A methodical problem solver and software architect with more than quarter-century of experience crafting digital solutions.

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, my early years were shaped by an innate curiosity that never quite switched off. Growing up alongside my younger brother, I found myself drawn to both stories and structures — methodically working through every sci-fi book in the local library while spending hours with my LEGO bricks. This persistent exploration of both fictional worlds and physical building wasn't just childhood play; it laid the foundation for problem-solving skills that would prove remarkably applicable throughout my life.

Between books and bricks, comics filled the remaining corners of my childhood imagination. My extensive 'Alan Ford' collection was a particular treasure—a satirical Italian series that continues to hold a special place in my heart to this day. The pages of Asimov and Zelazny transported me to distant worlds and possibilities, creating a foundation for my love of speculative fiction that's continued with modern favorites like Hugh Howey and Brandon Sanderson.

My first encounter with personal computers arrived at the perfect moment. From the humble Spectrum ZX to the mighty Commodore 64, these machines weren't just gaming portals - they were gateways to understanding how technology actually works. I was fortunate to jump directly from these early systems to Olivetti XTs, which eventually led to 286 ATs, 486s, Pentiums, and countless other models as technology marched forward. While games provided the initial draw (naturally), the real fascination lay in unravelling what made these beige boxes tick.

My early coding endeavours were refreshingly practical: batch files and simple scripts that enhanced existing programs - think of them as primitive aliases or functions. One of my first "programs" was little more than a wrapper around ARJ archives - a simple script that condensed the verbose command-line options for packing and unpacking files into something more manageable. Once the novelty of modifying pre-built tools wore thin, BASIC became the logical next step. After numerous terminal-based experiments, my first milestone was creating a rudimentary game that actually worked. Not exactly Half-Life, but everyone starts somewhere, and that first functioning program lit a spark that never quite faded.

As Windows rose and DOS gracefully retired, Borland Pascal became my next challenge. This led to several shareware applications that made it into the wild (for a modest profit). My real breakthrough came with a log file parser that earned its weight in gold - or more precisely, in unlimited internet access. In the dial-up era, that was practically currency. I was free to explore, download emerging tools, and tinker with new technologies. That unlimited access, earned through practical problem-solving, became the foundation for everything that followed.

Then 1996 arrived and changed everything. A fortuitous opportunity to attend high school workshops organised by a local media company introduced me to the World Wide Web. It was one of those perfect moments where everything clicks - this was it. I taught myself HTML the old-fashioned way—viewing source code, copying interesting parts, and experimenting until I achieved the desired results. Web development became my clear path forward, shifting focus from Windows applications to the brave new world of websites. While the core principles remained familiar, web development demanded its own unique toolkit and mindset.

My earliest web projects were numerous iterations of my own homepage hosted on the local ISP—each version slightly better than the last as I honed my craft through practical experimentation. University followed, but lasted precisely one semester. The local institutions weren't yet equipped for serious web development courses, and the allure of practical experience proved irresistible. Through a combination of persistence and strategic timing, 1998 brought my first professional web developer role at a local internet service provider. This position became a goldmine for growth, offering opportunities to build websites while learning the nuts and bolts of internet infrastructure.

My journey through the tech landscape has been genuinely remarkable. I collaborated with clients ranging from local government ministries to international enterprises, each bringing unique technical challenges. I was fortunate that almost each new role provided fresh knowledge and experiences to absorb. Each company - from nimble startups to established international firms - has added its own chapter to my story. Some taught me the art of scaling systems under pressure, others the delicate balance of enterprise architecture. There were lessons in team dynamics, project management, and occasionally, how not to do things (sometimes the most valuable insights come from seeing what doesn't work). Throughout my career, I've primarily learned by example, but never hesitated to ask for help when needed—a trait that's served me well in this constantly evolving field. The tech industry excels at keeping you humble - just when you think you've mastered something, a new challenge appears around the corner.

Having witnessed the web's evolution from its infancy days through the dot-com boom and beyond has been quite the adventure. From building content management systems for government institutions to developing enterprise document management solutions, each project taught different lessons about scale, security, and user needs. Each professional role brought its own flavour of work culture and development philosophies (or occasional lack thereof) - all contributing to my perspective on this digital craft. My dedication to learning and excelling professionally has helped me advance in countless ways, though it's come with a considerable cost to my personal life at times — a balance I'm still trying to achieve.

Eventually, I made the move from Serbia to Australia, and now call Sydney home. The transition brought fresh perspectives on business culture and technology adoption—Australian pragmatism proved refreshingly different from European formality. Adapting to driving on the left wasn't nearly as dramatic as one might think, and urban Australian life dispels most wildlife misconceptions. After years of PC tinkering, I eventually switched to Mac and never looked back. Despite their eye-watering price tags, they've proven worth every dollar for professional work — perhaps I've simply grown to value reliability over endless reinstallations. Technology continues evolving rapidly, but while frameworks and languages come and go faster than Melbourne's weather changes, the fundamental principles remain the same.

These days, I wear the CTO hat during business hours. When I'm not working, there's nothing better than spending time with my children, watching them grow, learn, and improve each day. I've recently ventured into the Warhammer 40K universe, finding unexpected satisfaction in the meticulous work of building and painting minifigures. I still enjoy unwinding with a proper sci-fi novel or getting absorbed in a crime series with my better half. My photography is now mostly reserved for family moments, while the LEGO constructions are stored away until the kids are old enough to avoid the swallowing hazard. I've come to realize that habits like reading and writing keep me centered, while hobbies like building and painting help me relax and unwind in non-traditional ways. There's always something new to learn - and that's precisely how I prefer it.