At Cosmic Development, our employees determine our success day in and day out. Our Employee Spotlight series provides a peek behind the scenes of the unique individuals who work hard every day to create the best possible experience for all our clients. 

Today we chatted with Milan Andreev, a front-end developer. He joined Cosmic Development in 2017 and is currently a front-end developer for our loyal client, Bookmark. Milan is a performance-driven developer who is unafraid to take on challenges and give outputs that impact our company. His positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and love of learning are just a few character traits that make him a beloved member of our engineering team. In addition to his love for technology, he enjoys connecting with nature at any chance he gets, whether by running, rock climbing, mountain biking, or kiteboarding.

In today’s interview, we discuss his career journey to date, what he does daily as a front-end developer, and what he enjoys doing besides work.

First, we would like to congratulate you on your 5th anniversary at Cosmic Development. How did it all start?

Thanks. It is my pleasure to work with all of you. It all started five years ago. I worked remotely for more than ten years in many companies before Cosmic. They were small companies with two to five employees.

However, with no project management to handle tasks, the workload was hefty, and the pressure was high. And that is why I decided to start fresh in a new big company. When I got the job at Cosmic Development, I felt free, happy, and fulfilled after a long time. I am motivated, the work is always done, and there is always time to catch up with colleagues. I have the best time.

What does your average workday look like?

I am a morning person. I get up early, at six or seven, depending on the season. My day starts with a cup of coffee or tea. Then I put on my headphones, play some chillout music, and head for a run or bike ride. Sports activities and watching the sunrise give me a lot of energy for the rest of the day. Then my work day starts. In the morning, I feel the most creative, so I work with clarity at a fast pace. The first thing I do is check the task manager and organize for the day. We often have daily meetings where we share information about progress and future tasks. As the day passes, my concentration drops, which is a lunch alarm. After lunch, another fast pace coding session, a meeting with the colleagues, and the day is over. The best thing about my work is that there is no pressure; everyone is doing their work and helping each other. Cosmic is an environment that is too good to be true.

Can you tell us about your background? When did you decide you wanted to build a career in front-end development?

I started working in 1998. My first website was a fun page for the gymnasium Orce Nikolov, the high school where I went. Next, I started working on a project named Autoinfo – an application for listing cars for sale, the first of its kind at that time, and also my first dynamic website built in “ASP.” That is how I fell in love with creating websites and applications.

I graduated in Computer Science and carved out my career in that direction. There were many projects along the way, requiring different skills and engagement, but eventually, I ended up being a front-end developer. There is no particular reason why I chose front-end development; it came naturally. When I worked on full-stack development projects, and we split the work between colleagues, I felt more comfortable working on the front end.

You mentioned that, at the moment, you are working on design implementation. Can you tell us more about it? For example, what makes a good design implementation, according to you?

For good design implementation, you need a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Use as little code as needed, write clean, high-quality code, and read the designer’s intention. They often work in strict dimensions, so you need to code the same design in relative dimensions, so the design is responsive on all devices. And that’s it; it is very straightforward.

What is the most exciting part about being a front-end developer?

Front-end design is not very exciting, but it is rewarding. The best part is when at the end of the day when I feel fulfilled that I’ve finished the work as best as I could. The more I accomplish, the better I will feel about myself. 

And finally, who is Milan out of the office? Any outside hobbies or interests?

An introvert who finds peace and joy in sport and nature. I have a lot of hobbies that are my driving force in life – sports hobbies. I want sports that need a long learning curve.

For example, I started rock climbing many years ago. With rock climbing, you must learn about security, working with the devices for ascending and descending, working on the movement technique, and training endurance and power. The progress is very slow, and that’s why I like it. Also, I ride a road and a mountain bike. I want to be closer to nature and enjoy the views from the top of the mountain! I run, too. Although running seems like a basic activity, it isn’t. There are also running techniques involved, training for endurance and training for speed, and the progress is also very slow.

