At the beginning of 2018, I wrote 2017 Best Items Recommendations. Recently, some people asked if I’d do one for 2018. Although 2018 was a tough year, there were still some great things worth recommending to everyone.
Just like in 2017, I’ll share things that I found helpful for work or life. The recommendations include apps, hardware, books, blogs, and columns. I hope they provide value to you in 2019.
Historical recommendations (reviewed October 2026): This is a record of my 2018 experience. Book lists, ratings, prices, course posters, and buying recommendations belong to that period. Updated platform support and membership limits are noted below; old QR codes are not current enrollment links.
Recommended Apps
RescueTime
RescueTime records app and website usage on supported devices, with the relevant client and permissions. It helps review time allocation; it does not capture all offline work or measure work output.
I used it to see where my computer time went. At the time, most of that time was in Android Studio, VS Code, and Terminator. Below are my screenshots from January 15th:
Detailed Programming Info:
The Productivity Pulse and programming duration in these screenshots depend on activity categories. They do not directly measure productivity or completed work, and unrecorded activity is not zero work.
October 2026 update: The current official support list includes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and a Firefox extension, but not Linux. This old article therefore cannot establish current official Linux support. The old view-only description of iOS is also outdated: the current iOS app supports iOS 17 or later, requires a paid plan, and tracks usage through Screen Time permission. That screen activity stays on the device, is not uploaded to RescueTime servers, and does not enter desktop statistics or goals.
Shimo Docs
In 2018, I switched my daily work logging from MWeb to Shimo Docs. The main reason is its multi-platform support (Mac, iOS, Android, WeChat Mini Programs). More importantly, the web version is excellent. I can record and view notes in real-time, and sharing is seamless with read-only or collaborative permissions.
There was another reason: to me, a web-based note editor shows its respect for programmers by handling Ctrl+S properly. In the versions and browser I used in 2018, Shimo handled it as a save action, while Yinxiang Biji (the separate Chinese service, not the international Evernote service) opened the browser’s save-page dialog. This describes my experience then, not the products’ current shortcut behavior.
Nutstore (Jianguoyun)
After looking around, I eventually settled on Nutstore for folder synchronization largely because it had a Linux client. While working on Linux, I could drop files into its sync folder and pick them up on another device once the upload and download finished. That was convenient. It still depended on network access, working clients, and storage or transfer limits.
October 2026 update: The official Linux download page still offers clients, with installation choices depending on distribution, CPU architecture, and desktop environment. File-manager integration is not identical across all Linux setups. Synchronization is not an independent backup: edits and deletions can propagate. Keep separate copies of important material; version history and deletion recovery have service limits.
These original feature and download-page screenshots show historical client versions and minimum OS requirements.
Recommended Technical Books
Understanding Android Kernel Design
A useful systems book, titled 《深入理解 Android 内核设计思想》 on the cover. The old heading named a different title and claimed a second edition; the supplied cover and description establish an Android 4.3-era baseline, not the exact edition or source tag. Check the ISBN, preface, and source baseline of your copy before comparing it with newer Android code.
The book discusses processes/threads, memory management, Binder, GUI, multimedia, and input systems. Its historical “Android 4.3 and above” description does not guarantee that the implementation details apply to every later release.
Douban: https://book.douban.com/subject/25921329/
Android Advanced Decryption
This book targets Android 8.0 source code combined with practical application knowledge. It covers system source code, JNI, ClassLoader, JVM, DVM/ART, Hook techniques, Hot-fixing, and performance optimizations (draw and memory). It builds a comprehensive knowledge system for developers.
JD: https://item.jd.com/12447229.html
Version note: This recommendation refers to the Android 8.0 (API 26) edition; the author also maintains system-learning material. Android 9 (API 28) introduced non-SDK interface restrictions, including access through reflection and JNI. Recheck Hook, hot-fix, and plugin examples against the target OS and targetSdkVersion before using them.
Running Linux Kernel
Essential for Android system engineers. Based on Linux 4.x, it covers memory management, process management, concurrency, and interrupts. Each section poses a problem to solve through source code analysis, making it highly practical for embedded and Android low-level developers.
Douban: https://book.douban.com/subject/27108677/
Version note: This is the Linux 4.x edition, useful for fundamentals rather than a complete description of current Android kernels. Match source code to the device’s kernel version, configuration, and vendor changes. See the AOSP kernel documentation for newer architecture.
Recommended Non-Technical Books
Blades of the Guardians (Biaoren)
A top-tier Chinese manhua (comic) set in the Sui and Tang dynasties with a 8.3 Douban rating. It follows a skilled escort, Dao Ma, across the Western deserts as he takes on a high-stakes mission to the capital, Chang’an. Available on WeChat Read.
