In the beginning, the field of computer science was often ridiculed as a nerd niche, but nowadays there is hardly an industry that can do without it. No other field has developed so rapidly in the last decades and at Mr Beam the software department is an indispensable part of our company.
That's why I'm introducing our two software developers Yelko and Josef to you today on the Mr Beam blog. In an interview, the two of them gave me exclusive insights behind the scenes of the IT industry and into their work at Mr Beam and talk about their experiences with a lot of fun and joy.
Profile - Short presentation in question and answer
What clichés are there about software & IT and which clichés are often confronted with?
Both take the clichés with humour and tell:
J: “If you can do something programming-wise, then it's often: I have a problem with my PC, can you take a look at it? Or: My Windows won't start"
Y: "Or the refrigerator does not work, it is actually no matter of what on electronic devices."
J: “You are asked about everything that is technical in some way. Then they often say, you studied something like that."
Even if you work in the IT industry, you don't necessarily have to study pure computer science. Yelko's course of study was called telecommunications engineering, which includes the subjects of physics, mathematics and electronics and, as he says with a wink, a bit of programming as well. Josef first devoted himself to studying electrical engineering, which also deals with programming, and then deepened this area.
Hacking
J: "Often it is also thought that someone who can program can also hack."
I*: "And can you hack?"
J: "No."
Y: "Yes. In the Bachelor's degree, we had a seminar in which the lecturer always gave us various such tasks. But that falls under the area of computer security or security engineering."
Private PC use
I: “Another cliché is that you only sit at your PC in private and play computer games, for example, is that true?"
Y: "No, so I love the mountains and I don't like to stay at home when the sun is shining."
Josef spends time in front of the PC from time to time, but not exclusively.
J: “I'm not locked in the basement with my PC now. I do have computer games that I play with friends from time to time, or I do photo editing. But I also like to go out, hiking or mountain biking. Sometimes I also programme for private use.”
Programming for private use? Yelko also agrees. That sounds very useful. You can program apps that you need, e.g. an individual home assistant.
0s and 1s
I: “The next cliché is: Computer science consists only of 0s and 1s?”
J: “That's not true. So everything is based on the 0s and 1s, but it does not program 0s and 1s. That would be far too cumbersome. There is a language about it, a programming language.
Y: "So you are a good programming if you can write readable in the programming language."
J: "Exactly and that everything is converted into 0s and 1s."
Y: "Many developers do not have this IT background. However, it is helpful to understand these underlying principles if there is, for example, a deeper problem with programming. ”
Darknet
Another cliché I confronted both of them with was whether they had ever been on the Darknet. One had never been there, the other had been there many times. The darknet is basically nothing "evil". It simply gives you digital privacy. Wikileaks, for example, also started its publications on the Darknet. So it is not only a platform for criminal business, which unfortunately still exists there, but you can also use it for your own anonymity and security.
Printer
And finally, I wanted to make sure again whether IT people, or software engineers, also sometimes despair of printers - we all know the problem.
Y: “So if a piece of paper gets stuck, I can take it out. But all joking aside, as with the laser cutter, you just have to know this machine.”
J: "And for us it is probably easier to think of technical problems, which is why we can repair things rather than people who have nothing to do with it."
*I = interviewerin
The work at Mr Beam
What exactly are the tasks of the software team at Mr Beam? And what does everyday work in the software department look like?
Josef and Yelko deal with the (further) development of the Mr Beam software as well as new features. You write codes and check the codes of other software developers against what to do "Code Review" names. There are many different projects on which you work with different programming languages. For example, the software support of the Mr Beam Design stores Another part of the work day. It is particularly important to analyse and solve software problems (also called bug fixing), which e.g. by the customers on the Support be communicated. And not to forget: every step must be documented for traceability. Currently, the applicant is also added, because the software team is looking for support.
A normal working day begins with a daily meeting by discussing the entire team, what was done the day before. This can be online or on site, depending on whether the employees are in the home office or in the office. Then it goes to the PCs for developing or in meetings with others Mr Beam Departments, e.g. Marketing or Product & Design Team. Does the design team have a new idea, for example, how that Surface of the Mr Beam, Plugins or the user interface should look the software engineers find suitable paths to implement these ideas. The software engineers can also at their own new ideas and their creativity Mr Beam live out. Every Friday there is the so -called innovation day. With this, everyone has the opportunity to build new features or try out more unusual things that are not processed in everyday work. And often these tinkering help with the management of current problems and can be taken on for the work.
What do you particularly like about work & working life Mr Beam?
Y: “I especially like the challenge of developing or building new projects. There are often complex problems that don't exist in everyday life and for which you then have to find a solution - and there is always a solution, too.”
J: “I enjoy building new things and then seeing how it will appear in the software in the end, and how it helps the customers.
Y: „Yes, it is always nice to get the feedback from the users and also helpful to develop their own work. ”
J: "It is also cool that you can bring your own ideas and not only get what you have to do from above."
Y: “And we regularly have cool team events and traditions. This is always a lot of fun, e.g. we organize a game evening once a month. ”
How closely do you work with the end product, the laser cutter?
Both tell me that they don't necessarily work with the laser cutter during software development, because, for example, not every task has to do with lasering or unfortunately time doesn't always allow it. In this case, testing the functionality of new features or bug fixes of the software has priority for the time being. However, their interest in laser cutting and 3D printers already existed privately, even before their work at Mr Beam, which is why they like to use Mr Beam in a free minute to realise their creative ideas or to try out different materials.
How would you convince someone to work in the software team?
Y: „Mr Beam offers many benefits. For example, you can use many work tools, many devices such as a Cricut plotter, the Shaper Origin, a Bosch hammer drill, a Silhouette plotter, a soldering station, a 3D printer and of course the laser cutter.”
J: „There are also the possibilities for further and further training and, as already mentioned above, your own ideas are also made by the Innovation Day promoted.
Y: “The structures in a start-up like Mr Beam Offer also many advantages. We have a size in which you can communicate well with everyone, including with other departments, we are almost all in the same office or at least in the same building. This uncomplicated communication is not always possible or even necessary in larger companies. ”
And the other way around: How would you imagine your desired employee? What is important to you in working in the team?
Y: “We want colleagues who value teamwork. I think we have a good working atmosphere in our team. You don't have to be afraid of asking questions or asking others for help. You can really say everything. "
J: "Yes and from skill, it would be helpful if you or he could program." Josef added with a wink.
These statements are also very exciting from a psychological perspective. It shows once again how important the working atmosphere and the working climate are and how decisively they also influence the choice of profession. Yelko emphasised once again how important it is to be part of a good team that treats each other with respect. That can be very enriching. Josef also added that it is important to have fun together and not just to work together. If you are more would like to learn about this topic, also like to watch our blog post on the topic „Improve working atmosphere" on.
Thank you Josef and Yelko for this interesting and happy conversation and the deeper insight into the world of software engineering Mr Beam.