About

My Journey through Software Development

I started my software development journey at a young age, when I was curious about how I could modify the game Minecraft. This got me immediately hooked on learning Java for the express purpose of adding my own features to it as modifications or mods.

Eventually, this led to writing server plugins, including minigames - but then I wanted to learn to create my own games, separate from Minecraft altogether.

I dabbled with learning to write my own game engines in Java and C++, and moved on to using GameMaker Studio and Unity. No truly finished games ever came out of this, but I learned a ton about software development in the process.

Things got interesting around 2015. The world of web development was quickly changing, and I immediately took interest. 2015 saw the releases of React, Google's AMP, and the first version of React Native. The web was quickly dropping their "m." versions of websites for their mobile versions, and the world of mobile-first development began to take off. We saw powerful applications which used to be either exclusively native to desktop or mobile become unified as a single application in the web.

Coming from Java, whose slogan was famously "write once, run anywhere", seeing this mantra come to the world of the web - by far the most interacted with technology - was a mind-blowing experience. Soon, there could very well be a future in which web technologies were the first choice for development, even for native applications.

And while there are edges yet to be roughed out, we largely now live in this world today, just shy of a decade later.

My Approach

Technology should be a solution to a problem, not a solution seeking a problem. I observe strict ethics when interacting with and developing software.

I am of the belief that in the excitement of pursuing an idea, we often abandon the idea in favor of the excitement of the technology. Whether that's forgetting the purpose or mission, or operating in a manner that's unethical or anti-thetical to good user experiences, our eyes can become quickly clouded if we do not frequently reevaluate where we are on our path.

It is in this spirit that I observe Agile and Lean principles, and apply them to my work.

If software refuses to or cannot address real-world needs of real-world users, it is a failure. These aren't market forces at work, rather it is basic human nature.

Current Focus

Good Design Principles

Developers are often disconnected from the design language and intentions of an application; I do not wish to be one of them. I have been dedicating my free time to learning good design principles to ensure I can understand the user experience from the backend to frontend.

Technical Writing & Education

I have a lot to say, but never an outlet to say it. Through this personal site's blog, my hope is to educate and inform, especially on topics related to ethics, user experience, developer experience, and design.

Open Source Contributions

The world runs on open source. I actively contribute to open source projects, and this has provided valuable learning experiences for me while enriching user experiences of the software / applications I contribute to; in the process, I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful people.

Beyond Technology

I try to get outside (sometimes). When I do, you'll find me taking part in:

Photography

I especially love night scenes and neon signs.

Walking

Walks are good for your health, and especially your mind. Take them!

Devin Rowan