Alex Riley

Past

I've always been a creative person and I've always had a love for logic and problem-solving puzzles. When I discovered that software development combines both creativity and problem-solving, I decided that it was the field for me. I enrolled at ECPI University, in the Computer & Information Science program, majoring in Software Development. It was hard, but I completed my degree and even graduated Magna Cum Laude! Every project that I create is confirmation that I chose the right path.

Present

I'm in an apprenticeship with TriSphere Apps as Software Testing Engineer and Software Development Manager. In a nutshell, I manage a remote development team and I test and debug their code. I also ensure feature parity between Android and iOS apps. While I'm gaining valuable knowledge and experience at TriSphere, I'm searching for my first paid position in my field.

Future

I'll land an entry-level role where I can learn and grow, becoming a part of an awesome team for the long term. In the years to come, I want to build my skills in areas where I'm not quite proficient yet. My end goal is to become a full-stack senior developer, leading and mentoring junior developers who are in the position that I'm currently in.

What I've Learned

College provided me with a lot of fundamental skills to succeed! ECPI takes a very hands-on approach, which is the best way for me to learn. New concepts were taught in this format:

1. Guided Practice - Tutorial from the professor
2. Performance Assessment - Trying it on my own. Always a little different from the guided practice, to encourage problem solving and logical thinking past what I've already been shown.
3. Discussion Forum - A great way for me to discuss the new concepts with my professor and peers, to gain a better understanding and possibly see some new ideas.

To this day, I use this process to teach myself. Here's what I do:

1. Follow a couple of tutorials to get a good grasp on the basics
2. Build a couple of small projects on my own, adding in things that I haven't learned yet, to stretch my comfort zone.
3. Try to participate in or at least read discussions about the topic within the community.

My school's website:
ECPI University

In school, I learned and worked with:

HTML5

CSS3

JavaScript

Java

Python

C#

C++

SQL

PHP

Kotlin

Android Studio

Visual Studio Code

What I'm Learning Lately

React.js

Bootstrap

Node.js

MongoDB

Swift

iOS

XCode

TypeScript

I'm always in the process of learning something new!

In addition to learning the tech stack shown here, I'm also participating in a Funamentals of Deep Learning workshop on April 4th.

So excited!

I also like to stay up to date on things in the tech world via LinkedIn, YouTube, and webinars.