Shipaton 2025 - Day 35 - Data Import From CSV To Room In Onboarding Flow

What I Did Today

Today’s ship is all about giving new learners a rock-solid first run.

I implemented a CSV to Room data integration step that runs right before onboarding finishes. The app now reads a curated vocabulary CSV and persists it through the existing repository pattern so that learners land on the home screen with real content already loaded.

Why This Matters

This is vital because I want my Android app to read directly from a CSV file and persist that dataset in the Room database right before the onboarding process wraps up. My aim is to create a system that ensures reliable initial content for users from the get-go.

✔️ Reliable first-run experience. No “empty state” awkwardness - learners can start practicing immediately.

✔️ Offline by default. The initial dataset is on-device from the jump, which is perfect for spotty connections.

✔️ Simple updates. Swapping or expanding the CSV gives me a straightforward content pipeline without wrangling a backend release.

The Result: Reliable Initial Content and Future Flexibility

The result of today’s work is pretty exciting! As onboarding completes, my Android app is now configured to read the imported CSV file and seamlessly save the data into Room. This means that users will have instant offline access to relevant content right after they've signed up. No more waiting for data to load or dealing with missing information. All users can hit the ground running!

Moreover, this setup paves a simple path for future data updates. As my Android app evolves, I can easily modify or add new information simply by updating the CSV file. This flexibility is crucial, especially in today’s fast-paced development environment.

Technical Details

✅ Trigger point: As the final onboarding screen confirms completion, the app kicks off a one-time data import use case.

✅ Data source: A CSV packaged with the app in assets folder.

✅ Persistence path: CSV → parsing → mapping → Repository → DAO → Room.

✅ User impact: The home screen renders instantly with a starter vocabulary set - no spinners, no waits.

Conclusion

In conclusion, today was all about improving user experience through smarter onboarding, and I’m thrilled with the progress I made. Stay tuned for more updates on this journey in Shipathon 2025, and let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve!