2017 has unknowingly passed, and the blog hasn’t been updated for a long time. One reason is that I increasingly feel my knowledge is shallow, fearing I might mislead everyone with technical articles; another reason is that I’m too lazy. Given these two reasons, I decided that this blog’s updates should no longer be limited to technical articles—some meaningful things, thoughts, etc., will also be updated here. On one hand, this is a record for myself; if it can also bring some help to readers along the way, that would naturally be the best (although there aren’t many readers…)
Since 2017 has just passed, I feel it’s necessary to recommend to everyone the things that I think had excellent experiences in 2017 or were very helpful to my work life—perhaps you’ll need them in 2018. The recommended content includes apps, hardware, books, equipment, etc. It should be noted that these are things that brought me great help in 2017, which might not necessarily suit you. Let’s not say too much, let’s get straight to the content!
2017 Best iOS Apps
Keywords: Weight Loss Learning Knowledge
Keep
If you’re a fitness enthusiast, a weight-loss planner looking for an app to record your workouts, then I recommend Keep to you. Keep has a very famous slogan, I don’t know if you’ve heard it: “Discipline gives me freedom!” I also like another quote: “Don’t let work ruin your life—there’s always someone busier than you who’s exercising.”
The software is just an assistant—the most important thing is self-discipline. Life needs self-discipline, exercise needs self-discipline, diet needs self-discipline. Self-discipline doesn’t mean losing the fun in life; on the contrary, self-discipline brings freedom and confidence. People always long for a perfect version of themselves. Keep at it!
In 2017, with Keep’s help, my weight went from 78kg at my heaviest to my current 70kg. In terms of numbers, it might not seem significant, but looking back at photo comparisons, I really have much more confidence now.
Dedao
As our leader said: some people—you just know they’re amazing, that’s all.
The Dedao app gives us a path to get close to those really amazing people, to know their learning methods and ways of thinking. You’ll discover that people smarter than you work even harder than you do—so what reason do you have to be lazy?
In 2017, I listened to Wu Jun’s “Letters from Silicon Valley,” listened to Xue Zhaofeng’s “Peking University Economics Course,” listened to Wan Weigang’s “Elite Daily Class” for a year, listened to many books.
In terms of both broadened horizons and thinking, I already gained far more than the subscription fees for these columns.
WeChat Reading
There are many reading platforms; choosing one and sticking with it is most important. I have books on all three platforms: WeChat Reading, Duokan Reading, and Kindle—neither is better or worse, what’s important is actually acquiring knowledge.
The current generation of低头族 (people constantly looking down at their phones) is being criticized by everyone. Instead of swiping Weibo, Zhihu, Jike on the subway, it’s better to open a book, calm down, and read carefully.
2017 Best Mac Apps
Keywords: Work Arrangement Work Recording
Things 3
This thing is a bit expensive, but it’s truly useful. Various functions are complete, and data across all platform versions (iPhone, iPad, Mac) is synced.
Things mainly completes the first ring of my work three-ring cycle: task arrangement. There are often many tasks, and sometimes I might forget to do some important things. Now I’ll record all things I need to do in Things. Every morning, based on priority, I’ll screen out what needs to be done today. If there are other sudden tasks, I’ll also record them, so I won’t attend to one thing and lose another.
Additionally, Things’ repeating tasks, task priorities, task timing, etc., are quite easy to use. I was previously using the web version of Tower, but I decisively migrated all data to Things.
MWeb
MWeb is a Markdown software. I also switched through several before settling on this one. Complete functions, beautiful interface, comfortable to write Markdown in, and very good support for images.
MWeb mainly completes the second ring of my work three-ring cycle: task recording, including daily task completion records. Things is for arranging tasks, but after tasks are completed, records and summaries need to be done—this is daily task recording. Things records the flow, while MWeb records the thoughts.
I also use MWeb to write blogs, company documents, summaries, etc. In short, it’s a very usable Markdown software.
Evernote
I don’t need to introduce Evernote much. Its powerful browser clip-in plugin helped me save many excellent technical articles; the team sharing function helped me share notes in the team.
Evernote mainly completes the third ring of my work three-ring cycle: archiving. Whether it’s technical articles, meeting minutes, project planning, or PDFs—if you need a place for long-term storage, then Evernote is a quite reliable software. Sometimes I don’t make PPTs for meetings—Evernote’s presentation function can handle it just fine.
2017 Best Android Apps
Keywords: Firewall
Shadowsocks
As a long-time Google service bucket enthusiast, Shadowsocks is a strong guarantee for the complete Android experience; as an Android developer, I can’t imagine if I lost Shadowsocks, how many knowledge acquisition channels I would lose.
VPS needs to be used with caution—thankfully the country hasn’t killed it off yet. Don’t ask me how I do it—low profile is the only way to survive.
Green Guard
The流氓程度 (rogue behavior) of domestic Android apps is obvious to everyone, especially the BAT bucket. If you don’t manage these apps well, the Android experience will be greatly discounted. Although many manufacturers now have restrictions on rogue software, Green Guard is still a software you must install after getting a new phone.