I also started kiteboarding, which is the hardest to learn from all of the above. You need to learn about wind windows and direction, controlling the kite, safety, and riding a board – all at the same time. It is very fun and enjoyable. And in wintertime, I ski. In every season, I switch between these sports. Sport makes me an enthusiastic and productive developer. 

It is a great way to unload and restore my body and mind. It gives me the tools and skills to succeed not just in the workplace but in life too.

If you’re interested in working with colleagues like Milan, check out our careers page. Cosmic Development offers a unique and exciting environment where you can have a significant impact daily and deliver real value for our clients. 

The post Different Approach To Making Results: Meet Milan Andreev, a Front-End Developer with a Passion for Sports appeared first on Cosmic Development.

Vojkan Boshkovski, a Senior Software Developer, talks about his experience and role at Cosmic Development. 

In our ongoing “Employee Spotlight” blog series, we shine a light on the talented individuals that comprise Cosmic Development’s team. We want to learn more about their roles, experience, background, and what it’s like working at Cosmic.

Today we introduce one of our senior software developers, Vojkan Boshkovski. Vojkan has over five years of experience in software development and is proficient in PHP, Laravel, and MySQL. He has been a crucial part of Cosmic Development for almost a year and brings knowledge and professionalism to the team. We value his hard work and are happy to have him on board. 

As part of the dynamic team of Bookmark (from which we already had the chance to talk to Atanas, Petar, and Maja), his primary responsibilities include writing well-designed and efficient code and code reviews. He also participates in team brainstorming sessions to discuss developing, improving, or modifying the existing products.

In this interview, Vojkan talks about his beginning at Cosmic, his role and responsibilities, and what it’s like to be part of Bookmark.com, one of Cosmic Development’s most valuable and loyal clients. He also shares some advice on what it takes a software developer to stay ahead of the curve.

Here’s what he had to say:

Vojkan, you joined Cosmic Development a year ago. Can you tell us how your journey began?

I’ve been hearing great things about Cosmic Development throughout the years but never got the chance to apply for a job. Then, a colleague of mine that worked for Cosmic’s Bookmark team told me about a job opening, for which I immediately applied. The interview went smoothly, and the people were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable — a perfect fit for me.

You are part of one of the biggest teams at Cosmic Development, Bookmark. Can you tell us something about that experience?

Bookmark is a big and complex project built using modern technologies. It is a privilege to contribute, and there is much to learn from it. The application has a vast and active user base, which adds to every task’s complexity (and enjoyment). Working in a big team of all seniors is pretty great, especially when they are all nice and collaborative. It’s been great from day 1. We spend a lot of time brainstorming and pair programming that helps our bonds grow stronger. The upper management is very understanding and knowledgeable as well. I would say that anyone would be happy to work in this environment.

Any pivotal moments you have had on your career path? Do you have any advice to give to younger colleagues?

Choosing Laravel as the leading technology was a good decision for me. The framework is kept up to date and has a very active and big community. It can be used for projects of any size (small to enterprise) with a proper setup. I strongly recommend using Laravel (or Symfony) for people who choose PHP as their primary programming language. And, for those who chose a different language, I would recommend switching to PHP. Also, educating yourself to the point of becoming language-agnostic would be my advice to any developer. It is one of the requirements to becoming a software architect for those who chose that carrier path, of course.

What are the crucial things a software developer shall do to stay ahead of their game?

As I previously mentioned, being as language-agnostic as you can is very important, in my opinion. That includes reading a lot of software development books and having a lot of working experience on real-life projects. Do not get stuck on a single project for too many years if you can. There are exceptions, but generally, I would try to work on as many different kinds of projects as possible. Be an active member and contributor for your chosen stack and follow discussions on upcoming changes. This will help you think and plan ahead, detect early deprecations and breaking changes, etc.

While we discuss staying ahead of your game, can you tell us what your favorite books or podcasts on software development are?

‘The pragmatic programmer’ is my all-time favorite. Of course, ‘Clean code’ is worth mentioning as a must-read. Other than those, I would say any book on OOP, design, and architectural patterns is worth reading.

According to you, what does it take to become a successful developer? How can one stay on top of the new technologies? 

