by INTERVIEW WITH A SOFTWARE ENGINEER – KINDSON MUNONYE
What do you do on a daily basis
What I do on a daily basis can be categorized into three basic areas: i. maintenance of existing applications ii. Working on applications under development ii. Supporting users.
What programming languages do you use and why?
I use a wide spectrum of programming languages depending on the design requirement for a particular task. Top on the list is ASP.net C# for web applications, PHP for doing some internet stuffs, then VB and Java
What tools do you use most to carry out your tasks?
Ranging from RDBMS tools, Workbench, SSMS
IDE Tools, VS, DW
Graphic Tools sometimes
What did you study and what qualifications did you obtain?
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering as well as a Master’s Degree in Information and Telecommunication Engineering
Is the qualification ideal for your job?
Sure it is ideal. But i think it needs to be complemented with some professional certifications such as:
Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer
Oracle Certified Professional
Other Certifications like MCTS – ASP.NET, MCTS – SQL Server etc
Is there need for developers? And which sectors can they pursue?
Yes with the shift from the traditional system to automated system. Stuff like e-government, social media, mobile applications. Mobile apps, web apps, customs apps. Android, Apple and windows
What some of the industries where a developer may fit in
Almost all industries in the information age employ some kind of computer application, ranging from data entry, to spreadsheets, to graphics to database system etc. The oil industry, education, media organizations, commerce etc.
Is being a Software Developer a rewarding career?
Absolutely. It is a rewarding career because of the sustainability of the career in terms of developing systems and then maintaining these systems.
Also the career is an evolving one, so you always have to keep pace with the changing technologies and remain relevant.
What are your top tips for aspiring developers?
Problem-solving skills are necessary
Keeping oneself up-to-date with new technologies
What are some of the projects you have worked on?
PTrack for Windows and PTrack Web Interface
Meeting Room Reservation System
Mobile Lines Management System
Change Management System
IntraServe
And some others
Tell us about the IntraServe Application you developed.
What is? The IntraServe Project was incepted out of a need to create a Client-Server architecture in an entirely workgroup environment. For example we have a system where users need to exchange emails without having to acquire and set up a mail server. Users also need to exchange files without a File server. So the IntraServe Application addresses this requirements by simulating the behavior of Servers on members of the workgroup.
What Tools? Developed on VB.Net and heavily dependent on the Serialization feature of the .net framework as well as the Message Queueing in Windows (MSMQ). It also makes use of spreadsheets, flat files and MS Access Database.
How it Works? It would take quite some time to explain the specifics and technicalities of how it operates but I would explain the fundamental principle of operations. First I need to outline what happens ins a Client Server environment and then explain how the IntraServe simulates this. In a C/S architecture, metadata and actual data is stored in the Server(User data as in AD, Mail as in Exchange, Files as in File etc), so in IntraServe, data is stored in individual system and served to the client, which is the receiving system at that instant.
Is it a Robust App?
I would not say yes really. it is not a very robust app and that is why it is not in use now being prone to a number of attacks and needing quite a considerable amount of customization to be used in another environment. I would not recommend it in core production environment
What kind of jobs and experiences have led you to your current position
The path to my current position as a Software Engineer actually started a considerable number of years back when I was in the university. In my second year I had the Supervised Industrial Work Experience when I was attached with Suffolk Petroleum and worked as a Student Trainee in the IT Department. My task involve assisting in setting up new system, mail configuration, preparing spreadsheets and working on Visual Basic projects with other trainees. Then between my third and fourth year, there was this more than six months break during which I spent time coding heavily on C++ and Visual C++ and working on personal project. Then In my fourth year, I was attached to Baker Hughes where I worked first as a MAPS assistant and then as a Surface Systems assistant. Then a month after my graduation I worked with a Surveillance company SURCOMTECH(Surveillance and Communication Technology) as a DBA and Computer programmer. My duties involved setting up user-base for the Access Control systems and creating Data Sources using MSDE. Then I went for my NYSC where I carried out Personnel Community Development project involving teaching.
What are the challenges of working in this field?
Customer changing the requirements
Not well defined requirements
Meeting up the required schedule
How have your job affected your way of life?
Your job need not impact much on your lifestyle. You need to set priorities and place a high value on time allotted for specific activities.
An attention-grabbing discussion is worth comment. I think that you must write more on this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually individuals are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers