Kasia Krzyzanowski, Author at XABLU

A partnership of top developers: meet Nico Milcoff

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 09:21:40 +0000

We recently started working with the very talented Xamarin developer Nico Milcoff. He’s not only a Microsoft MVP and lead maintainer of the open source MvvmCross project, he also finds time to lead his own team of developers at DGenix, headquarted in Rosario, Argentina.

We first met Nico just over a year ago when he was a guest speaker at our big MvvmCross & Xamarin HackDay, co-sponsored by the .NET Foundation. The event brought together an elite group of top MvvmCross and Xamarin experts from around the world, Nico among them.

Impressed with his expertise, we kept in close touch. Finally this past July, Nico began working closely with our team to contribute his deep knowledge and skills to several of our ongoing projects, notably the MiniBrew mobile app, which is launching to the public soon. His team at DGenix is also available to lend their skills and experience to projects – we’ve already had the pleasure of working with Mariano Miño and look forward to meeting the others!

We’re excited about our collaboration and hope you’ll join us in welcoming Nico and the DGenix team!

Get to know some of the other new members of our team on our blog and team page! Interested in working together? Get in touch with us!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Introducing Ivo Krugers, Xamarin developer

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 09:35:31 +0000

This week we’re happy to introduce Ivo Krugers, a Senior Xamarin developer who joined our team this month.

1. What brought you to Xamarin development and where do you want to go with it?

I’ve been a software developer all my life. Reusing code is always something we developers yearn for, so having decided to move into mobile development, Xamarin was the logical choice. I love what I’m doing and just go with the opportunities that arise.

2. What will you do at XABLU?

At XABLU, I’ll do a lot of app development (I’m currently part of the MiniBrew app project) but also provide Xamarin training to inspire others.

3. What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I like to relax and spend time with my family.

Interested in joining our team?

We’re currently looking for new developers from Junior to Senior. If you’re interested in or experienced with Microsoft Xamarin and want to be part of awesome projects, check out our open positions!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Welcome to Damiano Patane, our newest developer!

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:45:18 +0000

We’re happy to have a great new developer join our team, Damiano! We asked him a few questions to get to know him better…

1. Tell me a bit about yourself as a developer:

I’m Damiano Patane, 25 years old, and I am from Alkmaar but will soon be living in Amsterdam. Since childhood I’ve had a passion for technology and computers, so I logically started studying Computer Science. I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Haarlem, where I did a specialization in Mobile Development and Game Development (games for smartphones).

I then did an internship in China where I developed mobile applications that helped with the care of elderly people, followed by my graduation thesis where I did security research for the Gentzz dating application on Android.

After completing my studies, I discovered my passion for creating mobile applications and launched myself as a Mobile Developer. Mobile applications can have a huge impact on daily life, for example, how Uber has had a major impact on the taxi industry. With the belief that in the future everything will become more mobile and we will be less and less bound to computers or laptops, I want to continue to focus my passion on creating mobile applications.

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

After work I’m usually running/jogging or working out in the gym, almost daily. Sitting behind a PC all day writing code is a physically lazy job, so I want to make up for that. If I have any time left I usually like watching shows and movies or playing some games. On the weekend I’m always out with friends.

3. What will you be doing for XABLU?

I’m a Junior Mobile Developer with experience in both native and cross-platform development. Currently, I’m helping out Minibrew with their Xamarin iOS application alongside my colleague Bart Kuipers and in the future I’ll be taking on other projects as well.

4. What has your experience at XABLU been like so far? What are you looking forward to?

I started a month ago and have been having a great experience so far! I like my colleagues at XABLU and I feel I fit right in at Minibrew. I love that I’m learning a lot, not just from creating their app, but also about communicating with the Minibrew machines, which is a more complex architecture than usual.

Interested in joining our team?

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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What is a Product Owner?

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 09:49:15 +0000

In the world of software development, one role is central between IT, business and customer needs: the Product Owner. For teams working with Agile methodologies, especially Scrum, the Product Owner plays an essential role in driving the product vision and delivering value for both users and the business.

