But do they really help you learn programming faster?

Meditation3 min read

They Lied: The Truth About Software Engineering

Six-figure income with just passion? Become a digital nomad after one bootcamp? Financial freedom through coding! Here is the truth that marketing machines do not want you to know about programming.

Meditation2 min read

Building a Realistic Terminal UI in React: The Art of Terminal Emulation

Deep dive into creating an authentic terminal experience in React with command history, auto-complete, and custom styling

Engineering4 min read

Theming System: From Matrix Green to Sunset Orange

Building a comprehensive theme engine with OKLCH color spaces and runtime CSS variable updates

Engineering4 min read

Git Command Modeling: Structuring 80+ Commands for Interactive Learning

How I structured comprehensive Git command data for parsing, suggestions, and educational content

Engineering6 min read

Design Pattern: Chain of Responsibility - The Butterfly Effect

Design Pattern: Chain of Responsibility - The Butterfly Effect

Design Patterns2 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Command Pattern - Your Job Is To Command

Learning Design Patterns: Command Pattern - Your Job Is To Command

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Composite Pattern - The 100-Knot Bamboo Tree

Learning Design Patterns: Composite Pattern - The 100-Knot Bamboo Tree

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Flyweight Pattern - Little Resources, Big Heart

Learning Design Patterns: Flyweight Pattern - Little Resources, Big Heart

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Mediator Pattern - The Conflict Resolver

Learning Design Patterns: Mediator Pattern - The Conflict Resolver

Design Patterns2 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Facade Pattern - Why Always Me?

Learning Design Patterns: Facade Pattern - Why Always Me?

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Observer Pattern - Always Listening, Always Understanding

Learning Design Patterns: Observer Pattern - Always Listening, Always Understanding

Design Patterns2 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Proxy Pattern - The Legal Representative

Learning Design Patterns: Proxy Pattern - The Legal Representative

Design Patterns3 min read

Sharing My Experience Trying Lovable AI - From a Senior Dev

Sharing My Experience Trying Lovable AI - From a Senior Dev

Engineering3 min read

Learning Design Pattern: Adapter Pattern - The Adaptable are Successful

Learning Design Pattern: Adapter Pattern - The Adaptable are Successful

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Singleton Pattern - The Big Star

Learning Design Patterns: Singleton Pattern - The Big Star

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Pattern: Prototype Pattern - The Matrix Is Here

Learning Design Pattern: Prototype Pattern - The Matrix Is Here

Design Patterns3 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Builder Pattern - A Surefire Guide

Learning Design Patterns: Builder Pattern - A Surefire Guide

Design Patterns4 min read

Learning Design Patterns: Abstract Factory Pattern - Code Workshop 101

Learning Design Patterns: Abstract Factory Pattern - Code Workshop 101

Design Patterns3 min read
2024

AWS 101: I chose to study AWS SAA to start a new chapter in my career

AWS 101: I chose to study AWS SAA to start a new chapter in my career

Engineering2 min read

OOP Mastery - Theory 01: What is OOP?

OOP Mastery - Theory 01: What is OOP?