Great Defeats 2 (Dabaiju 2)
After reading the first volume, I was hooked. As a Douban review states: “High-level reality. In the tide of the times, entrepreneurs and founders are no different from gamblers. Those with ambition get lost in the halo of success, only to see themselves clearly after a crushing defeat.” Volume 2 analyzes the downfall of nine famous Chinese enterprises.
How to Stop Sucking and Be Awesome Instead
Jeff Atwood’s How to Stop Sucking and Be Awesome Instead, published in Chinese as 《程序员的修炼——从优秀到卓越》, collects essays from Coding Horror. It covers time management, coding methods, testing, and technical reading. It is a useful guide to the human side of software development.
My reading notes:
- Part 1: How to Stop Sucking and Be Awesome Instead
- Part 2: The Way of Programming
- Part 3: Web Design Principles
- Part 4: Thoughts on Testing
- Part 5: Knowing Your Users
- Part 6: Understanding the Internet
- Part 7: Games and Programming
- Part 8: The Beauty of Reading
Recommended WeChat Accounts
- hongyangAndroid
- Google_Developers
- guolin_blog
- googdev
- LinuxDev
- hencoder
- androidperf (Android Performance Optimization)
- nanchen_android
- flutter-io
- Tencent Bugly
Software Services
WeChat Read (Memberships)
Of the subscriptions I paid for in 2018, the annual WeChat Read membership felt the most worthwhile. I did most of my reading there that year. Here is what I finished, using the Chinese titles from my reading list:
- 《日据时期台湾与大陆关系史》
- 《软技能：代码之外的生存指南》
- 《大败局1》 + 《大败局2》
- 《八卦微积分》
- 《刻意练习》
- 《镖人1、2、3、4》
- 《谷物大脑》
- 《股权战争》
- 《深度学习》
- 《无缘社会》
- 《三体》
- 《图解 HTTP》
- 《万历十五年》
- 《黑客与画家》
- 《海湾战争中的地面作战》
- 《浅谈日本 IT 行业》
- 《骗局》
- 《柏林墙》
- 《万万没想到》
- 《硅谷钢铁侠》
- 《逃离德黑兰》
- 《芳华》
October 2026 correction: Membership does not cover every paid title. The official WeChat Read agreement distinguishes membership-readable content from content requiring separate book-coin payment. Check the title’s label during the membership term; WeChat Read membership also does not include WeChat Listen membership.
Recommended Consumer Goods
12.9” iPad Pro
The 2018 iPad Pro is incredible in every way. It can almost replace a laptop for reading, taking notes, and watching videos. The 120Hz ProMotion display is a pure joy to use. My own 10.5-inch iPad Pro was starting to feel a little small; back then, if someone was looking for an iPad, this was the one I’d suggest.
This recommendation is for the 2018 A12X model. Apple’s announcement describes adaptive ProMotion refresh rates up to 120 Hz, not every app or video running at 120 fps. “Replace a laptop” refers to those reading, note-taking, and media tasks, not compatibility with all desktop software. This is a historical buying opinion.
Recommended Online Columns
Geek Time: Android Development Masterclass
Zhang Shaowen’s course covers crashes, memory, jank, startup, I/O, storage, networking, power, UI, and package size. Match the APIs and tools in its older examples to the Android version you are working with.
The following poster and outline are from the original recommendation. Prices, lesson counts, and QR codes are historical, not current enrollment terms.
Geek Time: Linux Performance Optimization in Action
Ni Pengfei’s course uses practical cases to explain Linux performance principles, metrics, and tools. His original introduction described his Microsoft Azure work. Check the kernel, distribution, and tool versions when following older examples; commands and output may differ today. See the official opening article.
These are the original poster and outline; prices, lesson counts, and QR codes are historical.
Dedao: Xiangshuai’s Peking University Finance Course
This was my 2018 recommendation of Tang Ya’s course, published under the name Xiangshuai. The original introduction described her as an associate professor and doctoral supervisor at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. Topics included financial institutions, instruments and markets, investor and corporate decisions, regulation and crises, and financial technology. The image below is the historical course roadmap, not a claim about the current edition.
My advice at the time was to take notes carefully.
About Me && Blog
Below is my personal intro and related links. I look forward to exchanging ideas with fellow professionals. “When three walk together, one can always be my teacher!”
- Blogger Intro
- Blog Content Navigation: A guide for my blog content.
- Curated Excellent Blog Articles - Android Performance Optimization Must-Knows
- Android Performance Optimization Knowledge Planet: Historical project; paid operations ended in 2026 and new paid members are no longer accepted.
One walks faster alone, but a group walks further together.