What I mentioned in my previous answers, and know your algorithms and data structures. Do not forget to work on your soft skills as well

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Vojkan. We’ll be back soon with more employee spotlights on our inspiring Cosmic Development team members. If you want to join Vojkan’s team Bookmark, we have an open position – Software Developer PHP. Or visit our careers page to check out all open positions. Stay tuned for more team stories and learn more about our incredible employees!

The post Employee Spotlight: Getting to Know Vojkan, Senior Software Developer appeared first on Cosmic Development.

Having a website and a strong online presence is the backbone of every business. It has become crucial in ensuring any business’s survival and especially important for small and medium companies and startups. Simply put, an effective website will take your business to another level and put you a step ahead of your competition.

However, creating a website can be a time-consuming and exhausting process that requires skill, knowledge, and practice. Fortunately, we live in a time when it has never been easier to create a website, even with zero technical knowledge. With the help of easy-to-use services known as website builders, you can build a high-quality website from scratch.

So, what exactly are web builders and how do they work?

In simple words, website builders are tools that help you quickly and easily create a website with no coding or design skills and without web developers’ help.

On the plus side, many of them provide hosting and domains. These tools allow both beginners and tech-savvy users to create a fully optimized website within minutes. They are easy to use, have pre-coded templates, analytical tools, SEO tools, and much more. The steps are simple. All you have to do is choose a template from the many available in the website builder’s library. Then customize the template design using the drag-and-drop function that allows you to move and add elements like images, video, text, titles, and buttons wherever you want on your page. Upload your content, preview, and publish. That’s how easy it is.

Choosing the right online web builder can be overwhelming. It would be best if you made a choice based on your unique needs. However, any good website builder should have the following features:

• A drag-and-drop builder
• Built-in tech support
• Customization option
• User-friendly interface
• E-commerce solution
• A free plan or trial period
• Hosting
• Lots of quality website design templates and themes
• Mobile compatibility
• Scalability
• Website analytics and reports

To help you choose the best option, we’ve compiled a list of six of the most popular website builders for 2021 on the market and their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Bookmark
2. Wix
3. Shopify
4. WordPress
5. Joomla
6. Squarespace

Bookmark

Bookmark is an AI-based website builder perfect for small business owners with technical, time, and budget limitations. AIDA, its artificial intelligence design assistant, will help you build your website in two minutes. The best thing about AIDA is that you don’t need coding or designing skills. AIDA will analyze your needs and walk you through the process, choosing from the million combinations to create a functional and unique website. Then, with their simple drag-and-drop editor, you can further customize your website. Plus, Bookmark is a fully hosted platform.

 Pros:

• AI design assistant
• Customer support 
• Design customization options
• Drag and drop interface
• User-friendly interface
• E-commerce
• Free hosting and domain name registration
• Free plan
• Integrated statistics
• Live chat
• Mobile responsive
• Online training courses
• Social media integrations
• Supports SEO

 Cons:

• A limited number of templates
• Some templates may be too basic for those with programming experience
• Third-party plugins can be expensive

Pricing:

Bookmark offers a free trial and a free version. The two paid plans range from $11.99-£24.99/month. Visit their website for more info.

Wix

Wix is one of the most popular free hosted, cloud-based website builders. It is a beginner-friendly and cost-effective website design tool best for bloggers and small businesses. By using Wix, you’ll get access to hundreds of templates you can easily edit. It offers two products: Wix Editor, an intuitive drag-and-drop site builder that allows you customization freedom, and Wix ADI, an AI-based system that creates a website in minutes, best for those that seek a quick solution.

Pros:

• A variety of widgets and apps
• Drag-and-drop editor
• User-friendly interface
• Image editor
• More than 500 templates easy to customize available
• No coding or technical knowledge needed 
• SEO tools
• Variety of plan options 
• Wix artificial design intelligence

 Cons:

• Can’t switch templates after a site is published
• E-commerce marketing features are limited
• It is not easy to move your site away from Wix
• Not Ideal for large websites
• Slow loading speed
• The starter plan doesn’t remove ads from your site. 