OOP Mastery6 min read

OOP Mastery - Theory 02: Object-Oriented Characteristics in Kotlin

OOP Mastery - Theory 02: Object-Oriented Characteristics in Kotlin

OOP Mastery7 min read

OOP Mastery – Theory 05: Use OOP like a Software Engineer - NOT Software Student

OOP Mastery – Theory 05: Use OOP like a Software Engineer - NOT Software Student

OOP Mastery1 min read

I calculated PI using the integrity of a Senior Dev

I calculated PI using the integrity of a Senior Dev

Engineering2 min read

OOP Mastery – Theory 03: Class and Interface Types in Kotlin

OOP Mastery – Theory 03: Class and Interface Types in Kotlin

OOP Mastery6 min read

OOP Mastery: Abstraction in Kotlin

OOP Mastery: Abstraction in Kotlin

OOP Mastery4 min read

OOP Mastery: Encapsulation in Kotlin

OOP Mastery: Encapsulation in Kotlin

OOP Mastery3 min read

OOP Mastery: Inheritance in Kotlin

OOP Mastery: Inheritance in Kotlin

OOP Mastery2 min read

OOP Mastery: Polymorphism in Kotlin

OOP Mastery: Polymorphism in Kotlin

OOP Mastery3 min read

OOP Mastery: Complete Object-Oriented Programming Knowledge for Newbies

OOP Mastery: Complete Object-Oriented Programming Knowledge for Newbies

OOP Mastery8 min read

OOP Mastery – Theory 04: SOLID Principle

OOP Mastery – Theory 04: SOLID Principle

Engineering8 min read

Android Thread: Kotlin Coroutines Knowledge

Android Thread: Kotlin Coroutines Knowledge

Android Mastery5 min read

Android Thread: Understanding RxJava Backpressure

Android Thread: Understanding RxJava Backpressure

Android Mastery8 min read

Android Thread: RxJava Knowledge

Android Thread: RxJava Knowledge

Android Mastery4 min read

Android Thread: Looper, Handler, HandlerThread, Executor (P2)

Android Thread: Looper, Handler, HandlerThread, Executor (P2)

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Lifecycle: Differences Between Ways to Launch Fragments in Android Applications

Android Lifecycle: Differences Between Ways to Launch Fragments in Android Applications

Android Mastery6 min read

Android Mastery Course Handbook - Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms by Dan Tech

Android Mastery Course Handbook - Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms by Dan Tech

Engineering6 min read

Data Structures with Kotlin: Knowledge

Data Structures with Kotlin: Knowledge

Android Mastery2 min read

Data Structures with Kotlin: Leetcode (P2)

Data Structures with Kotlin: Leetcode (P2)

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Kotlin 101: Rock Paper Scissors Game

Android Kotlin 101: Rock Paper Scissors Game

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Kotlin 101: Write Your First Program

Android Kotlin 101: Write Your First Program

Android Mastery11 min read

Architecture Pattern: Understanding Android MVC, MVP, MVVM

Architecture Pattern: Understanding Android MVC, MVP, MVVM

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Fundamentals - Essential Knowledge

Android Fundamentals - Essential Knowledge

Android Mastery8 min read

Android Fundamentals: Practical Coding

Android Fundamentals: Practical Coding

Android Mastery4 min read

Android Lifecycle: Things to Know

Android Lifecycle: Things to Know

Android Mastery5 min read

Android View System: Basic Knowledge

Android View System: Basic Knowledge

Android Mastery3 min read

Android View System: Practicing the Spotify App Interface

Android View System: Practicing the Spotify App Interface

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Memory: How to Use Leak Detection Tools

Android Memory: How to Use Leak Detection Tools

Android Mastery1 min read

Android App Memory: Must-Know Knowledge

Android App Memory: Must-Know Knowledge

Android Mastery4 min read

Data Structures with Kotlin: Essential Skills

Data Structures with Kotlin: Essential Skills

Android Mastery4 min read

Android Dependency Injection: Knowledge You Need

Android Dependency Injection: Knowledge You Need

Android Mastery4 min read

Git 101: All the Knowledge You Need to Become a Software Engineer

Git 101: All the Knowledge You Need to Become a Software Engineer

Android Mastery6 min read

Android Jetpack Navigation: Essential Knowledge

Android Jetpack Navigation: Essential Knowledge

Android Mastery2 min read

Android View System: Scrolling View Knowledge

Android View System: Scrolling View Knowledge

Android Mastery4 min read

Android Kotlin 101: Basic Knowledge

Android Kotlin 101: Basic Knowledge

Android Mastery3 min read

Android Room Database: Knowledge You Need to Know

Android Room Database: Knowledge You Need to Know

Android Mastery8 min read

Android Thread: Must-Know Knowledge (P1)

Android Thread: Must-Know Knowledge (P1)

Android Mastery6 min read

Android Thread: Practicing Code with a Clock Application

Android Thread: Practicing Code with a Clock Application

Android Mastery1 min read

Android Unit Test: Essential Knowledge

Android Unit Test: Essential Knowledge

Android Mastery2 min read

Android ViewModel: Must-Know Knowledge and Accompanying Tools

Android ViewModel: Must-Know Knowledge and Accompanying Tools

Android Mastery8 min read

Kotlin - Modern Programming Language for Android and Multiplatform

Learn about Kotlin - a modern programming language recognized by Google for Android development, along with its useful features and applications in the programming world.

Engineering4 min read

Reading is fun. A roadmap gets you there.

The Kotlin Android Roadmap sorts the Android Mastery, OOP and Design Patterns posts into 5 levels - from your first line of Kotlin to an app on the store.

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