Why do you do what you do – in other words, why does being a DevOps Engineer tickle your fancy?

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Being a DevOps engineer is always exciting; each day brings something new to work on. There’s a saying, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none,’ which aptly describes a DevOps engineer. In this role, we engage with developers’ code, scripts, and various other aspects of our work, embodying the ‘Jack of all trades.’ This means we excel in versatility rather than specialising in just one area.

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What was the path (or highlights of the path) that led to you becoming a DevOps Engineer at Metasite?

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Originally, I wanted to be a developer. However, after joining a company that was developing a product, I was steered towards a role as a DevOps engineer instead of a backend engineer, which marked the start of my journey in DevOps. Unfortunately, due to downsizing at that company, I lost my job. A few weeks later, I was contacted by Greta from Metasite, and the rest, as they say, is history.

If you had to explain what you do at Metasite in 2-3 sentences (or more) – how would you explain it?

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I work as a DevOps engineer at the best company ever. My role involves delivering valuable insights to our clients, collaborating closely with developers, and solving a wide range of problems for everyone involved. I just love making things work.

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What’s next on your “to-learn” bucket list?

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I’d like to spend some time getting better at the Go programming language, which is very popular in the DevOps world, or maybe start learning some Rust.

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Do you listen to music while working? If you do – what artists, albums or songs help you get into the flow and do your best work?

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Recently, my girlfriend gifted me a great set of speakers, so I’ve started listening to music while working. Before this, I never listened to music during work.

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Do you have a favourite quote? (If you do – what is it and by whom?)

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In fact, I do! It’s quite straightforward and captures the essence of the message:

“When a debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser,”

– Socrates

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In a different life – if you were not a DevOps Engineer at a software development company – what job / profession would you choose, and why?

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I would love to get into woodworking or metalworking. I have a real passion for power tools and enjoy creating things from wood or metal. Whenever I have a reason to buy a new tool, like a drill or any other battery-operated equipment, I go ahead and purchase it without even discussing it.

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How do you expect your field to evolve over the next 5-10 years? Are there any recent developments that you feel are likely to shape its evolution in a significant way?

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I think we’re currently in a period where progress is steady. AI is certainly a big topic right now, but to really make a difference with it, you still need a lot of expertise. My guess for the next 5-10 years is that we’ll see a lot of amazing AI tools that will help us a lot in our work, but they won’t be advanced enough to replace us.

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What superpower would you like to have?

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There’s a movie with Nicolas Cage where his character can see a few minutes into the future, specifically 2-5 minutes. I think having that ability would be incredible. I’d pick the power to see a bit into the future, even just for those few minutes.

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What is the best – your favourite – tool you have ever used?

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If we’re talking about software, my favorite has to be OpenLense. It has significantly improved my quality of life. OpenLense is a tool that provides a user interface for managing Kubernetes clusters, which is a huge step up from always using command-line tools like kubectl. This tool has made interacting with Kubernetes clusters much easier for me.

If we’re not talking about software, then it would be any power tool that I’ve bought. These tools make home repairs much easier.

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Do you have your favourite piece of software (software tool, framework, etc)? Why do you like it / enjoy using it?

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Yes, I do have a few favourites:

1. Java Spring Boot – It’s an MVC framework that really simplifies the development process. It makes building and managing web applications more streamlined, which I really appreciate.
2. Kubespray – This is a collection of Ansible playbooks that help set up Kubernetes clusters ready for production. It’s much more cost-effective to use Kubespray to set up three servers and create your own Kubernetes cluster than to rely on a cloud provider.
3. Virtualmin – This is a control panel for Linux that’s incredibly helpful for system administration. It allows you to manage various aspects of server administration more efficiently.

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What have you gained from working at Metasite?

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The best things I’ve gained are valuable experience and fantastic colleagues. And I truly mean that. If you’re considering a new job or company, Metasite is a great place if you want growth and highly experienced colleagues around you.

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