In this article, we want to introduce Mahfud Harun Allatif, our Developer. When Mahfud joined our agency as a WordPress Engineer in September 2021, we asked him a few questions to get to know him a little better.
This is Mahfud Harun Allatif
Mahfud lives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a quiet person who enjoys home activities very much. That’s also why I joined Syde so I can work even when I’m at home.
Other than that, I’m a curious person. I like to explore things that I don’t know as long as it has to do with technology. The most important thing to me is that it motivates me to keep improving. Like for example, when I see other people using the software I’ve built and are happy about it.
How do you spend your spare time?
I’m a new father so I don’t have much spare time, at least for now…
Outside working hours, however, I mostly spend my free time with my family. That is when my wife and I watch Netflix together over dinner, or I play with my cat.
I also have a small garden that I would like to plant with colorful flowers and fruits.
What is important to you?
My wife, my son, my family – the order is, of course, arbitrary! I moved out a couple of years ago and now live approx. 6 hours away from my family. So we don’t see each other often because the journey is too complicated.
I think it’s okay and important to live not too close to each other because I can concentrate more on my own little family. Although it’s sometimes hard without my parents. Especially since my wife and I have a new-born baby and have to manage everything alone. That’s the other side of the coin…
Can you tell a little story which describes best who you are?
I live in what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire in Indonesia. Here, it is more than likely that you live near a volcano. So I live only about 30 km from one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia called Mount Merapi.
When it erupts, it causes so-called pyroclastic flows with debris and ash in the area. Fortunately, the outbreaks have been turned away from our city so far, so we feel quite safe. The last one took place recently…
Mahfud’s way to Syde
I started my professional career as a software developer in a factory. It was a big challenge for me because I graduated from a college focusing on net-centric computing. It took me two years to realize that what I did there was not good. I delivered software there that just had to “work” – without any proper knowledge about design patterns, software tests, documentation, version control, etc.
That is why I decided to start learning those tools and techniques one by one until I was educated enough to be hired by Syde. Fortunately, learning doesn’t stop at Syde either. Working with WordPress experts, who are my colleagues, means that you always have the opportunity to learn new things.
Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone to achieve new goals. That happened to me before I came to Syde. I wasn’t too big a fan of WordPress from the start because unfortunately I’ve had a rather complicated experience with it in the past. But when I look at the coding task here at Syde, I realize that it might be different now. It’s a complex task and fun to work on.
In short, I believe that I will reach the next level as a software engineer at Syde. And, of course, I think it’s great to have an exciting job.
Questions to Syder Mahfud
We asked Mahfud a few personal questions to learn more about him:
What was the last book you read?
I am, of course, currently reading parenting books – and it won’t stop for a while.
What was the best advice you ever got? Who gave it to you?
One of my teachers once said “Every failure is an opportunity to learn and get better”.
What do you like most about your city?
It’s the range of food that I like most here. It has a wide variety, is cheap, and super delicious.
What is your favorite smartphone app?
Sport streaming and news apps.
What is the best meal you can cook on your own?
Silken Tofu with salted egg sauce.
You get stuck in the elevator for many hours and there’s a song playing in a continuous loop, what song would that be?
I’d prefer a quiet situation then, but if I had to choose, “Top of The World” by The Carpenters would make me more relaxed, I think.
By the way: The Syde Team is 100% remote
This enables us to bring together the best minds in the world in one team. You want to learn more about our way of working and the Syders? Take a look inside Syde!
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