I remember that thread! I told you about the RISE software and you told me about your uncle building a Rubik’s cube solver with Lego Mindstorms. Funny enough, I still have Rubik’s cubes on my desk, so maybe I need a solver too 😂 And now that Mindstorms is discontinued, maybe it’s finally time I try Arduino like you suggested. You should definitely do the remaster, I’d love to read it.
Will prob actually do it on the DEV one year anniversary for me! Look forward to it and looking forward on the Arduino as well (if your planning on sharing ofc)
Yes, I’ll definitely share it! Once I finish my Masters next year, I’m planning to start playing around with Arduino as a hobby. Your one year anniversary on DEV is in January, right? That’s not far at all, I’ll be looking out for the remaster!
I also followed an irregular path just like you: I studied business and finance at University after which I started my drone filming company. I realized during my time building out my drone media services that I had all these ideas to build software around the services offered. That's when I enrolled into a coding bootcamp. Those 9 weeks of learning web development were intense but have changed my life as I then went on to work professionally as a software engineer and still am to this day!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Julien! A drone filming company is such a cool starting point. I love that the idea to code came from seeing problems in your own business, that’s the best kind of motivation
No one can stop one from being interested and doing these things as a hobby. There are limits. In Eswatini, you cannot get Lego Mindstorms, SparkFun, or PCBway stuff delivered to your doorstep. You cannot even go to town and purchase these things. I don't know what hobbyists do here, I used to collect broken appliances. It is hard to make anything with broken stuff. I went to the USA and thought I made it when I started buying parts. It was like heaven. Then I got stuck on a build and approached the physics department for help. They basically threw me into a tinkerers heaven... a physics lab of nothing but parts. They said I could use whatever I wanted. I was kind of scared, I was so unsure what to use I used nothing, returning to my room to continue with what I had. I did not want to steal. I am back in Eswatini. It is dry as heck. I have my arduino UNO around here some place... it never made it into a permanent build. I threw out my expensive propellers, and a couple of other parts when I moved. I hate that, especially when I get bored. If they open a hobbyist shop and I get money, I am getting back into it. I do want kids — lol. How did I get in? Curiosity and money. Can't do much without those two.
You are pretty but am only asking girls out in 2027 for no real reason, I am adding you to the list of those that got away. Lol.
Hi Phumelela, thank you for sharing this! The physics lab story made me laugh. Being given a whole room of parts and walking away with nothing because you didn’t want to feel like you were stealing is such an honest reaction.
It’s sad that parts are so hard to get in Eswatini. It really shows how much access decides who gets to tinker and build things. I hope a hobbyist shop opens there soon, and that your Arduino UNO finally makes it into a permanent build!
The GIS rabbit hole is such a good origin story — that moment of "wait, this software answers real questions" is exactly what hooks people, and it's usually not the thing they set out to do.
Answering your questions honestly:
How I ended up in tech: I didn't plan it either. I started in a completely different field, got bored faster than I expected, and the thing that pulled me over was the same as your GIS moment — realising that the work I was enjoying on the side was actually the work I wanted to be paid for. The switch was less a decision than a slow admission.
Am I staying? Yes, but for a slightly different reason than a few years ago. It's not that I'm sure tech is stable — it clearly isn't, and your point about junior roles is correct. It's that the part I actually like (understanding how things break, and building something that doesn't) seems to survive every shift in the stack. The tools change; the problem-solving doesn't.
On the detour: Development Planning plus CS isn't a detour, it's a combination that most pure-CS people don't have. The smart buildings space is genuinely short of people who can read both a site plan and a schema. That's a real advantage, not a consolation prize.
Good luck with the master's — you sound like someone who's already done the hard part.
Thank you so much for this, Oleksandr! “The switch was less a decision than a slow admission” is so relatable. That’s exactly how it felt for me too.
I really like your point that the tools change but the problem-solving doesn’t. That’s a good way to think about staying in tech, especially with how uncertain things feel right now for junior roles.
And thank you for what you said about Development Planning plus CS. I used to see it as a detour, but you’re right, being able to understand both the planning side and the tech side is something I want to lean into more.
Funny how GIS ended up being the turning point when it wasn't even what you went to university for. And combining that background with CS to work on smart cities sounds genuinely interesting. Hope you get to build something in that space!
Thank you, Hanzla! It really is funny how things work out. Smart cities is definitely a space I’d love to build in one day, so I’m hoping I get the chance. Thanks for reading!
