Engineering
3 Approaches to reduce complexity in software systems
Many approaches exist to handle complexity in a software system. In this article I will touch three of them: general- vs. special-purpose modules, using layers and staying consistent.
Engineering
The importance of information hiding in modules
In programming some modules feel more complex than others. Why is that? Often the complex modules do not hide their complexity well.
China
5 Lessons I learned during my first year in China
Over a year ago my family and I moved to China to work and live. Time for a retrospective. What turned out how I expected it, what did not?
China
My biggest challenges settling in China
Did you settle in already? A question that I heard many times after moving to China. In this post I give insights into my biggest challenges after coming to China and how I dealt with them.
Career
Expectations and growth strategies for Senior Software Engineers
In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Senior Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can grow. This information would have been tremendously helpful to me when I started my journey in software development.
China
When you need to see a doctor in China
Being sick in a foreign country can be exhausting. Different rules, different processes, different language. In this post I give an overview of the health care system in Germany and China. I also detail my experiences of seeing doctors in China.
Engineering
3 Patterns that keep System Complexity under control
Knowing what system complexity is is good. You might ask though, how you can identify system complexity and how you can manage it. In this article I will introduce the three manifestations of system complexity and three patterns to control it.
China
How to prepare for an interview in China
Understanding cultural differences before you are in an interview situation can be a big plus. In this article I want to introduce you to the subtle differences of an interview setting in China.
Engineering
System Complexity - The Engineer's Nightmare
The more time you spend in Software Engineering, the fewer you will be concerned about which programming language or fancy framework will be used. Another factor plays a big role in how a project develops over time and how much fun it is to work on it: System Complexity.
China
How to find a job in China as a foreigner
When we decided move to China in 2022, I had no idea how to look for a job there. I needed to start from scratch and get familiar with the job market. In this post I give advice on how to start a job hunt in China.
Career
Expectations and growth strategies for Junior Software Engineers
In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Junior Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can grow. This information would have been tremendously helpful to me when I started my journey in software development.
China
My best tips to land a tech job in China as a foreigner
Finding a job as a Software Engineer in Europe with a few years of experience is still relatively easy. How does the situation look like in China? I try to answer this question by looking at the economic situation, the working style in Chinese companies as well as necessary skills of the applicant.
China
How leaving your comfort zone will change your life
There is lots of talk about leaving your comfort zone these days. Doing it means change, and most people don't like or fear change. There are huge advantages to do this once in a while though. In this post I cover some of the bigger changes in my life and what helped me to manage that fear.
Career
The Staff Engineer - A Staff Engineer's perspective
In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Staff Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can learn and progress.
Career
The Senior Software Engineer - A Staff Engineer's perspective
In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Senior Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can learn and progress.
Career
The Professional Software Engineer - A Staff Engineer's perspective
In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Professional Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can learn and progress.