Becoming a Software Developer

 I am currently working as a Software Developer, specializing in backend development with a focus on .NET web applications for several overseas projects.

Coming from an Astronomy background, my transition into software development was far from easy. In 2020, I was given the opportunity to join Xtremax Pte Ltd, based in Bandung, as a backend developer — marking the true beginning of my journey in web development.

Starting completely from scratch, I had to learn everything about client–server architecture and various technical concepts that were entirely new to me. It was a challenging process, but through persistence, curiosity, and continuous learning, I gradually built the skills and confidence needed to grow as a professional developer.

Over time, I have learned many things in the world of web development. ASP.NET MVC is the primary technology I currently use to build websites, while previously I worked with ASP.NET WebForms, a more traditional framework. I mainly use C# within these frameworks to build MVC components and handle backend logic. A solid understanding of HTML, along with sufficient knowledge of CSS and JavaScript, is also essential to grasp the full structure and flow of web development — even though I still collaborate closely with frontend developers for more specialized frontend tasks.

While the paragraph above focuses on the tools used for backend and frontend development, I also work extensively with SQL to manage website data sources. This competency is crucial, especially when full control over database management is required.

Most of the website projects I handle utilize Content Management Systems (CMS) — primarily Sitefinity and Sitecore. Although their names sound similar, they differ significantly in approach. In my experience, Sitefinity is more user-friendly, whereas Sitecore offers greater flexibility and customization for backend developers. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and I’m grateful to have gained deep experience in both. I’m also proud to be officially certified in these CMS platforms:

• Sitefinity DX 14 Certification

• Sitecore XP 10 Certification

Currently, I’m expanding my knowledge by learning Amazon Web Services (AWS) to strengthen my understanding of cloud infrastructure and deployment. In parallel, I’m also exploring React and TypeScript through the Next.js framework, aiming to grow into a full-stack developer in the near future. These modern tools align with the evolving headless architecture trend, which emphasizes flexibility and scalability in web development.

This is my journey as a Software Developer — a path that continues to evolve as I keep learning, exploring, and improving every day.