What does a Product Owner do?

At its core, a Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of a product through continuous collaboration with the development team, stakeholders and end users. In Agile methodology, their core job is to manage the product backlog-a dynamic list of tasks, features and solutions that the team needs to address over time.

The Product Owner ensures that the backlog aligns with the product’s long-term vision and business goals, prioritizing tasks based on value and urgency. They work closely with teams, including developers, UX designers and marketers, to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals.

In essence, the Product Owner acts as the voice of the customer within the development team. They translate customer needs into actionable user stories and ensure the team delivers features that solve real problems.

So what sort of profile do you need to become one?

A successful Product Owner often has a diverse background. While degrees in Computer Science, Business, or Marketing are a good fit, this role is mostly about skills and experience. Technical knowledge, such as understanding software development, is important, but you don’t necessarily have to be a coder. What really matters is your ability to switch between business goals and technical teams, with a keen eye for priorities and customer value. Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies is a big plus, but the ability to communicate and make decisions effectively is essential.

Common challenges for Product Owners

Managing expectations: Balancing the sometimes conflicting demands of stakeholders.
Preventing Scope Creep: Maintaining focus and priorities despite new requests or ideas.
Pressing for Predictability: Delivering results within the flexible Agile environment while stakeholders want certainty.

How is a Product Owner different from a Product Manager?

Although there is overlap between the roles, the focus of a Product Manager is more on the strategic vision of the product, such as market research and long-term goals. The Product Owner deals with the day-to-day execution of product development, such as prioritizing tasks and collaborating with the development team. In smaller companies, the roles are sometimes combined, but in larger organizations they often remain separate.

Ready to apply?

Think you’re ready to launch yourself into this role? We’re currently looking for a Product Owner here at XABLU! If you’ve already got some experience under your belt, take a look at our Product Owner job post. If you’re a university student looking for your first position, learn more about our Internship/Graduation Assignment opportunities. Who knows, maybe next week we’ll be introducing you on the blog as our newest team member!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Introducing Bart Kuipers, Xamarin developer!

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 12:13:00 +0000

We recently welcomed a new developer to our team, Bart! We asked him to introduce himself through a few questions:

1. Tell me a bit about yourself as a developer:

I’m a .NET developer with over five years of software development experience. I split my time between the Netherlands and the Philippines, where for the past two years I’ve been responsible for developing a new Xamarin.Forms app and managing a small team of Filipino developers.

Although I don’t have a pure technical education background, I fell in love with programming. What I like about the job is the journey from analyzing a complex problem to finding a solution and actually creating a useful app. This is even more fun when you have great team members who can help you along that journey. Hardly a day passes by where you do not learn anything new!

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

When I’m not programming I like traveling, eating, beach bumming and more eating!

3. What will you be doing for XABLU?

As a Xamarin Developer I’ll be contributing to different mobile app projects. I’m currently working on the Minibrew project together with my colleagues Maurice and Damiano.

4. What has your experience at XABLU been like so far? What are you looking forward to?

Although I’ve only been working for XABLU for a very short time, I have a good first impression. Very nice colleagues, Kapsalon (Dutch kebab) team lunch on Fridays, and interesting projects. What’s not to like? I’m really looking forward to working on many challenging projects and working together with the XABLU team to deliver awesome apps!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Bringing Xamarin to students in Groningen

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:07:00 +0000

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, June 19th, our team had the chance to deliver a guest lecture on Xamarin to ICT students at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen.

As part of their course, the students were introduced to several different mobile coding options. We were invited to provide an introduction to the Microsoft Xamarin platform.

Marc Bruins, who is a Xamarin University-certified trainer and Microsoft MVP, gave the hour-long lecture on getting started with Xamarin to the room of about 30 students.

After a break for lunch, 20 students returned to take part in a practical workshop led by Marc and XABLU developer Maurice Markvoort, where they tried their hand at creating a simple to-do list mobile app in Xamarin.Forms. Marc and Maurice provided guidance and advice to help the students along. After the workshop, we received great feedback on the experience from the students and their instructor!