Pricing:

Wix has eight pricing plans ranging from $14 to $500+ per month, billed annually. It also offers a limited free plan with Wix ads. For more info, check here.

Shopify 

Shopify is a fully hosted website builder designed exclusively for e-commerce websites and online stores. It is a quick and easy solution for anyone who wants to start an e-commerce business. The good thing is that you don’t need coding or design skills to build and run your online store. With its clean and intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can organize your products. Choose from a variety of well-designed themes and templates, and customize the way your website looks. Shopify also tracks and responds to orders and accept payments, online and credit cards.

Pros:

• 14-day free trial 
• 24-hour support
• A built-in email marketing tool
• A great number of quality designs
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Automated shipping calculation
• Easy to modify designs
• Modern and mobile-friendly templates
• No coding experience needed
• Scaling
• Sell across multiple channels
• SEO features
• Unlimited product listings
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Additional fees
• Difficult to move your website away from Shopify
• Expensive services
• No free plan beyond 14 days
• Shopify Payments only available in certain countries
• URL structure is not ideal for SEO

Pricing:

Shopify offers three general plans, and they range from $29 – $299/month. Additionally, the Shopify Lite plan starts at $9/month and Shopify Plus is available at $2,000 per month. The best thing about their payment plan is that there are no additional transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments. Find out more here.

WordPress 

WordPress is probably the most popular CMS (content management system) platform in the world. There are two different versions of WordPress:

• WordPress.com – hosting service
• WordPress.org – self-hosting, open-source software that demands web development knowledge

Here we are going to review WordPress.com.

With this all-in-one website building solution, you can quickly build a website even if you don’t have much technical knowledge. It’s the best option for personal blogs or small business sites. It is flexible and scalable, and there is a wide array of themes you can choose from and personalize your site. WordPress is relatively easy to use, but it is not very beginner-friendly compared to other website creators. Like, if you want to develop your site further, you will need to have basic coding skills.

Pros:

• Accessible to beginners
• Customizable designs
• E-commerce feature
• Email and live chat support
• Free plan
• Google Analytics support
• No hosting needed
• Scalability

Cons:

• Not the easiest or the cheapest website builder to use
• Premium and lower plans do not have e-commerce features
• Slight learning curve
• You must upgrade to a business plan to install custom plugins or themes

Pricing:

WordPress.com offers five different pricing plans, ranging from free to $45/month. Go here for more details.

Joomla  

Joomla is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) that can be used to build powerful websites and applications. With Joomla, you can set up a website and you can publish all kinds of content like text, photos, videos, documents, and much more. Its many functions allow you to customize the appearance and features. Joomla, however, is not for those that need a quick and easy solution. Although it’s not very difficult to learn, it does have a learning curve that is more complex than other website creators. It’s best for people who have some web development experience. This platform offers many functions, extensions, and plugins.

Pros:

• Supports e-commerce
• Easy to edit
• A large number of Plugins and Extensions available
• SEO Friendly
• Mobile friendly
• Multilingual
• Free

Cons:

• Not user friendly
• Steep learning curve

Pricing:

It is open-source so you can own and modify your site without worrying about licensing or fees.

Squarespace

Squarespace is another website builder that is good for online stores, blogs, and smaller websites. Due to its modern and aesthetic templates, Squarespace is great for artists, photographers, and designers who want to showcase their work online and capture audience attention.

Although Squarespace allows you to customize almost everything on the website with little technical knowledge, some users find it more difficult to use than other web builders.

Pros:

• Email campaign tools
• Fully managed cloud hosting
• Mobile friendly
• Modern and aesthetic templates 
• Online store
• SEO and analytics
• Social media integration
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Less easy to use than other builders
• Low page speed
• More expensive than some other services

Pricing:

Squarespace doesn’t have a free plan, but you can test it out with a free 14-day trial before committing to the paid plan. Squarespace’s four pricing plans range from $12 to $40 per month.