I like how your story shows that getting into tech doesn't always mean taking a straight path. Sometimes the thing that pulls you in is something you discover along the way. I'm curious whether the mix of Development Planning and Computer Science will eventually lead you toward building solutions for cities and buildings.
I’m getting curious myself about combining the two. Seeing how tech can solve real problems in cities and buildings makes me want to explore it more, so who knows, that might be where I end up. Thanks for reading, Mohsen!
I got into tech from my love for puzzles, logical games, things like chess lol. Then the curiosity about computers sprung up, learning how things work. Its funny since i was a kid i always imagined being the one to build an AI as a buddy, now im living in an AI age,and I'll stay as long as its fun.
That’s such a cool story, Michael! Imagining building an AI buddy as a kid and now actually living in the AI age is wild. Puzzles and chess make so much sense too, coding really is one big puzzle sometimes.
I studied Geophysics (not computer science) at FUTO and self-taught programming to go parallel with my education.
Today, I use data to build machine learning agents that interpret groundwater geoelectrical surveys in the Niger Delta.
So, what's your perspective on this confluence of tech and the built environment? What have you learned through your own work with GIS that the majority of developers don't understand?
Going from Geophysics to ML agents that read groundwater surveys in the Niger Delta is such a cool path, Daniel! That’s exactly the kind of work that excites me, tech solving a real problem on the ground.
I think the built environment is one of the biggest opportunities in tech. Cities and buildings produce so much data, but very few people understand both sides.
The biggest thing GIS taught me is that location is never just two numbers. Every point on a map has people, land use, history and rules attached to it, and the map is often different from what’s actually on the ground. Most developers treat location as coordinates in a database, but the real answers are in the context around it. Planning also taught me to think in decades, because you can’t roll back a road the way you roll back a deploy.
I’d love to explore that combination more and see where it takes me.
The GIS turning point is my favourite part of this — you went in for Development Planning and found the one tool that let you put data on a map and actually see how a city works. That is such a good example of a detour not being wasted time: the planning background is exactly what makes the smart-cities angle yours, not just another coding story. And the LEGO Mindstorms third place makes the whole thing feel inevitable in hindsight. Good luck with the Master's — you sound like someone who has already done the hard part, choosing it for yourself this time.
Thank you so much for reading it this closely! The GIS part really was the turning point for me. I wasn’t very into the course itself, but putting data on a map and seeing how a city works made something click. I never thought of my planning background as the thing that makes my story different, but you’re right, and I’m keeping that. And yes, looking back, the robotics club was a big sign 😄 Thanks for the good wishes on the Master’s
March 22, 2025. I will never forget that day, it was a Saturday. I watched a TikTok video about software engineering and that pushed me to open my laptop and start writing my first HTML code.
I don't know. That time, it just all clicks. I like tech, I like computers, I like videogames, why not work in an industry that do all those things, I say to myself. That I did and I never looked back. Best decision I made my entire life, one that I truly own. My only regret is not realizing it sooner.
I love that you remember the exact date, even the day of the week! A TikTok video starting it all is such a great story. Funny enough, my first code was HTML too. And I get the regret about not finding it sooner, but the important part is that you did, and you went all in. Choosing something you truly own is the best feeling.
Data Center Network Technician | Technical Program Manager Trainee | CCNA · CompTIA A+ — I write field notes from real break-fix work: fiber, optics, and the tickets in between.
I ended up in tech through the hands-on side of it, working as a data center technician. What kept me here is that the work is tangible: a link that was down is up, a ticket closes with a real fix, and the next shift doesn't have to fight the same fault twice. I'm staying, because every break-fix teaches you something no course can, and I still learn something new on most shifts.
I love how you described this. There’s something really satisfying about work you can actually see, like a link going from down to up or a ticket closing with a real fix. The part about the next shift not having to fight the same fault twice really stood out to me. I feel the same with my own tickets at work. And I agree, what you learn from fixing real problems stays with you way more than anything from a course.
We're a place where coders share, stay up-to-date and grow their careers.
After reading your story, it reminded me that we briefly mention about Lego Mindstorm back early in 2026 in the article on why I became a developer.
Why did you become a Developer?
I was about to write my story here, but realized that it was already answered lol. Might do a remaster later next year, but idk yet.
