OpenLampTech - Developer Interview with Atakan Demircioğlu
Full Stack Developer Atakan Demircioğlu is passionate about making open-source more accessible, creating technology to elevate people, and building community.
Welcome to this OpenLampTech text-based developer interview.
Jotform full stack developer (at the time of publication) Atakan Demircioğlu stopped by for a text-based developer interview for the OpenLampTech newsletter readers.
Atakan is very active in the open-source community as well as writing developer-focused content on Medium.
Atakan has a lot of knowledge and experience to share with the OpenLampTech community.
Needless to say, I am very excited Atakan took the time to provide OpenLampTech with some fantastic Q & A content in this interview.
And now without any further ado, on to the interview.
Q: Please introduce yourself and tell us what you currently do for a living.
My name is Atakan Demircioğlu. I'm a Full Stack Developer who is passionate about making open-source more accessible, creating technology to elevate people, and building community.
I'm currently working as a Full Stack Developer at Jotform. I focus on design and implement new tools and features to provide better experience to our customers and agents.
I've been working as a Full Stack Developer since 2019, and I mainly use PHP, Node.js, and React in my projects.
Q: What PHP framework(s) and/or CMS(s) are you interested in the most or currently using (if any) and why?
I've worked with Symfony 6 and Laravel etc. in my personal projects. I even tried using PHP for a Desktop Application with NativePHP. Before that, I had some fun creating a CLI tool with Symfony. I don't really have a favorite framework; I choose one based on the project's requirements. Sometimes, I go with just Twig for templating, and the rest of the project is framework-free.
Q: Do you think it is important for developers to know some SQL and not rely solely on an ORM? Why or why not?
Absolutely yes, it is important for developers to have a good understanding of SQL. ORM’s and Query Builders are improving the Developer Experience but it hides what happening in the behind.
When it comes to performance updates, developers with poor SQL knowledge will be in a difficult situation.
Additionally, merely knowing SQL is insufficient. When dealing with a complex real web application, understanding the database architecture is essential. Running a slow query for testing purposes can potentially slow down the entire production environment.
Q: What is one piece of software that you just cannot live without and why?
My answer to this question has been evolving. Nowadays, I consider Visual Studio Code (VSCode) to be extremely important to my workflow. However, if you had asked me the same question three years ago, I would have likely mentioned Sublime Text as my choice.
Q: You type all of your code in which IDE/Text Editor/Software?
I generally use VSCode as my primary code editor. However, I also occasionally use Sublime for quick editing tasks, thanks to my familiarity with its keyboard shortcuts.
Q: How has working as a web developer/designer/professional benefited you other than the obvious paycheck and monetary value?
I personally believe that working as a web developer has significantly improved my problem-solving skills. Programming exposes you to various challenges, and when you encounter a problem, you often turn to the internet to find a solution. This process of searching and learning how to effectively use search engines like Google is a valuable skill in itself.
Moreover, there are instances where you can't find ready-made solutions online, and you have to devise your own, sometimes even unconventional or "hacky 🙂" ones.
Another notable benefit is the opportunity for collaboration. Working with a team on a project helps enhance communication, management, and crisis management skills simultaneously.
Q: Do you have a book, newsletter, blog, podcast or other resource you would recommend to other developers?
I would like to recommend my personal Medium account, where I primarily write about PHP and web development. You can find my articles at atakde.medium.com.
Q: What hobbies or activities do you do for fun?
I don't have a wide range of hobbies, but I do enjoy a few activities. I'm particularly fond of playing online games, with FIFA being my go-to choice. Additionally, I love playing soccer with my teammates.
Q: Where can readers go to learn more about you and any projects you may have going?
I primarily share my notes on atakde.medium.com. You can also find my projects on GitHub under the username @atakde and follow me on Twitter at @atakde.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add or share with the OpenLampTech readers?
Firstly, thank you for reading. I consistently recommend the same advice to my friends and junior developers: please read more, work on side projects, and start now! 😊
Thank you, Atakan Demircioğlu, for sharing your knowledge and insights with the OpenLampTech newsletter readers and community!
Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great rest of your week.
Take care.
Josh Otwell