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.

At Cosmic Development, our employees are at the core of everything we do. We believe that the people-first approach is the foundation of a client-centric organization. We foster a culture of trust, confidence, and commitment and take the responsibility of creating the conditions that allow our employees to thrive.

Our “Employee Spotlight” series highlights our talented employees who bring ideas to light and make this company incredible. Next on our list is Bojan Angjelkovski. Bojan is a senior front-end developer and Angular specialist who adds to our fantastic team of developers, and we are very lucky to have him. Read on to discover more about Bojan and our software development team.

You are one of the newest additions to the Cosmic Development team. Could you tell us how your Cosmic journey began?

I embarked on my career journey with Cosmic Development about a year and a half. It all started on LinkedIn. The conversation there led to a video interview, and the whole process resulted in me getting hired as a senior software developer.

I like my Cosmic journey so far, and most of all, I enjoy the freedom and flexibility the company offers. I’ve got a lot of support from the team, and I can’t wait to meet everyone in person soon.

We would like to know why you opted for software development and why Angular exactly?

Software development is not always easy, but it is rewarding, fun, and engaging. Building software is more than writing code – it is providing solutions for users’ problems, and therefore it requires creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills.

I like the feeling of achievement when I come up with solutions, and I am never bored when I work. Also, I love the potential of teamwork in software development. Being a part of a team and combining different points of view, experiences and skills lead to practical solutions to problems. We learn a lot from each other. I’ve learned a lot through indie development, where you go on your own, build something, and sell it to the world. So, I guess the vast potential for creative expression, sharing ideas, and collaboration with other developers, and above all, the passion I have for development, were essential to why I chose software development as a career.

And to answer the question about Angular. There are many reasons behind choosing Angular for web development. It offers a variety of features, programming styles, good documentation, google maintenance, package ecosystem, developer tooling, fast performance, stability and compatibility, and a learning curve.

What were the biggest challenges that you faced as a software developer?

We are working in a highly complex, vast, and dynamic industry, and software development is an essential part of that industry. Several factors are determining it, including growing complexities, market conditions, changing technology trends, and expanding software development challenges.

Of course, the challenges may vary. For example, most of the projects are now increasingly ruled by the “build once, deploy everywhere” paradigm, which means that a single application can run across multiple platforms. Integrating different programs and maintaining support complicates this issue even further.

However, for me personally, being up to date and not becoming obsolete is the most important thing to do in order to rise up to the challenges the industry brings.

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

One shall face all obstacles without giving up. Persistence, positive mental attitude, and passion distinguish good from great software developers. Having endurance keeps your discipline, optimism and helps you persevere through difficult situations and challenges. Also, you have to be naturally curious, love to learn new things, and work hard. I believe that self-learners make the best programmers. Other vital traits I would mention are attention to detail and accepting feedback. Positive criticism is essential for growing, learning, and improving.

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

I will start with books, and my first choice would be Eloquent JavaScript by Marjin Haverbeke. Eloquent JavaScript is a book that really stands out in a market saturated with programming content for developers. Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners. It has some specific parts that require a few years of coding background to understand.

Next, I would list JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford. This one helped me “think in JavaScript” and helped me understand how to use the best parts of JS and bypass the bad parts.

For podcasts, I will mention JavaScript Jabber – one of the best-established JavaScript podcasts. And one of the must-see episodes is the interview with Brendan Eich, the man behind the JavaScript programming language.

You recently represented Cosmic Development at the DIGIT event organized by the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering in Skopje. Can you tell us a bit more about that experience?

Yes, I was part of this year’s DIGIT- Angular 2021. It was a fresh experience for me, and it is a great idea. However, I believe there is much room for improvement, and the best way to do so is through getting constructive feedback from all sides.

Generally, it is an excellent way for the students to gain a realistic idea of what it is like to work on real projects and share ideas and solutions to a given problem, of course, with our help, as mentors. There should be more such events.

The post Employee Spotlight: Open Talk with Bojan, Senior Front-End Developer appeared first on Cosmic Development.

Programming books are a source of useful information that developers can use if they want to enrich their personal knowledge and work skills. Therefore, the action of reading programming books has been always a subject of discussion between individuals who disagree on whether books are really that important. Half of the programmers think that they can get the mandatory knowledge for web, app, or software development through good practice and even better knowledge of the Internet. However, the other half of the programmers believe that it is necessary to read programming books if developers want to improve their knowledge and skills. 

Programming books are an essential part of the personal development and knowledge of individuals who want to advance in their fields of expertise. Knowing how to find a solution to a coding problem online is a very important skill when working on big projects, however, reading books for programming may also prove to be beneficial on a long-term basis. 

Although the list of best programming books may vary based on personal preference, there are some books that are on the programmers’ “must-read” list. Developers need to start reading books in addition to the articles they read online if they want to call themselves professionals. Currently, the most popular “know-how” sources among software developers are the following five programming books:

• The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery by David Thomas and Andrew Hunt
• Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin
• The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers by Robert C. Martin
• Clean Architecture: A Craftsman’s Guide to Software Structure and Design by Robert C. Martin
• Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C# by Robert C. Martin

The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery by David Thomas and Andrew Hunt

“The Pragmatic Programmer” is one of those programming books that provide developers with fresh comprehension of coding and the ability to create better software. Regardless of whether programmers have experience or are beginners, this book will improve their personal productivity and job satisfaction. David Thomas and Andrew Hunt wrote the first edition of this book in 1999 with the intention to help programmers examine the core of software development, regardless of the programming language. Back in those days, this book helped in the development of a Pragmatic philosophy which produced a large number of books, audiobooks, screencasts, and success stories. 

The same book from 20 years ago re-examines the modern programming principles in the newest edition that came out in September 2019. This new edition of “The Pragmatic Programmer” tackles various topics interesting for modern programmers, such as personal responsibility, career development, architectural techniques for preserving the code’s flexibility, etc. In addition, reading this book will help programmers learn how to resolve potential problems with code, how to write adaptable and dynamic code, and how to guard against security exposure. Moreover, developers will discover how to implement the Pragmatic Starter Kit and build teams of Pragmatic Programmers. They will also know how to take responsibility for their careers by avoiding programming by coincidence and facing duplicate knowledge. Developers will learn all of these skills and will develop new habits that will guarantee success in their careers.

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin

“Clean Code” is one of the three most important Robert C. Martin’s books for programming. The “Clean Code” book will help developers to write better code, to discover how to convert bad into good code, and to become better programmers. Robert C. Martin decided to write this book as a challenge to programmers to reassess their professional values and their work commitment. The “Clean Code” challenges developers to read lots of code and to think about what is right or what is wrong with the code in front of them. 

The “Clean Code” book is a must-read programming book for all developers, software engineers, and project leaders who want to produce better code. Programmers who decide to read this book will enrich their knowledge of coding and will be able to differentiate good from bad code. Moreover, they will learn how to format code and get maximum readability, as well as how to create good names, classes, functions in order to transform bad code into a good one. Furthermore, programmers will discover how to handle errors without covering the code logic, and how to practice test-driven development.

The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers by Robert C. Martin

“The Clean Coder” is one of the programming books that Robert C. Martin wrote for improving software craftsmanship. Developers are encouraged to read this book if they want to get practical advice about coding and creating software. Martin published “The Clean Coder” in 2011 and expected readers to learn that programming is not only a simple technique, but it is also an attitude. The book teaches programmers how their self-respect must be high if they plan to approach software development and face difficult problems that require appropriate decisions. Therefore, programmers who are professionals in their work must treat the practice of creating a software as a craft. 

When reading “The Clean Coder”, readers will be able to learn what it is to be a true software craftsman and how to become one. This book will mainly teach programmers how to deal with conflicts, managers, and tight schedules, as well as how to avoid burnout and pressure from the big loads of work. It will also help developers learn how to deal with the so-called “writer’s block” and how to manage their time for a certain task. Therefore, “The Clean Coder” is a programming book that both beginners and experienced developers need to read if they want to become professionals in their jobs.

Clean Architecture: A Craftsman’s Guide to Software Structure and Design by Robert C. Martin

“Clean Architecture” is another of Martin’s books for programming, which discusses software architecture and its ability to help with the improvement of the developer’s productivity. Robert C. Martin wrote the “Clean Architecture” as an addition to the “Clean Code” and “The Clean Coder”, revealing the rules of software and helping programmers apply those rules in their work. Developers can learn which choices are critical for their success and which challenges they will have to make in order to finish their projects. “Clean Architecture” is one of those programming books that will come in handy to all software architects and managers, as well as to all system analysts and designers.  

Programming books may be useful not only for programming as a process but also for learning the software structure and design. “Clean Architecture” does exactly that. It teaches software architects what they need to achieve and which are the best practices and core disciplines for achieving the aim. Moreover, the book shows how programming paradigms restrict the developers’ tasks and impose discipline. It also helps developers to distinguish what is truly important and what is not, while discovering how to prevent failures in designs and architectures. Finally, “Clean Architecture” teaches programmers how to implement web structures, databases, console, and other embedded applications. Therefore, developers need to read this book if they want to master essential software design principles.

Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C# by Robert C. Martin

The final choice from our Top 5 programming books is the award-winning book “Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C#” that Robert C. Martin wrote in order to familiarize programmers with the Agile principles. This guide for Agile methods is especially useful to Java and C++ programmers because it illustrates the Agile fundamentals and moves from UML models to C# code. Developers who wonder which programming books contain the necessary knowledge of C#, Java and Agile software need to pay closer attention to this book. C# programmers, software development managers, and business analysts will get sufficient knowledge of Agile software and how to apply it in the .NET Framework.

The “Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C#” displays the basics of the Agile movement as well as many source code examples proven in practice. Programmers who decide to read this book will learn the Agile designs and principles as well as 14 practices of Extreme Programming. They will also get familiar with five types of UML diagrams and will know how to use them. In addition to this, after reading this book, developers will be able to use all that knowledge in a real-world project through pair programming and designing.

These are only five of the numerous programming books that are published and available to software developers. If you think that we forgot to mention a book that is also useful for programmers, send us a message. Use that opportunity and tell us which is your favorite programming book.

Sources:

• amazon.com/gp/product/020161622X/
• amazon.com/gp/product/0132350882/
• amazon.com/gp/product/0137081073/
• amazon.com/gp/product/0134494164/
• amazon.com/gp/product/0131857258/

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