Hi, I'm Dexter!I turn complex problems into elegant solutions.
After more than 20 years of coding, I may have figured out what it means to be a senior engineer - it is the fresh perspective that emerges from the experience of having to deal with the same tasks (and mistakes) over and over again.
Let’s face it, every project relies on time and budget. Unfortunately, they tend to work against us. We end up making contradictory decisions to deprioritise things we know are crucial. As a consequence, timelines extend, frustrations mount, the team morale suffers and tech debt accrues.
After more than 60 projects across different sectors including multiple industries, government bodies, regulatory agencies and tech startups, I adopt a new approach in creating and maintaining software - one that stays true to the fundamentals of software engineering, templating, reusability, adherence to best practices, and SOLID principles. Documentation is a big part of that mindset too, which is one of the reasons why I started this blog.
Here, you will find insights on tech, problem-solving strategies, and collaboration. Feel free to explore my other products and open-source projects on GitHub, where I’m always seeking support from fellow contributors.
Check out my blog for my
take on tech
I'm interested in everything related to tech including strategies, frameworks, coding best practices and collaboration.
Visit Dexter Explains
A little more about me
I suppose I am not the stereotyical nerd that comes to mind when someone talks about software engineers. Besides work, I have other creative interests as well. In fact, it was through graphic design that I discovered my passion for coding 20 years ago.
Management
I spend a good deal of hours at work creating strategies, designing system architectures, managing senior stakeholders and my team of software developers. The biggest I’ve managed was a team of 32 engineers. It’s at this level where the real work happens and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty once in a while.
Coding
I started coding at the age of 12 and have been doing it professionally since 15 years ago. Now, I don’t code as much as I used to since transitioning into management. But as much as possible, I satisfy my coding passion through various side projects.
Tinkering
Did I also mention that I like to come up with unnecessary problems to solve? :P I once created my own NAS and automated everything in my home. In short, if you have a puzzle to solve, you can count on me to be interested.
Photography & videography
I’ve always been drawn to aesthetics and find myself snapping photos and videos especially during my travels. I now own a few cameras, lenses and a GoPro which I hope to put to good use in creating insightful contents.
Making music
I used to be a DJ back when I was a teenager, creating beats and writing hip hop music. I may have lost some mojo now but I choose to re-live the good old days with my digital audio workstation and midi controllers at home.
Playing the guitar
Back in my music heyday, I also used to play and teach the flamenco guitar professionally. It’s a deeply passionate genre that keeps me going to this day.
PEV advocacy
I believe personal electric vehicles will be a mainstream mobility option for urbanites in the future. Not only are they good for the environment, you have to admit they are cool things to ride on! My personal favourite is the portable electric scooter.
Everything about coffee
I savour coffee for the unique smell of different beans and its bitter aftertaste. Secretly, I think I’m overdrinking now as a way to get back at my parents for never allowing me to drink coffee in my younger days :D
Stuff I've built
Codoworks
An independent studio that houses all the stuff I build.
Dexter Explains
A blog engine designed from scratch using Go Lang. It is the place where I blog.
Loopin
An alerting tool for developers to monitor their applications.
Go Boilerplate
A starter template for building Go applications with best practices.