Our Recommendation: Bookmark

As you can see, every website builder has its strengths and weaknesses, and different companies cater to different needs and budgets. Nevertheless, if you are a small business owner and entrepreneur who is looking for a quick and simple solution to establish a strong online presence, we recommend Bookmark.

Bookmark is one of the most innovative website builders on the market. What makes Bookmark stand out among competitors is its powerful Artificial Intelligence Design Assistant (AIDA), and the devoted team of developers behind it. These professionals want to set new standards in web design and are focused on continuous growth and improvement.

After asking you simple questions about your needs and goals AI algorithms will create a unique website in just a couple of minutes. And if you don’t like the finished product, the smart AI assistant will try again. Then, you can customize your site according to your needs and preferences.

Time efficiency and cost efficiency are the main advantages of Bookmark’s AIDA.

Another benefit of using Bookmark is that it provides website hosting and domain name registration. That means you don’t have to worry about managing software, keeping backups, or installing updates. Bookmark will do that for you.

So, if you run a small business, have no coding and designing experience, and have a limited time and budget, check out Bookmark. It is an affordable and reliable option.

Final Thoughts

There is no excuse for not having a website in this day and age where everything is online. A website is the face of your business, and it can have an enormous impact on your success. The better the website is, the more advantages you can gain. A well-designed website is vital for making a lasting impression on your target audience.

We tried to give you a closer look at the most popular website builders and their advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you reach a decision based on your own unique needs. Also, always use the free trial or free plan options before you make a commitment.

What to do in case you need a more powerful website?

Website builders, like the ones reviewed in this article, are great for small businesses and individuals. Still, if you are looking for a powerful hosting solution for a huge site, they may not be best for you. Building a successful website requires industry knowledge and experienced web developers. A dedicated development team should definitely manage complicated projects that require design and code. Although this option is more expensive, it is worth the investment. These professionals will offer you excellent design solutions, expert guidance, and a high-quality website that generates traffic and income.

No matter which website builder you will choose, remember, the price you’ll pay for a website is much lower than the price of not having one and getting left behind.

Hiring a professional team of developers can take time. If you don’t have any web development experience, it can be hard to make the right choice. And this is where we can help. Cosmic Development has years of experience in providing some of the best solutions to our clients. Our website experts can turn your vision into reality.

If you still can’t decide what is the best solution for your business and prefer professional advice, schedule a free consultation with us and we will help you with the process of building your online presence.

Sources:

https://www.wix.com

https://www.shopify.com

https://www.bookmark.com

https://www.joomla.org

https://www.squarespace.com

The post Top 6 Website Builders and Their Benefits appeared first on Cosmic Development.

Two weeks ago we decided to address an ongoing issue in the IT community. The issue is with the remote agile teams. Many experts on the subject would say that the term “remote agile teams” is a bit contradictory, as the Agile Methodology was created for teams that share the same physical space. Therefore, can we make Agile work in the new normal? Yes, we can. By providing dedicated teams for our clients, commonly known as staff augmentation. We have more than ten years of experience in shaping remote agile teams. Furthermore, we asked our colleague Maja Dimitrovska, who is an important part of the Bookmark team, how she succeeds on a daily basis with the aforementioned issue. 

As mentioned, these are strange and challenging times to lead agile teams. Can you tell us your secret? How do you manage to keep track of everybody’s tasks on Bookmark?

We are often told to confront unexpected changes, that we need to be agile and resilient. This is most accurate, as we try to respond to the changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic. As our world turns upside down, most companies are reacting rather than responding. In times like these, business agility provides stability, a way to manage change and respond productively. 

Agile is a framework that approves professionals and companies through developing high performing teams. In an Agile environment, changes are welcome; the client is the epicenter of the work and development is aligned with business needs. Company owners need to work on “enabling the best in their employees, rather than commanding it from them”. Leaders should empower employees to be self-organized.  