I had the privilege to discuss issues with Green Guard’s author Feng in the WeChat group. The depth of Feng’s knowledge and passion for technology—we can only look up to him with admiration. We all owe Feng a donation version.
No need to envy friends’ iPhones anymore—even if they install many apps, their phones won’t become laggy or drain battery. With “Green Guard,” your Android device can also maintain the smoothness and battery life it had on day one!
Highest user-rated Android power-saving app on Zhihu: http://www.zhihu.com/question/21007772
“Green Guard” helps you identify and prevent app programs that have negative impacts on overall system performance and power consumption. Through unique “greenification” technology, it prevents these apps from consuming your battery power and occupying your precious memory. Apps processed by “greenification” technology cannot “secretly” run when you don’t actively launch them, while still having complete functions and experience when you normally launch them—just like iPhone apps!
2017 Best Non-Technical Books
Keywords: Self-Improvement Elevation
Deep Work
I strongly recommend this book, especially for programmers who need lifelong learning. Everyone might have different feelings after finishing reading it, but I was definitely inspired by some work methods in it, combined with my own abilities and work situation, made targeted improvements, and achieved relatively good results. Personally, I think this is the best book I read in 2017. In this era of serious fragmentation of the internet, quick knowledge consumption and satisfaction made me produce laziness, thinking I know a lot, but actually those knowledge without deep processing, what I absorbed is just fragments, which dissipate with time.
Checking emails at any time and place, participating nonstop in large and small meetings, busy hands and feet in the scream of instant messaging software, constantly switching attention in the cluttered multi-thread work… You appear very busy, perhaps even unconsciously enjoying this busyness—but can your busyness really be converted into productivity?
This book’s author, Cal Newport, PhD in Computer Science at MIT, sharply reveals the shocking truth of the information economy era—more than 60% of knowledge workers’ working hours are spent handling such shallow tasks, and these tasks not only produce limited value but also permanently damage people’s ability to do deep work!
The author founded the concept of “deep work,” with its meaning being to engage in focused professional activities in an undisturbed state, maximizing personal cognitive capabilities. And precisely because deep work capabilities are increasingly scarce in today’s society, their relationship with economic success is becoming increasingly tight. All discussions in the book revolve around “deep work,” and the book is divided into two parts: in the first part, the author objectively analyzes from neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and other angles the importance of implementing deep work in the new economic situation. The second part systematically teaches specific strategies for practicing deep work in daily life, such as incorporating deep work into daily work processes, improving brain’s deep thinking ability, staying away from social networks, etc.
The author also emphasizes that deep work is not an overtime skill, but a good medicine that rescues people from the mental alienation state caused by technology monopoly. In today’s shallow information era centered on the internet, advocating for deep work is no different from calling for a return to craftsman spirit.
Deliberate Practice - From Novice to Master
This book is also quite famous externally. Actually, this book tells us a very simple truth: if you want to become an expert in any industry or field, you need to do a large amount of deliberate practice, not simply piling up time.
For anyone hoping to improve themselves in any industry or field, deliberate practice is the golden standard—the most powerful learning method discovered to date.
2017 Best Technical Books
Keywords:
To be honest, in 2017 I didn’t seriously finish reading even one technical book. But out of so many technical books I’ve read, there are still two I can recommend to everyone—though the technical books I read are more related to my own work, not necessarily suitable for you.
Deep Understanding of Android Kernel Design Thoughts (Second Edition)
It can be considered a classic book for system development. This book had its second edition this year, adding some new content. Whether you’re an application development engineer or a system development engineer, knowing more about Android system’s architecture and design is very helpful for the depth of your knowledge.
However, Android’s version development is really too fast. When reading this book, it’s recommended to combine it with the latest Android source code. While combing through the processes, also think deeply about the design thoughts.
“Deep Understanding of Android Kernel Design Thoughts” applies to Android 4.3 and above versions. The book starts with basic operating system knowledge, comprehensively analyzes implementation principles of core technologies in Android such as processes/threads, memory management, Binder mechanism, GUI display system, multimedia management, input system, etc. Most knowledge points in the book come from engineering project R&D, thus having strong practicality, hoping to let readers “know what is and why it’s so.” The book is divided into four parts: compilation chapter, system principles chapter, application principles chapter, and system tools chapter, with a total of 22 chapters, basically covering all knowledge required to participate in Android development, and guiding readers’ learning through many illustrations and examples, in order to provide readers with more easily understandable thinking methods beyond source code analysis.
“Deep Understanding of Android Kernel Design Thoughts” is suitable for both Android system engineers and application development engineers to read to improve Android development capabilities. Readers can more deeply understand the Android system in the subtle learning process of “Deep Understanding of Android Kernel Design Thoughts,” and naturally apply learned knowledge to actual development problem-solving.
Running Linux Kernel
I’m still reading this book, and due to lack of relevant knowledge, the progress is a bit slow. Essential for Android system engineers.