Thanks for sharing though :D
I remember that thread! I told you about the RISE software and you told me about your uncle building a Rubik’s cube solver with Lego Mindstorms. Funny enough, I still have Rubik’s cubes on my desk, so maybe I need a solver too 😂 And now that Mindstorms is discontinued, maybe it’s finally time I try Arduino like you suggested. You should definitely do the remaster, I’d love to read it.
Will prob actually do it on the DEV one year anniversary for me! Look forward to it and looking forward on the Arduino as well (if your planning on sharing ofc)
Yes, I’ll definitely share it! Once I finish my Masters next year, I’m planning to start playing around with Arduino as a hobby. Your one year anniversary on DEV is in January, right? That’s not far at all, I’ll be looking out for the remaster!
Yep! I am also planning on the DEVengers announcement as well along with that (I think it's on the same day as my one year).
Speaking of which, what do you think of joining us?
cc: @georgekobaidze @hemapriya_kanagala @dj29
I'd love to join! How do i get started?
I got into this field out of curiosity and a sense that my other possible career directions lacked creativity and agency.
It's been a long and windy journey but I'm in it for the long haul.
I’m so glad your long and windy journey led you here, because it gave so many of us a place to learn and share. Here’s to the long haul! （￣︶￣）↗
I also followed an irregular path just like you: I studied business and finance at University after which I started my drone filming company. I realized during my time building out my drone media services that I had all these ideas to build software around the services offered. That's when I enrolled into a coding bootcamp. Those 9 weeks of learning web development were intense but have changed my life as I then went on to work professionally as a software engineer and still am to this day!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Julien! A drone filming company is such a cool starting point. I love that the idea to code came from seeing problems in your own business, that’s the best kind of motivation
No one can stop one from being interested and doing these things as a hobby. There are limits. In Eswatini, you cannot get Lego Mindstorms, SparkFun, or PCBway stuff delivered to your doorstep. You cannot even go to town and purchase these things. I don't know what hobbyists do here, I used to collect broken appliances. It is hard to make anything with broken stuff. I went to the USA and thought I made it when I started buying parts. It was like heaven. Then I got stuck on a build and approached the physics department for help. They basically threw me into a tinkerers heaven... a physics lab of nothing but parts. They said I could use whatever I wanted. I was kind of scared, I was so unsure what to use I used nothing, returning to my room to continue with what I had. I did not want to steal. I am back in Eswatini. It is dry as heck. I have my arduino UNO around here some place... it never made it into a permanent build. I threw out my expensive propellers, and a couple of other parts when I moved. I hate that, especially when I get bored. If they open a hobbyist shop and I get money, I am getting back into it. I do want kids — lol. How did I get in? Curiosity and money. Can't do much without those two.
You are pretty but am only asking girls out in 2027 for no real reason, I am adding you to the list of those that got away. Lol.
Hi Phumelela, thank you for sharing this! The physics lab story made me laugh. Being given a whole room of parts and walking away with nothing because you didn’t want to feel like you were stealing is such an honest reaction.
It’s sad that parts are so hard to get in Eswatini. It really shows how much access decides who gets to tinker and build things. I hope a hobbyist shop opens there soon, and that your Arduino UNO finally makes it into a permanent build!
The GIS rabbit hole is such a good origin story — that moment of "wait, this software answers real questions" is exactly what hooks people, and it's usually not the thing they set out to do.
Answering your questions honestly:
How I ended up in tech: I didn't plan it either. I started in a completely different field, got bored faster than I expected, and the thing that pulled me over was the same as your GIS moment — realising that the work I was enjoying on the side was actually the work I wanted to be paid for. The switch was less a decision than a slow admission.
Am I staying? Yes, but for a slightly different reason than a few years ago. It's not that I'm sure tech is stable — it clearly isn't, and your point about junior roles is correct. It's that the part I actually like (understanding how things break, and building something that doesn't) seems to survive every shift in the stack. The tools change; the problem-solving doesn't.
On the detour: Development Planning plus CS isn't a detour, it's a combination that most pure-CS people don't have. The smart buildings space is genuinely short of people who can read both a site plan and a schema. That's a real advantage, not a consolation prize.
Good luck with the master's — you sound like someone who's already done the hard part.
Thank you so much for this, Oleksandr! “The switch was less a decision than a slow admission” is so relatable. That’s exactly how it felt for me too.
I really like your point that the tools change but the problem-solving doesn’t. That’s a good way to think about staying in tech, especially with how uncertain things feel right now for junior roles.
And thank you for what you said about Development Planning plus CS. I used to see it as a detour, but you’re right, being able to understand both the planning side and the tech side is something I want to lean into more.