Remote working entails many challenges, one of which is knowing how to always be connected with other colleagues on your team, how to maintain an overall team culture, morale and motivation, how to run engaging meetings, how to track and communicate progress within the team, how to exchange ideas and share experiences (good and bad) and, last but not least, how to help the team focus on priorities. By communicating a clear vision, encouraging frequent communication and providing clear boundaries, team members feel better connected and remain focused and productive.

No one said that leading remote agile teams was going to be easy, and just like many other leaders faced with the sudden change to virtual team environments, we are also reorganizing our activities and the way we work. Some of our activities during these challenging times are:

• Following the team’s principles
• Clear team delegation and prioritization of tasks
• Communication, communication, communication
• Daily standups with the team via collaboration tools, such as Slack or Zoom
• Random chats (one-on-one) and co-working tools (Trello, Jira)
• Short-term goals
• Ensuring qualitative results

Even though the working environment has changed, the quality and quantity of our deliverables have not. Frequently sharing our achievements with the team and further improving are our regular activities.

During this crisis, leaders need to learn new ways to care for their people. Connect with them to detect unforeseen issues, respect and value team skills, personal needs and differences, encourage them to do their work remotely with less supervision. This is the beginning of a new way of leading.

According to you, what are the benefits of using Trello for project management in an agile environment?

Task management is the core and soul of every project. First, we divide the project into smaller pieces, then decide what needs to get done and which team member to do it. Trello excels at task management and it is considered as one of the platforms that employees can learn the quickest. Tasks and projects are systematized by using a three-part hierarchy: Boards, Lists, and Cards. You can create and organize these elements in any way you want. By assigning cards to specific users, due dates and files. Trello is a fantastic Scrum and Agile solution. It’s easy to use and it works like a traditional whiteboard, in digital form. 

Boards: The flexibility of Trello boards is perfectly aligned with the Scrum framework; it gives you full visibility into project stages, roles, deadlines and assignments. After you sign up on Trello, you can create multiple boards within your personal or team workspace.

Lists: Boards contain lists, which are grouped tasks. You can choose to rename or reorder any of the lists to match your team’s current needs for the project you are working on.

Cards: The same goes for cards. You can also move the cards from one list to another with just one click. Each card may contain a description, a checklist with subtasks, additional attachments, assignees, due dates and labels. Furthermore, team members can discuss aspects of the task by commenting. Every new person added to one of the cards gets access to previous discussions.

Power-ups: You can use Trello’s power-ups to connect to the card applications like Slack, Github, Jira, Google Drive, and many more. There are many items on the list of power-ups, and this only guarantees that Trello is a tool that easily integrates into one’s workflow.

Notifications: You will never miss important developments from the tasks that you are included in; you will be updated regularly by receiving a notification.

These capabilities make Trello great in terms of flexibility and how intuitive it is to use. Trello is distinct from other tools, thanks to its simplicity. Trello project management makes a great tool, whether you need to organize a whole team’s work or just your activities.

What other project management software do you prefer?

Project management software tools have become widely popular in recent years; there are plenty of options to choose from. Some of those tools are free to use with limited features, while others with advanced copy have more functions. Some require payment after a few days of the trial period. Choosing which tool to use can be quite challenging and also engaging.

Whether you want to find a simple way to organize tasks or need a powerful, enterprise-grade system, there is a PM tool for everyone. The project management software helps project managers and teams to collaborate and meet goals on time while managing resources and costs. Functions may include task distribution, time tracking, budgeting, resource planning, team collaboration, and many more.

Choosing the right approach for managing a project is crucial for successful project delivery. The way that managers manage work is defined by techniques that you use, tools that they use, and project scope activities on which they are working.

The process of leading Agile teams can be challenging at times because there are countless moving parts and evolving processes to manage. However, it is especially difficult if you do not have the right software behind you. Project managers should choose a project management tool that best suits their management style. Choosing the right tool for managing the Agile development team has not always been an easy decision. Certain factors must be evaluated as you’re assessing/shopping for different tools:

• Agile Framework Preferences
• Collaboration Features
• Team Size
• Project Type
• Reporting
• Usability

Some of the best agile project management tools available on the market are Trello, Jira, Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Smart sheet, etc. I have worked with different project tools during the past years and I can say that when choosing the right tool, you need to make sure that the options that the toll provides are the best fit for your team and future project plans.