Thanks for Hanze University for having us! If you’re student looking to learn more about Xamarin, don’t miss our free meetups in Hengelo and other cities around the Netherlands. We’ve also got a really exciting student coding event planned for September… stay tuned for more details!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Kicking-off the MiniBrew app project

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:03:00 +0000

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Last week we officially kicked off an app project with MiniBrew, makers of a home beer-brewing machine! They’re a rapidly growing company based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, who are passionate about bringing custom home beer brewing to aficionados around the world. Check out the MiniBrew in the video below:

We’ll be working on their mobile app, built with Xamarin of course, which will let users find beer recipes from around the world that match their taste and buy the ingredients needed through a webshop. Then the app will guide them through the whole brewing process, which they can easily start by scanning a QR code on the ingredient pack.

We expect a first release around the end of the summer, so stay tuned! And to learn more about getting your own home beer brewing device, check out minibrew.io.

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Meet the Intern: 5 questions for our intern Nick Wolters

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:55:00 +0000

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Back in March, Nick Wolters, a student from Saxion University, started an internship at XABLU to carry out his graduation assignment. Learn more about it below!

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Of course! I currently enjoy working on my own personal embedded systems projects, which range from the creation of my own weather station to home automation projects. I also like to watch TV series and I go cycling and work out twice a week.

How did you hear about XABLU and why did you want to do an internship here?

I heard about XABLU from a former classmate who currently works here as a developer, Maurice. I looked into the company and thought it could provide me with a challenging graduation assignment.

Eventually, I was invited to have a chat about my last internship and the prospect of a new graduation assignment. After three meetings we shook hands and now I’m here, working on a project to create a planning algorithm for a client.

What is your internship project about?

I’m researching an algorithm that will create a schedule for engineers, by assigning them to work orders they fit best with. The end product will be a working algorithm which can be interacted with using an API. It will take into account certain factors such as:

connecting the needed qualifications of a work order to the engineers qualifications
planning the best route for the engineer

What do you hope to get out of your time at Xablu?

I hope to learn more about the creation of algorithms and look further into things like A.I. and what I might want to do after I graduate.

What are your future career goals in software/app development?

Firstly I want to work for a year, to get some more work experience. I am currently thinking that I want to either develop Xamarin applications or go more into programming for embedded systems, or maybe a combination of the two.

Afterwards, I’ll either continue working or maybe take up a pre-master in computer science or embedded systems.

Good luck to Nick from the whole team! We’re always happy to hear from new students interested in trying their hand at real app projects during an internship. Get in touch to start the conversation!

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Meet our newest intern, Laurens!

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 12:44:00 +0000

Kasia Krzyzanowski

This week we welcomed a new intern from Saxion University of Applied Science to our team. Meet Laurens Jan van Heek!

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Sure! I have a side job at ‘Student Aan Huis’ where I help people at their homes with all sorts of technical problems with computers, etc. When I’m not busy with school or work, I’m probably binge watching Netflix, while also keeping track of latest bitcoin/altcoin technologies and rates!

On the weekends, I travel home to my parents’ place, where I play soccer with friends on our own team at the local soccer club.

How did you hear about Xablu and why did you want to do an internship here?

Xablu was listed as an internship partner on the Saxion website and after some extensive research, I felt that this was the perfect place for me to go deeper into web/app development and learn new programming languages and techniques. Especially after I saw the blogposts of the other Saxion students who did their internship here.

What is your internship project about?

At first I will be working with the team on an assignment for SafetySuite Oldenzaal. We will be building a web portal where customers can do their administrative tasks. After that, I’ll probably get deeper into app development using the likes of Xamarin, React Native or Flutter.

What do you hope to get out of your internship at Xablu?

I hope to learn new programming languages and techniques to expand my skillset. Besides that, this internship will be a look at how life will be after graduation from school.

What are your future career goals in software/app development?

Since I was young, I’ve always had plans to start my own company! With my latest interest in Artificial Intelligence, I hope to combine the two.

Good luck Laurens! Interested in applying to do your internship or graduation assignment at XABLU? Check out our Careers page for more info.

