Caleb's keen interest in programming began with spending time in gaming shops. In his words, "the ultimate game was building one".
In this spotlight, he details how he went from gaming to building software solutions, and the things that inspire him.
How did you get into Tech?
I used to be a game freak. I'd spend time in the local gaming shops and internet cafés and the more I gamed, the less interest I had in gaming. I slowly realized the ultimate game was building one. I noted that most of the games I played on the internet ran on a page that ended with .html as the file extension so I did a search and soon got introduced to HTML and started building rudimentary web pages.
At the time I couldn't afford a personal computer so I initially wrote code at cafés then later figured out how to write and run web pages with an app called Moby Explorer on my J2ME phone (remember the super-popular Nokia mobiles, anyone? ).
I learned enough to build simple sites and I then let my curiosity roam. I later got a Symbian device and quickly realized there was a Python runtime available for that device and pretty quickly I was writing Python to build little mobile calculators and stuff.
Over the years, I picked up a lot more languages and got better at problem-solving.
Why Software Engineering?
I was fascinated by every bit of how software works. I wanted to know how a combination of 0s and 1s yielded brilliance we could feel and touch. I also wanted to be able to control every bit of the experiences crafted for my first user (myself).
What inspires you?
I'm inspired by a lot of things. I'm inspired by works of fiction (both written and televised). I get inspired when I encounter an interesting problem that seems insurmountable but also seems just within my reach.
Which of the technologies you currently work with excites you the most, and why?
I'd say Kubernetes.
What problem does it solve?
In the not-to-distant past, making an update to a website meant you had to take the site down for maintenance, apply the updates, leaving users stranded and unable to use it until the process was completed.
At Kudi, using Kubernetes means we are able to deliver new capabilities to users in minutes (instead of hours) with no interruptions in service at all.
Tell us about your growth.
I'd say the most growth I'm proud of is being able to interact and work with a diverse array of incredible people and create together. I used to be pretty lone-wolfish but learning to rely on a team makes things better.
What does the future hold?
I'll keep chasing my curiosities and maybe delve into more esoteric tech stuff. Steve Jobs once said, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." and I think that is solid advice.
What have you been working on lately?
I've been delving a little into the world of software infrastructure and ran a couple of promising experiments.
I also have a couple of unfinished articles and software I hope to make available in due time.
Tips for budding Software Engineers?
I'd say keep looking for problems you can solve and devise solutions to them. Your solutions don't necessarily need to be the most elegant or complete but with each iteration, you get closer to the perfect thing.
If you find our use of technology to be of interest and would like to join our team, please take a look at our careers page here, or drop us a note at engineering@kudi.com. Also, please subscribe to receive updates from us on new posts and job openings.
We also have rolling openings for internships. You can apply at internship@kudi.com.
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