Currently, we are using Trello, but we are open and exploring possible solutions on the market. To organize and achieve better integration, alignment with other company teams, and cover future planned project activities, we are also considering starting using Jira. Jira is a platform that allows teams to handle issues throughout the life cycle of the problem. Jira can be tailored to fit different organizational structures and is highly customizable. Jira also works great for smaller teams, as well as larger ones. The reasons why we are considering to switch to Jira are the following main features:

• Transparency 
• Flexibility
• User Experience
• Commenting
• Cost management
• Categorization
• Custom Workflow
• Knowledge management
• Integrations

In the end, no matter which project management solution you are going for, agile tools are sure to improve the way you streamline your workflow and team productivity.

In the end, quick question (that provokes a long answer): Kanban or Scrum? Or maybe Scrumban?

Agile is an enormous umbrella term that covers several different approaches, two of which are Scrum and Kanban. Scrum and Kanban apply agile principles in their own way to empower effective delivery cycles. Scrumban is a term for a hybrid approach making use of both Scrum and Kanban principles.

Agile is all about experimentation. Scrum, Kanban or Scrumban are not competitors; they can be experiments every team should run to find their best fit. The goal of using an agile approach is to deliver more value for the business in the quickest way possible. I think it is always a good thing to experiment and implement new processes that will enhance the way the team works and how project activities are organized.

From my experience with managing teams, I would say that Scrum is great for any team that can work on incremental delivery: a product, reporting, hardware, etc. Out of the three methodologies, Scrum is probably the hardest to adopt and the most complex and strict methodology. Scrum sprints can set clear goals and deadlines, thus giving full-control to the project manager. The Scrum framework is appropriate for experienced teams working on a product or a project which is longer than a year.

Kanban gives more freedom at the start. It is the most simple and most comfortable to adopt the method. It uses a Kanban board on which it visualizes the work and the work process, ensuring that everyone in the team is on the same page. It also reveals who are the bottlenecks in the workflow without losing its flexibility in production. Kanban is a good fit for supporting and maintaining teams. I love Kanban’s way of thinking to stop starting and start finishing.

Our team is using Scrumban. It combines the benefits of both Scrum and Kanban methodologies by using Kanban’s visualization and Scrum’s systematization while not introducing extra complexity. Scrumban is flexible in production and functions pretty good in large projects. It allows teams to have the agility of Scrum and the simplicity of Kanban while requiring no role updates.

Scrumban is a good fit for smaller teams, startups and loyal teams bringing more efficiency and freedom, teams who manage projects and work alongside keeping the business operational. Like in the process of choosing the right tool to manage the project team activities, the same approach should be used for adopting new agile methods or implementing changes in current that are used. Research each agile method, rescan the processes and bottlenecks in the team activities and then decide what you will implement as a new process for the Team. Strategies need to be revised and will be a matter of change until the best fit for the team is defined.

Discover why many Canadian and USA companies prefer hiring remote teams from Serbia and Macedonia. Tell us your needs and we will help you build an agile remote team. Arrange a free consultation today and we will get you started.

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Being a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in an IT support services company such as Cosmic Development is not an effortless job. However, when you are working with passion and loyalty towards the company, you will achieve nothing but success. That is the strategy of Atanas Krangov, the current CTO of Bookmark.com, who is an expert in his work and who has faced the challenges of his role responsibly.  

Atanas started off as a PHP developer in Cosmic Development and has been with us for more than seven years. Thanks to his dedication towards work and impeccable knowledge he became the Chief Technology Officer of Bookmark – one of Cosmic Development’s most valuable clients. Read below and learn more about his Cosmic journey from the beginning till now. Discover the scope of his expertise and the daily challenges he faces and overcomes with little effort.

When did your Cosmic journey start? How would you describe it so far? Could you tell us how it all started?

