Twitter: @tiltsoft
Website: https://www.tiltsoft.com
Swiss Cross-Platform Software Developer specializing in data acquisition, processing and representation. Geophysicist active in volcanology, hence also writing custom software for disaster prevention and monitoring. Circling the globe and meeting nice people and cultures. Blessed to be a father, a coder, and live in the chocolate country.
What is your favorite programming language and why?
Pascal and C++. The first one for its ease of use while being very powerful. It’s easy to read, elegant and is very coherent. C++ to write software accessing low level system functionalities and for its tremendous speed optimization.
What one piece of advice would you give to a rookie developer?
Never be shy to ask for help and advice. Learning is by far the best way to progress and build a mentor network. Even better, at some point, that developer will also become a mentor to others.
What is the most difficult programming challenge you’ve ever encountered?
Making the move from procedural programming to object-oriented programming. I started programming back in 1980 in Fortran 4, then Fortran V. For years, this fulfilled our needs when computing was mainly number crunching. But when GUIs started to be common, software evolved as well. I initially didn’t see what OOP was offering and I eventually got it when I needed to create an entire GUI framework, under MS/DOS for a volcano monitoring software. Buttons, gauges, oscilloscope screens, etc… were possible only by creating objects, just like writing Lego pieces. Since then, I can’t understand how I was able to do procedural programming at all.
What is your favorite open source project and why?
Nextcloud. The personal hosted file sharing solution. I especially enjoy the spirit of the project and the people behind it, dedicated to share knowledge, and totally open to suggestions, experience exchanges.
What would you say to the developer that was you five years ago?
Try to keep up with software technology trends to at least know what people are talking about, and read more books. You learn from others. A lot. And you save time.
What one book should every software developer read?
A bit dated, but Object Oriented Programming in C++ by Robert Lafore. Not so much for C++ but for OOP. I found it brilliant.
What is the worst advice that you commonly hear given to developers?
To deliver something ASAP under pressure and correct it, make it better later. This never works. And never happens.
Describe your favorite or most memorable “aha!” moment that you’ve had as a developer.
When I got it with OOP. As said, I needed buttons, gauges and realized that they all were objects: self-contained properties and functions. Each object knew were it was positioned, its width and height, and knew how to draw itself on screen. When my first GUI design attempt actually took shape for real and looked as expected, it was magical.
What is one weird or unusual thing you always do when you code?
I first roughly sketch everything on paper. That gives a clear picture, a roadmap of what I need to do, even if it’s for a two hour programming block. Then I eat chocolate and start.
What have you done as a developer of which you are most proud?
Writing a volcano monitoring software that I installed in Guatemala and that actually did work. After six weeks on-site, I released it and ten minutes before heading to the airport to leave, we had an earthquake at the observatory and the app immediately correctly reacted, sorted out what kind of event we had and informed us that it was not a threat. Two years later, it helped the authorities in the decision to evacuate a village that was actually partly destroyed by the eruption. It proved that software can actually save lives. Even if it’s just one life, it’s worth the hundred of hours writing code. Writing code is fun, and at the same time, it can make a difference.
Bonus Question: What is the question and the answer to the one thing that I should have asked you?
Q: Is writing software your favorite activity?
A: Besides spending time with my family, definitely yes. And as an icing on the cake, software writing brings me to spectacular parts of the world where I can see the direct impact of my applications on people and nature. This is very rewarding.