Hey, I’m Steve. I’m a software developer, a gamer, and a dad to a beautiful little girl. I love tinkering with Linux, and I have a 1,800+ day streak in Duolingo (French).

I took a non-traditional path to get to where I am, and it’s helped shape the dev I am today. At 29, I was exposed to Linux and Open Source, and it sparked something in me. I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in a go-nowhere job. And within the week, I was enrolled in the upcoming fall semester at the local state college (now Castleton University).

The drive that reignited me lasted through college and the last fifteen or so years of my professional life as a software developer. During that time, other experiences shaped deeply held beliefs and passions. I became an advocate for developer empowerment and autonomy.

Eventually I realized that though I love what I do, my role wasn’t aligned with my passions. Being a tech lead allowed me to frame work and my leadership style in the context of these passions, but that wasn’t quite what I wanted. What I want is to work in a capacity that directly empowers other devs with tools and support I create for them. I also want to work closer to the technology that inspired me to do something more with my life.

This blog is about my journey, and it will include all of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It will cover my transition from a traditional backend dev to a platform engineer. It will also cover other technical topics that spark my interest.