“Programming is not a task, but a hobby” – Meet Michael

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For me, programming came in late. I wanted to be a lawyer, I had graduated high-school with all hopes of studying law, but a light shone and a voice called out to me – “Michael, study Computer Science instead”. I then honoured the call and started preparation to get admission into University to study Computer Science. Thankfully, I got in.

In my first year (2012), I was introduced into the art of programming.

The idea of me building something for people to use was similar to being given a magic wand, which felt very good. I started experimenting with Visual Basic, the drag and drop system helped me easily visualize my ideas.

Year after year, I delved deeper, building applications for friends and small organizations. Everything changed when I was paid to build an application in my third year, a holy grail was given to me. I didn’t know people would pay you for what you enjoy doing most. It was an eye-opener.

To me, programming is not a task, but a hobby, and creating things is wired in my core. I became a frontend web developer because it’s the closest programmable bit to the user (had not discovered Product Design at that time) and I enjoy that feeling of being able to engineer experiences for users whilst controlling what they see and how they use the application as a whole.

As humans, it’s pure happiness to see people follow you. In programming, it’s the same feeling, if not more when you see metrics of the people that depend on what you build. I like the influence, though little, to control how people carry out their daily important business, leisure or personal tasks using my applications.

My Cuurios-story

I joined Cuurios in October 2018; a very good decision I must say. I applied because I wanted to learn how things are done in other companies, and Cuurios’ “Data to Actions” tagline sounded like a place that would boost my programming knowledge and nudge me to code more complex applications.

At the very beginning, my first project gave me sleepless nights, as I didn’t understand most of the application. I bought whiteboards and started disintegrating the project to understand the whole quite-complex system. Now, however, I have gotten a better grasp of working on complex systems, my frontend skills have improved dramatically. The best decision so far. I feel my role in Cuurios is important (very much to me), I control how and what the customer sees. Though you need to have a very keen eye for design to do this and Cuurios has enabled me to perform this art efficiently, even using my little Product Design skill. Although I cannot single-handedly add a button anywhere I like, but I can make sure the button sits where it can be easily accessed.

At Cuurios, every ticket is like a HackerRank question, especially when it comes from Leen (COO). Sometimes I’d have to read and re-read to be able to digest the problem and think of a suitable solution which has improved my problem-solving ability. I ask questions a lot and that has helped me grow. In addition to that, Gaetan’s (CTO) experience has made me a better programmer. I take time to study the codebases of the applications built. (When you learn from the best, you become like them).

I also wonder sometimes, how Leen does it, that he is everywhere from a business standpoint. I’ve learnt from him that you need to understand the customers’ request in-and-out.

I believe Cuurios is a place to be to sky-rocket your career and build fantastic projects, and most importantly everyone at Cuurios is human.

Stop thinking. Start doing.

Clients tell us that implementing our product feels like their data-congested brain finally gets the much-needed neurological wiring that prompts action. Finally, you understand what is happening. Finally, you know what to do next. Finally, you can act confidently.

Digital workflow optimization for asset rich businesses.