A Journey of Fullstack Development and Content Creation with Tobias

Social Links

TikTok → tiktok.com/@tobiascodes

Inside Tobias' Setup

Tools And Software Products

Notion: I like the flexibility that Notion offers. You can literally organize everything with it.

Visual Studio Code: My favorite code editor that allows a lot of customization so I can configure it exactly as I need it.

Slack: Most of my communication as a freelancer happens in Slack.

GitHub Desktop: A very minimal GIT GUI that makes working with GIT very simple.

Lightroom: My favorite photo editing software for all the content I create.

Davinci Resolve: A very powerful video production software. I create all my Reels and videos for clients with it.

How would you describe your personal style when it comes to your workspace?

I think the word that describes my current workspace best is “minimalism”. I just love to keep my setup clean and organized.

What is your favorite item or gadget in your workspace, and how does it contribute to your productivity or enjoyment?

I recently added the BenQ ScreenBar Halo to my workspace and it’s just awesome. It relieves the eyes a lot when working in the dark. The lighting is perfect and without any distracting reflections on any screens.

How do you maintain an organized and efficient workspace? Are there any specific techniques or practices you follow?

I always try to only keep the items on my desk that I really need. I just work more efficient when my workspace focuses on what’s really important.

How do you envision your workspace in the future? Are there any changes or upgrades you're considering?

I’m always open for change and my workspace won’t stay like it is now for much longer. You’ll probably see a few changes in a few days or weeks on my Insta. 🙌

Could you share with us a little bit about your journey into software development? What initially sparked your interest and how did you decide to pursue it as a career?

I’ve always liked being around computers but instead of spending my time playing computer games I started some HTML / CSS programming (I know those are not real programming languages 😆) when I was 13.

It was a lot of fun for me and with time I started to get into more programming languages. After a while I just knew that I wanted to continue programming as more than just a hobby. But I don’t think that there was a special moment that sparked my interest in it.

Starting programming at such a young age, have you faced any unique challenges or opportunities as a result of your age in your career as a fullstack developer?

I don’t regret starting at this young age at all. I’m still only 19 years old but I already have a lot of real world experience in working for start-ups as well as for big companies. That’s a big benefit for me going forward in my career.

What advice would you give to other young individuals who are passionate about programming and considering pursuing a career in software development at an early age?

Go for it! You will have a lot of good opportunities will come your way if you show others that you are committed to developing your skills. But I still would give you the advice to keep in mind that life is more than just work and career. Also take time to enjoy your life!

As someone who started coding at a young age, what advice would you give to older individuals who are interested in learning to code but may feel discouraged due to their age?

There is no reason to not start, because you have experience in many other areas. Of course you have to put effort into it, but if you really want it, it’s worth it in the end.

You mentioned that instead of going to college, you pursued an apprenticeship in programming. What motivated you to take this path instead of pursuing a traditional college education?

I really like to work on real world projects and I would have had to go to school for 3 more years if I wanted to pursue a traditional college education. I don’t say that college is bad, I just think that you don’t need a traditional college degree if you want to work as a software developer.

Did you face any challenges or obstacles during your apprenticeship journey? How did you overcome them?

I think the biggest challenge for me was to do stuff that I really didn’t like. The key is to just do it. The faster you have completed your tasks the faster you can move forward.

Can you share any advice for aspiring fullstack developers who are just starting their careers or considering a transition into the field?

Don’t give up when something isn’t working. No good developer had all the knowledge from the start. All the experience comes through a lot of practice. And my second advice would be to use AI to your advantage. I don’t believe that AI will replace developers, but it will change the way we work.

If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self when you first started programming, what would you say?

Specialize on one area of programming instead of trying to know everything.

You also mentioned that you started freelancing as a content creator, how did you discorver you had a passion for photography and videography?

I’ve had a passion for cameras for a long time now. And after volunteering on a few projects I realized that it’s really fun to do that kind of work besides programming.

How do you balance content creation and software development?

I mainly focus on my software development work. Content creation currently is more like a hobby for me, but I would also like to do it even more in the future and spend a bit less time with software development.

Lastly, could you share what the future holds for you? Are there any exciting projects or learning opportunities on the horizon?

I’m currently working on a rather big side project. But I won’t say anything about it yet, so stay tuned to my Instagram account to get further insights in the near future. 🙌