Could you imagine buying a Geiger meter accidentally from an online shop (actually you were looking for new trousers), connecting it with a microcontroller, and monitoring the radiation level of your home online? You couldn’t, could you? Meet a Hostens team member, our lovely funny programmer, Algirdas, who loves upgrading his already smart house in his free time and creating new IoT projects. Check it out the last one here: https://radiacija.algirdas.net There is more to learn about Algirdas’ hobby though, so let’s start from the beginning.
What was the first programming language that you learned? Tell me more about your early experiences.
I was five years old when I saw the first modem in our family. It was fascinating to look at small flashing light bulbs and to hear that strange noise (check out here what it’s like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsNaR6FRuO0) when the modem was trying to connect. After a successful connection, my father would sit and play games, and I would watch him for hours.
I started programming in my childhood with a BASIC programming language. I found it entertaining to change text or background colors, to produce a random maze or to create something that at that time, I considered my little masterpiece with a jumping ball.
Later my father started selling computers in our town, and I was a support guy for our clients. It was my first real experience in IT administration field.
When I was in high school, my older brother was studying at university, and he was also working as an administrator at an IT company. Once he went on vacation and asked me to cover him. ‘No problem,’ I answered as I already had had some experience with my father’s clients. One thing led to another, and I started studying engineering informatics in the evenings as I have already made up my mind to work in this field full time.
What is the specific programmer job that you are doing at the moment at Hostens?
It was a great experience for me to work with my father’s customers because that was how I started creating some simple programs to help clients with everyday tasks. It was beneficial for clients and a great experience for me.
Right now at Hostens, I am writing software using Python programming language for customized server management.
What do you enjoy about being programmer?
The greatest joy is when your creation (a script, a project, etc.) is useful; users are happy and leave positive feedback on the product. Then you realize that your work is meaningful and rewarding.
You call yourself ‘klaviatūrinis Maironis’, which translates as ‘keyboard Maironis’ (Maironis is one of the most famous poets in Lithuania). How much creativity can you find in your job?
There is not much creativity in a programming language; it is framed in syntax. Most of the creative work can be done when we need to combine third-party services (e.g., API) with the systems we create, develop, and use. The workaround is the biggest creativity in my programmer job.
How do you celebrate small wins?
I just feel happy quietly. I am a modest Lithuanian man, a humble person (laughing).
Tell me more about your hobbies. What are your achievements? I know your passion for enduro.
Yes, correct. Enduro is mostly a hobby to me, and I am not a professional racer. My family, my two kids, take a lot of my free time. But from time to time I like to go out into the woods with my buddies, get adrenaline rush and relax.
The most significant achievement in this was my dislocated shoulder (laughing).
Also, I am a big Dakar Rally fan, and a few years ago, I even traveled to South America to watch it.
Blitz questions
What was the last gift you gave someone?
The gift was a bouquet for my wife for our wedding anniversary.
What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
The Suits 7 season
Spiderman and Batman?
Spiderman (no doubt)
Dogs or cats
Dogs
Money or fame
Fame
Snakes or sharks
Sharks (croons ‘Baby Shark doo doo doo doo doo doo..’)
Morning or evening
Evening
Algirdas is the best known to our customers from funny Hostens posts and DC banners. Let’s take a look at our picture gallery. Does it look familiar?
