At CloudSuite, our focus is on the software quality

Sjoerd Beemster - Product Developer

Three years ago, I worked at a large engineering company, mainly on small support programs. Realizing limited learning, I craved challenging work, diving back into 'hardcore software.' Through a mutual friend, I discovered CloudSuite. The initial chat with Gertjan and Siebe was relaxed, informal, not a grilling session. Following the conversation, I created a small application as an assessment, presented it at the office, and we were enthusiastic from both sides.

Developing new features

As a Software Developer, I mainly build new features relevant to all clients and maintain existing code.

Multiple baskets

A great example is the option to order products simultaneously with multiple shopping carts. CloudSuite, now 13 years old with legacy code, required us to extract shopping carts and house them in a microservice for this new functionality. It was exciting and interesting.

Transition to microservices

Currently, we're untangling the payment process, proceeding step by step with other core functionalities. This gradual transition to microservices will facilitate smoother and more enjoyable ongoing development.

Complex and challenging product

To be honest, I wasn't immediately enthusiastic about CloudSuite. Do I have a passion for eCommerce, webshops, or B2B? My perspective has changed. The product is more complex than I thought, hiding a lot beneath the surface. The B2B segment is fascinating, offering depth and challenge. Whatever I create and deliver, I always look back with satisfaction.

Quality and knowledge sharing

I appreciate that CloudSuite emphasizes software quality. There's always time to change or optimize our approach. In Product Development, we work with kanban instead of scrum—a type of scrum without sprints, which suits us better. We also follow the principles of domain-driven design, ensuring pleasant programming workflows.

Pair programming

Pair programming is common—two people coding on one screen and keyboard. This has multiple benefits: tackling complex problems together, gaining new knowledge, and adhering to the four-eyes principle. Surprisingly, it's not slower than coding alone. Knowledge sharing and retention are crucial at CloudSuite; isolation with personal knowledge and experience is not the norm here.

Focus on software architecture

Our team, now around 16 Software Developers, has a great atmosphere and synergy. Our shared goal is to find the best solutions and maintain the highest quality.

Puzzling and structuring

The most enjoyable part of my work is contemplating a specific (new) solution, solving puzzles, and structuring the software. Gertjan (CloudSuite's CTO and Product Development team lead) noticed this interest in me.

Future

In the coming years, I'll delve into software architecture. It'll involve a lot of learning by doing, and perhaps a formal education is on the horizon. With such a beautiful goal ahead, I'm far from done learning at CloudSuite.