I wrote my first computer program in 1983 on a NewBrain, with a green monitor with a ridiculous long afterglow, and it was an almost magical experience. Computers were a rare commodity back then, but in that one moment my future became clear; this is what I wanted to do. And that made a lot of choices easy, the only problem what choosing between college and university. In 1989 IT was different; the university was very much focused on the scientific and mathematical aspect. But I wanted to make software to help people in their daily lives, and college was the better fit for that. That choice is now more important than ever; software is being made for people, by people. And with all the technological choices and options one has as a developer or architect, the ‘human factor’ often is much more important. Technology changes fast, maybe faster than we like, but humans do not. And about the magical experience of that first program? A well written piece of code or a sleek UI design still put goose bumps on my arms. After all, software development has an artistic aspect. Experience helps to find the right balance between new and proven, between technology and users, between vision and what is needed on a daily basis. That is why I often try to find a role somewhere or alternating between developer and architect, because with all the high level vision, one needs to stay in touch with the gritty reality. In my spare time I often try out new technologies, to figure out if it has potential in ‘the real world’; this software thing will probably always remain the hobby it has been since that first basic program.
