PandoList: Square's Android Ace 'Crazy' Bob Lee On Creating Twubble On Twitter

TL;DR

A former Googler talks about early days at Google, working on Android, creating a Twitter app, and meeting Jack Dorsey.

Transcript

my first two years at google i was on ads this is like 2004 2005. and then google acquired android i think at the end of 2005 or early 2006 and i joined the project shortly after that it was really in its infancy it was uh looked more like a blackberry nothing was working it wasn't it wasn't the android you know today i mean i don't even use androi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 Early days at Google involved working on Ads before joining the Android project.
• 😀 Created the Twitter app Tubble to simplify the process of finding people to follow.
• 😀 Met Jack Dorsey and Evan Williams, the founders of Twitter, due to the app.
• 🤽 Nicknamed Crazy Bob due to antics in water polo and originating from St. Louis.
• ✋ High school affiliations and the "Crazy Bob" nickname offer insight into personal history.
• 😀 Twitter app innovation and meeting Jack Dorsey highlight networking benefits.
• 🤽 Water polo experience demonstrates a competitive and ruthless sport.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the initial state of the Android project when you joined?

The Android project was in its infancy, resembling a Blackberry, with nothing working as it does in today's Android.

Q: How did the idea for the Twitter app Tubble come about?

The Tubble app was born out of the necessity to find people to follow on Twitter more efficiently by analyzing who your friends were following.

Q: How did you end up meeting Jack Dorsey and other Twitter founders?

Jack Dorsey and Evan Williams visited and had lunch with me after learning about the Tubble app, leading to a connection due to our mutual St. Louis roots.

Q: Why are you called Crazy Bob, and how did the nickname originate?

The nickname Crazy Bob came from playing water polo in high school, where my penchant for fouls earned me that title, originating from a football player friend.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Worked on Google Ads before joining the Android project in its early stages.

• Created a Twitter app called Tubble to help users find people to follow more easily.

• Met Jack Dorsey and realized they both hail from St. Louis.