It all started back in 2012. At that time, Cosmic Development was the first IT company in Macedonia that tried to replicate Google’s office environment. I saw their job advertisement for PHP developers, and I applied immediately. And here I am – still working in the software development department in the same company. My Cosmic journey had its ups and downs like in every other business. However, I can say that I made the right choice for joining Cosmic and I plan to keep going for more.

What is your role in Cosmic Development now? Tell us more about your range of duties.

For the last 5+ years, I have been working on a project called Bookmark, which is a website creation tool for non-technical people. As the CTO of Bookmark, I am responsible for managing the development team as well as for creating timelines and deployments on all technological services. Furthermore, I am acting as a mentor to the team members and making sure that all technology practices adhere to regulatory standards.

What are the challenges you face as the CTO of Bookmark.com, and how do you overcome them?

The IT industry is a dynamic one, where any updates in the technology can bring significant changes. My primary responsibility is to ensure that the company is in a good position with the technology that we use and to make sure that we deliver the best results for our clients. However, when having such a responsibility, you are also facing a lot of challenges. Some of the main challenges as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) are the following: 

• Identification of the right approach 
• Performance optimization
• Security for the organization
• Recruitment of the best talent
• Technical vision and roadmap
• Organizational structure for tech teams
• Product management

When facing so many challenges, I can only say that there is no clear pattern to deal with all of them. You need to be proactive, adapt to the current state of the market, always try to evolve your knowledge, do a lot of networking, etc.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned working as a CTO? 

When working, you learn new things on a daily basis. That way, I have been evolving not only as an individual but also as a CTO of Bookmark. One of the things that I have learned in these years is that you must know how to predict things easily. You need to see your team’s limits and constraints. Moreover, you need to know how to balance delivery time and technical debt. And also you should always be present and helpful to your team. You must try to find time to speak with your team members and be able to listen and give them useful advice.

It sounds like you genuinely love what you do! When did you discover your passion for programming? 

I got my first personal computer when I was only nine years old. From that period, my love for computers began to expand more and more. I loved not only the computer as a machine but also the video games that I played on it. However, my passion for programming awoke at a later age. In high school, we had IT lessons, which taught me the basic knowledge of computers and computer science itself. I believe that at that moment I developed a passion for programming.

You’ve started at Cosmic Development as a PHP developer and worked your way to a more complex role. What was your primary drive for professional and personal development?

My primary drive for professional and personal development consisted of getting a good education, observation, and mentorship that can help me improve my skills and later to enhance the employees in the workplace. My idea was to deepen my knowledge in a specific area in which I like to evolve. Moreover, I wanted to gain freedom and to be able to work whenever and wherever I want, while also increasing your earning potential.

What is the most valuable advice you have to offer to your younger colleagues?

As engineers, our job is not just to solve problems – that’s doable. Our main job task is to simplify the issues. When trying to simplify a complicated problem, we make sure to understand it in a better way. But more important is the fact that when simplifying the problem, we learn how to maintain it easily for a more extended period. When delivering simple solutions to those problems, we use a better decision-making process, and it leads us to a more simple and more well-organized codebase. That, consequently, leads to better execution and development of more stable software. 

How stressful is your job and how do you overcome nerve-racking situations in general?

Working can sometimes be stressful, for sure. However, being organized and coordinated with other coworkers can prove to be beneficial. That is the main reason why I always tend to keep myself organized. Since I am a morning person, the first thing I do in the morning is reading and responding to emails. After that, I discuss with my teammates the schedule for that day, and I assign the tickets. Remember: Balance is everything in life.

What is your greatest achievement outside of work?  

I can say without a doubt that my greatest achievement outside of work is becoming a dad I am proud to say that 15 months ago, I became a father to the most beautiful baby girl who is my inspiration and who brings joy in everything I do.

And finally, what do you like to do for fun? 

I have a passion for motorcycles! Almost half of my life, I owned many different types of motorcycles. Everyone who knows me can confirm that I love riding motorbikes. However, I have other hobbies as well. Apart from riding motorcycles, I like to play football and to go skiing in the winter.

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