Updated on by Hayley Brown
Mireille is a developer and programmer with a wealth of knowledge and experience from over 20 plus years working in the industry. She joined the Cyclr team as a Connector Developer and has progressed to join the platform developer team. Mireille has contributed to various projects including the Connector library and documentation.
What’s your current role and what do you like about it?
I’m a developer on Cyclr’s Platform team and what I like about the role is that every day I’m learning and contributing to a positive and collaborative environment.
Even on the bad days when I’m wading through a quagmire of ignorance, I am wading forwards.
How did you get into Programming?
When I finished my first degree (French and Italian) and opted for a conversion course in IT, I thought it would provide good options to work across Europe. I have also had a few forays into non-IT roles such as managing a bookshop and working for Oxfam- but I have since returned to programming in various guises.
What’s your earliest memory of you learning to code?
The earliest memory I have of learning to code is of a supremely uninspiring maths lesson at school. It did very little to excite my curiosity because in the early days of PCs, and at that point, I would never have envisaged a future as a programmer or developer.
What’s a programming language that you would build EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in and why?
I’ve worked with so many languages since that conversion course – I relish the process of taking on new technology. There’s the initial pain of getting to grips with the basics and progressing to competence and confidence. Problem-solving, building or improving is always satisfying: I’m not attached to particular languages or frameworks.
What’s something you think Software developers do not do enough of?
Get more direct contact with or information from end users. I’ve found having that connection very beneficial across a variety of working environments – it enhanced my understanding of what the objectives are and how people will be using the product or application.
What is your least favourite thing about programming?
There is so much sitting in front of keyboards and monitors. I’m not a fan of office chairs, so WFH is a happy bonus.
Another bugbear is not getting to see the bigger picture when I’m immersed in developing or fixing one tiny part of it.
What’s a technology you’re currently learning or excited to learn?
On a daily basis, it’s .NET, C# as I’d not worked with those prior to Cyclr – the last 10 years or so I worked mostly with Moodle & Totara LMS, and some React projects. I have a huge amount to learn and know I’ll never get to the end of it, there will always be new unknowns!
Time travel 10 years into the past or 10 years into the future? What does technology look like?
I’m hilariously non-technical in so many ways, outside work I spend time on creative writing, drawing and swimming.
I saw Chalkroom, the VR installation by Laurie Anderson and Hsin-Chien Huang at the Brighton Festival in 2018. It was magical to be immersed in that world. The installation made me wonder where will virtual and augmented reality takes us in the future.
I wish it would be as benign and beautiful as Chalkroom. There will be of course be the good, the bad and the ugly.
Lastly, is there any advice you would give a budding young developer?
I would highly recommend asking questions, trying new things, and making mistakes.
In the past, I’ve definitely stayed too long in the same role or environment, which affected my confidence.
It’s good to get out of our comfort zone, be challenged and try new things.