Hello Karl, tell me, who are you?

I’m a happy and easy-going system developer from Sölvesborg, who also acts as a team lead for Avalon’s system developers in Karlshamn. I live in a classic 1960s house on a hill in Valje – a small place on the county border between Sölvesborg and Bromölla – together with my two cats, Keps and Kotten. In my free time, I do carpentry on my house, brew beer, and run up and down the right side for Björkenäs/Pukaviks IF, wearing the number #2 on my back.

How do you handle potential challenges during a development process?

Ask, ask, and ask. But ask the right person about the right thing. Communication is the key in all kinds of projects, but it’s essential to communicate effectively. If a requirement specification is unclear, you should discuss it with the customer before implementing it, as ambiguities tend to appear during the implementation phase. If you encounter a bug, it might be better to bring it up with your development team, but only after you’ve made sure it’s actually a bug and you understand how to reproduce it. There are no dumb questions, but there are good and bad ones. Good questions save time. Bad questions waste time.

How do you stay updated on software development trends and news?

Mainly through tech blogs and YouTube channels (Fireship is a favorite there). But also by keeping the software packages in my projects up-to-date. It forces you to stay on your toes while also helping with the security and quality of our deliveries.

Are there common misconceptions about your profession?

Unfortunately, developers are sometimes seen as stereotypical basement nerds with poor social skills. That’s completely false! We don’t all sit in basements. Jokes aside – that stereotype has slowly started to fade away, which I find very relieving. Another common misconception is that just because you can program, you can also fix printers, set up networks, fix the flickering projector, or explain why the coffee machine isn’t working.

What is your greatest motivation in your work?

Solving real problems and seeing the value it brings. Sometimes I hear about a small system I put together during a summer job 10 years ago, which still saves a lot of time today and helps ensure the quality of the product it’s related to. That’s when you truly feel like you’re making a difference!