Blog/content/about.md

+++ title = "About" description = "Who? Me?" date = "2021-09-17" aliases = ["about-us", "about-hugo", "contact"] author = "Steffen Blake" +++

With over 7 years experience in the Kitchen Industry and another 6 years of software engineering experience to match, I have developed an interesting taste for code. I love delving deep into how codebases tick and learning new architectures whenever I can.

Join me on a fun filled adventure while we dive into rebuilding wheels from the ground up (and learning how the work while we do it!)

Contact Info

Email: [email protected]

Skill Chart

Last Updated: 2021-09-17

This list is neither all comprehensive nor necessarily perfectly up to date. I'm constantly deep diving into random new (usually useful) skills. If you have further questions regarding specific stuff, absolutely shoot me an email!

• C# : ★★★★★
• .NET Core : ★★★★★
• ASP.NET MVC : ★★★★★
• Razor Pages : ★★★★☆
• Javascript (Web) : ★★★★★
• Javascript (Node) : ★★★★☆
• CSS / SCSS : ★★★★☆
• SQL : ★★★☆☆
• Unit Testing (Moq, nUnit, xUnit) : ★★★★☆
• Code Review / Peer Management : ★★★★★
• APIs (REST, Consuming, Designing) : ★★★★★
• Docker : ★★★☆☆
• Kubernetes : ★★★☆☆
• Bash: ★★★☆☆

Experience

The largest portion of my work experience is within Peer Management roles. This includes training new employees, team management, leadership skills, code reviews, and consultation. I am quite comfortable in roles that involve working alongside others and lending a helping hand wherever needed. Code reviews took up a respectable portion of my workload in the past few years, due to my rigorous standards and keen eye for details, as well as ability to help out with spotting areas that require additional training or assistance for fellow peers.

I have learned documenting code and architecture are paramount to this process, and even more so maintaining that documentation! It is substantially easier to bring new team members on board and get them up to speed when there are clear and concise directions for them to work through.

My Relationship with AI

I have a large amount of experience in Artificial intelligence, and am extremely interested in pursuing this vein further. AI has a massive variety of applications and its a booming realm creating a lot of exciting new transformations to the software industry. But with these powerful new tools comes an immense responsibility that AI developers must shoulder, as it can be abused. I welcome the use of AI to better human lives with open arms and will pursue that with a passion. But AI is powerful, and you know what the writers of the 2002 blockbuster Spider-Man starring Toby Maguire wrote: "With great power, comes great responsibility"

Personal Stuff

I have a lot of hobbies and they are constantly expanding, but there are definitely a handful of things I don't see myself ever losing my passion for.

Dungeons and Dragons (and any other type of tabletop RPGs really)

I've been predominantly a Dungeon Master for as long as I can remember. Pretty sure I ran my first real D20 based game when I was thirteen. Recently my attention has really been focused on One Page Dungeons and their modulare ability to be injected into any ole game. In fact I recently submitted a One Page Dungeon to Dungeon Contest you can feel free to check out!

I think what I love the most about TTRPGs is how players constantly surprise you, not just with their solutions to problems and ability to improvise as a group, but also the fact that you often get to see completely new sides to people close to you through the lens of group roleplay.

Magic the Gathering

Now don't get me wrong, I love board games and card games in general, but king among kings in my heart is Richard Garfield's baby here. I have never encountered such a fine tuned and advanced game with design so eloquent and carefully administered. The UX and Design of MtG is breathtaking at times, and I absolutely love some of the tidbits of info Mark Rosewater has spent his time teaching the world.

I honestly could just sit and talk shop about this game all day!

Ants

Yeah no like literally ants, the insects. Ants are marvels of nature and one of the creatures I think humans bare the most resemblance to. There are a lot of things we have in common with them. They are architects, they have paramedics, practice medicine, and even practice animal husbandry!

I have had a passion for Formiculture (raising pet ants) and finally got my hands on some nice high quality Formicariums recently (better known by the term "ant farm") so look forward to blog posts in the future on my progress on this hobby!

Ferrets~!

I have three wonderful little cat-snake carpet-sharks. I teach them tricks and like to take pictures of them, so look forward to, perhaps, the occasional cute ferret pic on my blog posts!

Programming

Oh yes, and I suppose it probably goes without mentioning but here we are. I am a software developer both at work and at home. Its a big hobby and it never ceases to provide new layers of depth and interest. Every day is another puzzle to solve, and I wouldn't have my life any other way!