Good luck with JSONex Lab too!
Funny how GIS ended up being the turning point when it wasn't even what you went to university for. And combining that background with CS to work on smart cities sounds genuinely interesting. Hope you get to build something in that space!
Thank you, Hanzla! It really is funny how things work out. Smart cities is definitely a space I’d love to build in one day, so I’m hoping I get the chance. Thanks for reading!
I like how your story shows that getting into tech doesn't always mean taking a straight path. Sometimes the thing that pulls you in is something you discover along the way. I'm curious whether the mix of Development Planning and Computer Science will eventually lead you toward building solutions for cities and buildings.
I’m getting curious myself about combining the two. Seeing how tech can solve real problems in cities and buildings makes me want to explore it more, so who knows, that might be where I end up. Thanks for reading, Mohsen!
I got into tech from my love for puzzles, logical games, things like chess lol. Then the curiosity about computers sprung up, learning how things work. Its funny since i was a kid i always imagined being the one to build an AI as a buddy, now im living in an AI age,and I'll stay as long as its fun.
That’s such a cool story, Michael! Imagining building an AI buddy as a kid and now actually living in the AI age is wild. Puzzles and chess make so much sense too, coding really is one big puzzle sometimes.
Started writing code aged 7 (back in 1983), fell in love with it, and never really stopped 👍
Wow Jon, coding at 7 is amazing! Not many people find what they love that early, so that’s really special. Glad it stuck with you all these years :)
I studied Geophysics (not computer science) at FUTO and self-taught programming to go parallel with my education.
Today, I use data to build machine learning agents that interpret groundwater geoelectrical surveys in the Niger Delta.
So, what's your perspective on this confluence of tech and the built environment? What have you learned through your own work with GIS that the majority of developers don't understand?
Going from Geophysics to ML agents that read groundwater surveys in the Niger Delta is such a cool path, Daniel! That’s exactly the kind of work that excites me, tech solving a real problem on the ground.
I think the built environment is one of the biggest opportunities in tech. Cities and buildings produce so much data, but very few people understand both sides.
The biggest thing GIS taught me is that location is never just two numbers. Every point on a map has people, land use, history and rules attached to it, and the map is often different from what’s actually on the ground. Most developers treat location as coordinates in a database, but the real answers are in the context around it. Planning also taught me to think in decades, because you can’t roll back a road the way you roll back a deploy.
I’d love to explore that combination more and see where it takes me.
The GIS turning point is my favourite part of this — you went in for Development Planning and found the one tool that let you put data on a map and actually see how a city works. That is such a good example of a detour not being wasted time: the planning background is exactly what makes the smart-cities angle yours, not just another coding story. And the LEGO Mindstorms third place makes the whole thing feel inevitable in hindsight. Good luck with the Master's — you sound like someone who has already done the hard part, choosing it for yourself this time.
Thank you so much for reading it this closely! The GIS part really was the turning point for me. I wasn’t very into the course itself, but putting data on a map and seeing how a city works made something click. I never thought of my planning background as the thing that makes my story different, but you’re right, and I’m keeping that. And yes, looking back, the robotics club was a big sign 😄 Thanks for the good wishes on the Master’s
March 22, 2025. I will never forget that day, it was a Saturday. I watched a TikTok video about software engineering and that pushed me to open my laptop and start writing my first HTML code.
I don't know. That time, it just all clicks. I like tech, I like computers, I like videogames, why not work in an industry that do all those things, I say to myself. That I did and I never looked back. Best decision I made my entire life, one that I truly own. My only regret is not realizing it sooner.
I love that you remember the exact date, even the day of the week! A TikTok video starting it all is such a great story. Funny enough, my first code was HTML too. And I get the regret about not finding it sooner, but the important part is that you did, and you went all in. Choosing something you truly own is the best feeling.
I ended up in tech through the hands-on side of it, working as a data center technician. What kept me here is that the work is tangible: a link that was down is up, a ticket closes with a real fix, and the next shift doesn't have to fight the same fault twice. I'm staying, because every break-fix teaches you something no course can, and I still learn something new on most shifts.
I love how you described this. There’s something really satisfying about work you can actually see, like a link going from down to up or a ticket closing with a real fix. The part about the next shift not having to fight the same fault twice really stood out to me. I feel the same with my own tickets at work. And I agree, what you learn from fixing real problems stays with you way more than anything from a course.