Interview with Moataz Nabil

Moataz Nabil is the author of Mobile DevOps Playbook, we got the chance to sit down with him and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.

Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?

Moataz: About a year ago, Packt contacted me after noticing my online writing regarding Mobile DevOps, CI/CD, and test automation. They asked me if I was interested in participating in a new book about Mobile DevOps. When I inquired about the type of participation, they offered me the opportunity to be the author. I accepted the offer because I saw it as a great opportunity to consolidate my knowledge about Mobile DevOps, the processes, and the practices of implementing it within organizations. Writing a book about my mobile industry expertise was exciting, but delivering value to readers required significant time and effort.

Q: What is the name of your book?

Moataz: Mobile DevOps Playbook: A practical guide for delivering high-quality mobile applications like a pro.

Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?

Moataz: I didn’t need to spend much time researching, as I have been working in mobile teams for the past four years. During this time, I have gained expertise in building, testing, releasing, and automating mobile CI/CD workflows. Furthermore, I have authored several technical blogs and hands-on articles, and have spoken at various conferences with developers to help them optimize the use of Mobile DevOps.

Q: Do you have a blog that readers can follow?

Moataz: Yes, they can follow my personal blog https://moataznabil.blog/, and my dev.to account: https://dev.to/moataznabil

Q: What key takeaways do you want readers to come away with from the book?

Moataz: – Know the principles, components, and concepts of Mobile DevOps Develop a Successful Mobile CI/CD strategy in your organization

– Identify the tools and processes required for releasing and distributing mobile applications

– Develop and release mobile applications efficiently and reliably

– Implement continuous testing with Mobile DevOps

– Identify and fix problems with mobile application performance and usage data

Q: Can you share any blogs, websites and forums to help readers gain a holistic view of the tech they are learning?

Moataz: Here is 100 best DevOps blogs and websites: https://blog.feedspot.com/devops_blogs/

Q. Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?

Moataz: Yes, it was a new challenge for me to write a book for the first time. However, since I am already familiar with Mobile DevOps, I have the outline and topics for the book already in my mind. I had to put in a lot of effort to write this book. It took up many weekends as I spent time drafting, brainstorming, editing, and reviewing. Since I was working full-time, I had to use up a lot of my free time over the past eight months to complete this book. I appreciate the assistance provided by the Packt team. Without them, I would not have been able to complete the book.

Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?

Moataz: Writing a book was a challenging and interesting experience, unlike what I was expecting. However, I really enjoyed it, and maybe after taking some rest, I can think of writing another one. Working with a team to write my book instead of doing it alone has been great. It allowed me to focus on the subject matter while they handled other aspects of the process. This has made the process much smoother and easier.

Q. Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?

Moataz: The book provides a unique perspective that sets it apart from other books in the same genre. The book is specifically tailored to meet the needs and interests of a particular target audience. It is well-written, properly edited, and professionally produced, ensuring high-quality content and presentation. The book focuses on a rapidly changing subject, highlighting that it contains up-to-date information. Additionally, it offers a range of helpful resources, such as tools, services, surveys, assessments, and reports, which add value to the book.

Q. What is/are your specialist tech area(s)?

Moataz: Test Automation, Quality Management, Mobile DevOps, Developer Productivity, Developers toolings.

Q. What advice would you give to readers jumping into this technology? Do you have any top tips?

Moataz: It’s important to start with the basics by understanding the core concepts and terminology associated with the technology. This will help you to understand more advanced concepts later on. Try experimenting with the tools and services by setting up personal projects. Keep yourself updated with their latest releases and continue to learn and practice. It is essential to have practical experience.

Q. What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?

Moataz: Developing mobile apps involves a unique process that presents many challenges. This process includes building, testing, securing, releasing and monitoring the app, which requires the right strategy and approach. In my book, I explore different technologies, services, and tools that can help mobile developers understand this process and implement effective solutions for their teams. I also discuss the future of Mobile DevOps and upcoming trends that developers need to be aware of to stay up-to-date with the latest changes.

Q. Do you belong to any tech community groups?

Moataz: Yes, AWS Community Builders https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/

Q. How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?

Moataz: To organize my work, I set clear goals and deadlines. This helped me stay focused and motivated throughout my project. Additionally, I found it helpful to break down the book into smaller tasks. By doing this, the project felt less daunting, and it was easier to stay on track. To maximize my efficiency, I prioritized tasks based on their importance and urgency. This allowed me to tackle the most critical tasks first and avoid wasting time on less critical ones. I also created a schedule to help me visualize how I would complete the book and ensure that I was making progress towards my goals. And, taking breaks was crucial during this long project. By taking short breaks periodically, I stayed refreshed and focused. Finally, I made use of various tools to help me organize my work more efficiently, including a to-do list, a grammar and rephrasing tool, and a designing tool.

Q. What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?

Moataz: Here are some ways to stay up-to-date with technology: – Visit reputable tech news websites and blogs regularly. – Follow tech experts, companies, and news outlets on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to get updates and insights in real time. – Enroll in online courses, tutorials, and webinars to gain in-depth knowledge about specific technologies or skills. – Subscribe to tech-focused YouTube channels that offer tutorials, and news updates. – Attend tech conferences, both in-person and virtually to network and learn about the latest innovations. – Read books and eBooks on tech topics that interest you, as they often provide in-depth insights and historical context. – Experiment with new tools, programming languages, and hardware to gain practical knowledge – hands-on experience is often the best way to learn about technology.

Q. Would you like to share your social handles? If so, mention them below.

Moataz: Yes sure,

Twitter: @moatazeldebsy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moataz-nabil/

Q: What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?

Moataz: As a writer, it’s crucial to understand your audience and adapt your writing style to their needs and level of knowledge. Your main objective should be to communicate complex information in an easily understandable way, using visuals to aid comprehension. You should prioritize the most important content for your readers and avoid overwhelming them with unnecessary details. Additionally, providing relevant examples can help reinforce your message.

You can find Moataz’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please Click Here