Introducing SD’s New Software Developer
When Kevin Smith swept into our office wearing his long black Neo coat and black sunnies, we didn’t quite know what to expect. People often assume that techies aren’t very sociable, don’t like daylight, are generally stuck in the basement office, can’t speak to people without mentioning Star Trek etc, but are these common misconceptions correct? or have I just uncovered an elaborate cover story……(remember, red pill to learn the truth, blue pill to return to the world as we know it).
WHO IS KEVIN SMITH?
I managed to speak to Kevin Smith (as he calls himself!) last week, here’s what he had to say:
ME: Can you explain what a software developer does that’s different to a website developer?
KS: A ‘web developer’ can mean many things as there is a wide range of tools and technologies that go into producing a web site. A web developer will typically be multi-skilled across different disciplines, e.g. design, UI as well as programming. A software developer may or may not work on web site development but will specialise in 2 or more programming languages.
ME: What or who inspired you to specialise in this field?
KS: I started building a web site and was then invited to join a company as a trainee PHP developer
ME: Did you always know you wanted to do this?
KS: I didn’t exactly have my heart set on it but I’d been interested in computers since the early 1980s and started making simple programs on a C64.
ME: C64? That means nothing to me, was that before the ZX Spectrum 48K with the rubber keyboard keys that I used to play Horace Goes Skiing on?
KS: They were around at about the same time. The Commodore 64 was way better than the Speccy!
ME: I’ll take your word for that … So Mr Smith what do you find most enjoyable about your work?
KS: It can be very satisfying seeing the end result come about after a period of development.
ME: And the most challenging?
KS: A great deal of care has to go into deciding on deadlines.
ME: More so than that of a web development project?
KS: I guess it is the same whatever field you’re in but often in IT deadlines and release dates can slip. It’s worth putting the time in to get right.
ME: I bet it’s satisfying to see your systems come to life and start being used?
KS: Yes.
ME: How do you switch off after a day of creative coding?
KS: I watch the Simpsons.
ME: Am a big fan myself – so who do you identify with most?
KS: Moe, but my favourite characters are Sideshow Bob and Mr Burns.
ME: What other interests do you have when you aren’t sweeping into rooms dressed in your Neo Matrix coat and sunglasses?
KS: Being near the coast in Cornwall I’m interested to do some scuba diving which I haven’t done for a while. There’s loads of wrecks to go and have a look at.
So.. The Matrix then, is it real, are we real… can I have the Blue pill now?
You can, the universe is weird but I’m definitely a red pill person.