This book’s content is based on Linux 4.x kernel, mainly selecting relatively basic and commonly used memory management, process management, concurrency and synchronization, and interrupt management these four kernel modules to explain. The book is divided into 6 chapters, sequentially introducing ARM system architecture, Linux memory management, process scheduling management, concurrency and synchronization, interrupt management, kernel debugging techniques, etc. Each section’s content is a Linux kernel topic or technical point, and readers can think based on questions before each small section, then conduct kernel source code analysis around the questions.
This book has rich content and clear thorough explanations, not only suitable for personnel with certain Linux-related foundations, including personnel engaged in Linux-related development, operating system researchers, embedded development personnel, and Android bottom-layer development personnel to learn and use, but also suitable as a learning book for programmers interested in Linux and as a teaching material and training textbook for related majors in colleges and universities.
2017 Best Phone – Meizu Pro 7 Plus
Keywords: Flagship
I don’t want to recommend iPhone X, only because I can’t afford it…
Although Meizu’s Pro 7 Plus has been complained about by netizens from all sides, you can’t deny this is a very excellent flagship phone. The comfortable Flyme system plus good hardware configuration, innovative small window, full of thoughtful details—whether it deserves the Pro + Plus title, wise see wisdom.
2017 Best Router – Xiaomi Router Pro
Keywords: Drama
Xiaomi router + Xiaomi home theater, the biggest benefit is convenience. There are many drama websites now, and resource downloads will all have a “download to Xiaomi router” link—click it to download to your own router, go home and you can watch. It highlights one word: convenient.
2017 Best Tablet – iPad Pro
Keywords: Perfect
In my eyes, iPad Pro has both iPhone’s advantages and Mac’s advantages. From usage scenarios, attending meetings, sending/receiving emails, reading e-books, reading technical documents, reading PDFs, etc.—it can handle all.
iPad Pro with a keyboard (don’t buy a pen, it’s useless) is essentially a shrunken version of Mac. Except for writing code, it can satisfy all my other needs. Since I got this good thing, my usage rate of that Mac I’ve been using for several good years has been lower.
Those apps I mentioned earlier: Keep, Dedao, WeChat Reading, Things, MWeb, Evernote all have iPad versions, much better than the iOS versions.
Apple’s products are always精品. Two words for iPad Pro: perfect!
2017 Best Wearable Device – iWatch
Keywords: Recording
iWatch is the weakest existence feeling among Apple’s four-piece suite. Personally, I think the biggest problem is battery life. First generation charges once a day, second generation charges once every two days—it’s really a bit helpless to complain about it. Since switching my main phone from iOS to Android, the phone call, SMS, alarm clock reminder functions are completely unused, but this thing solved one of my pain points: workout recording.
Treadmill + iWatch is simply a weight loss artifact. Every detail of workout recording pushes me to not be lazy. In short, iWatch is indispensable in my life.
2017 Best Headphones – MDR-1000X
Keywords: Noise Cancellation
In a cluttered office, having a pair of wireless headphones with noise cancellation is really important. Noise cancellation can give you a quiet environment—whether thinking, writing code, or reading books, the feeling of not being disturbed by the outside world is really great; wireless brings simplicity, without the shackles of cables, it’s more convenient, and you also won’t have the trouble of chairs and cables wrapping around.
I’ve used MDR-1000X for so long, and I’m satisfied with all three aspects: noise cancellation, usability, and sound quality. It’s said that wearing headphones can reduce the rate of being disturbed by 50%—I recommend you get a pair of noise-canceling headphones too.
2017 Best Weight Loss Companion – Treadmill
Keywords: Persistence
People always have laziness—everyone knows running helps with weight loss, but they just can’t persist. Also, outdoor running is too affected by the environment—too cold, too hot, snowing, raining.
I forced a treadmill into my already crowded home. The benefits of a treadmill: you can run anytime, and the psychological resistance to running isn’t as severe. Every day after work, open Keep, start running—five kilometers every day isn’t difficult, the important thing is to persist.
Others
Of course, there are still some things that can significantly improve happiness, but I won’t list them one by one. I think I’ll update them below as I think of them.
- Beef sauce from Kylin, choose bull with correct three views—once you try this package, you’ll fall in love
- Rice cooker, who uses knows, they also won’t resist cooking at home
- Floor-sweeping robot, who doesn’t want the floor at home to be clean every day? Especially when you have a long-haired monster and two cats at home
About Me && Blog
Below is a personal introduction and related links. I look forward to communicating with colleagues in the same field. When three walk together, there must be my teacher!
- Blogger Personal Introduction: Inside are personal WeChat and WeChat group links.
- Blog Content Navigation: A navigation of personal blog content.
- Personally Organized and Collected Excellent Blog Articles - Essential Skills and Tools for Android Performance Optimization: Everyone is welcome to self-recommend and recommend (private WeChat chat is fine).
- Android Performance Optimization Knowledge Planet: Welcome to join, thank you for your support~
“An individual can move faster, a group can go further.”
