About Me
Hi, I'm Helga.
I'm a Software Engineer with 7 years of experience building web applications, APIs and internal tools.
My primary background is backend development with PHP, Symfony and Laravel, but over the years I've become increasingly interested in the bigger picture behind software: product design, system architecture, user experience and the way technology helps people solve real problems.
I enjoy working on projects that start as messy ideas and gradually become clear, reliable systems. Whether it's designing an API, improving an existing codebase or building a product from scratch, I like understanding how all the pieces fit together and finding solutions that remain maintainable as a project grows.
What Drives Me
One thing that has stayed constant throughout my life is curiosity.
I enjoy exploring complex topics, whether they involve software architecture, productivity systems, human cognition or something completely unexpected. Give me an unfamiliar subject and enough time, and I'll probably end up building a knowledge base, mapping relationships, testing ideas and looking for patterns.
Software engineering happens to be my profession, but curiosity is probably the more accurate description of what drives me. I enjoy understanding how systems work, where their constraints come from and how they can be improved. Sometimes those systems are applications and APIs. Sometimes they are workflows, learning processes or entirely different domains.
How I Think
Architecture
I enjoy designing systems that remain understandable, maintainable and scalable as they grow. Good architecture is not about complexity—it's about making complexity manageable.
Systems Thinking
I like looking beyond individual features and understanding how different parts of a product interact with each other. Most interesting problems appear at the intersections between systems rather than inside isolated components.
Research
I enjoy exploring unfamiliar subjects, identifying patterns, understanding constraints and turning research into practical solutions. The process of learning is often just as exciting as the final result.
Technologies
Backend
- PHP
- Symfony
- Laravel
- REST APIs
- JSON API
Databases
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Elasticsearch
Infrastructure
- Docker
- Linux
- Git
- CI/CD
Messaging & Integrations
- RabbitMQ
- Webhooks
- OAuth
- Third-Party APIs
Frontend
- Vue.js
- TypeScript
- JavaScript
What I'm Building Now
Currently, I'm building a scheduling platform for music teachers and students.
The project combines many things I enjoy: architecture, automation, integrations, product thinking and continuous experimentation. It includes booking management, Google Calendar synchronization, scheduling automation and tools designed to simplify everyday workflows.
Like many of my personal projects, it started with a real problem and gradually evolved into a full product.
Beyond Software
Strength Training
I enjoy strength training and the process of gradual improvement. There's something satisfying about seeing consistent effort compound over time.
Creative Projects
Outside of programming, I enjoy building creative projects, exploring new ideas and occasionally mixing technology with art.
Research & Learning
I'm constantly learning something. Sometimes it's a new framework or technology. Sometimes it's psychology, productivity systems or a completely unrelated topic that caught my attention.
Cats
I have three cats who remain unconvinced that keyboards should be used for programming instead of sleeping.