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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XABLU welcomes two new interns, Mads and Mattijs!

Kasia Krzyzanowski — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:35:00 +0000

Kasia Krzyzanowski

This week, Mads and Mattijs officially join the XABLU team for a six-month internship. They follow in the footsteps of fellow Saxion University of Applied Science student Maurice Markvoort, who completed his graduation assignment with us and has since become a full member of the XABLU development team! We asked Mads and Mattijs, who are both studying software engineering, a few questions to get to know them better…

1. How did you hear about Xablu and why did you want to do an internship here?

Mads: We both heard about XABLU through a post by Maurice on Saxion’s HBO-ICT Facebook group.

Mattijs: Before that, I had never heard of Xablu nor Xamarin. When I looked up the company I was very excited because of the three core values: learn and share, autonomy and having fun(!). And I was excited about Xamarin because I had never heard of a cross-platform app development program before, and the idea of having to write way less code for the same result sounds amazing!

2. What is your internship project about?

Mattijs: The internship project will be done together with my Saxion colleague Mads. Together we will take a look at the possible uses and pros and cons of Xamarin.Forms and React Native.

3. What are your future career goals in software/app development?

Mattijs: I want to broaden my knowledge in these fields as much as possible in order to be able to start working for different software companies.

Mads: My future career goal would be working in cyber security. Or to start my own company – I just need a billion dollar idea first!

4. What do you hope to get out of your internship at Xablu?

Mads: I would like to learn about cross platform app development, and learn how a professional company tests their app/software to make sure that it’s good enough for the customer.

Mattijs: As I said in the previous answer, I would like to greatly broaden my level of knowledge. That’s why I’m very happy that we get to investigate new things during our internship. I will definitely learn a lot more in the field of app development with the help of Xamarin, but also C#, which I have never used before. Besides that, I will get an idea of what it’s like to work for a company and a taste of the business atmosphere, which I’m really looking forward to!

Interested in learning more about doing an internship at Xablu?

Check out our Careers page for more about working for us and get an in-depth look at the intern experience in Maurice Markvoort’s recent blog post.

Curious how Xablu can help your organization ?

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Kasia Krzyzanowski, Author at XABLU

A partnership of top developers: meet Nico Milcoff

Introducing Ivo Krugers, Xamarin developer

1. What brought you to Xamarin development and where do you want to go with it?

2. What will you do at XABLU?

3. What do you like to do in your free time?

Interested in joining our team?

Welcome to Damiano Patane, our newest developer!

1. Tell me a bit about yourself as a developer:

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

3. What will you be doing for XABLU?

4. What has your experience at XABLU been like so far? What are you looking forward to?

Interested in joining our team?

What is a Product Owner?

Table of Contents

What does a Product Owner do?

So what sort of profile do you need to become one?

Common challenges for Product Owners

How is a Product Owner different from a Product Manager?

Ready to apply?

Introducing Bart Kuipers, Xamarin developer!

1. Tell me a bit about yourself as a developer:

2. What do you like to do in your free time?

3. What will you be doing for XABLU?

4. What has your experience at XABLU been like so far? What are you looking forward to?

Bringing Xamarin to students in Groningen

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Kicking-off the MiniBrew app project

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Meet the Intern: 5 questions for our intern Nick Wolters

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Tell us a bit about yourself…

How did you hear about XABLU and why did you want to do an internship here?

What is your internship project about?

What do you hope to get out of your time at Xablu?

What are your future career goals in software/app development?

Meet our newest intern, Laurens!

Kasia Krzyzanowski

Tell us a bit about yourself…

How did you hear about Xablu and why did you want to do an internship here?

What is your internship project about?

What do you hope to get out of your internship at Xablu?

What are your future career goals in software/app development?

XABLU welcomes two new interns, Mads and Mattijs!

Kasia Krzyzanowski

1. How did you hear about Xablu and why did you want to do an internship here?

2. What is your internship project about?

3. What are your future career goals in software/app development?

4. What do you hope to get out of your internship at Xablu?

Interested in learning more about doing an internship at Xablu?