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When another organization approached us with an opportunity to develop a front end for their IoT devices, we successfully implemented the solution within a week. They provided mockups that depicted their envisioned interface, and we were able to replicate them with a high degree of accuracy, approximately 90%.

Following the successful implementation, the organization began showcasing the proof of concept application to their customers. Some larger customers expressed a need for specific modifications in order to simulate their own environments during the demos. To accommodate these impromptu requests, we swiftly implemented additional technologies within a few days.

This agile response allowed us to meet the specific requirements of the customers and ensure that the demos accurately reflected their environments. The ability to adapt quickly and integrate additional technologies showcases our commitment to delivering tailored solutions and meeting customer expectations.

Through this experience, we demonstrated our efficiency in translating mockups into functional applications, as well as our agility in incorporating new technologies to address customer-specific needs. Our successful delivery and responsiveness to customer demands solidified our reputation as a reliable and adaptable technology partner.

Roles & Responsibilities

In my role as a Developer, I successfully implemented the application based on the specifications provided by the Business Analyst who engaged with the organization that approached us. Despite the presence of several questions and uncertainties, I was able to connect to their database and create the required front-end interfaces.

Throughout the development process, I demonstrated my technical expertise and problem-solving skills by addressing any challenges that arose. I leveraged my knowledge and experience to establish a seamless connection to their database, enabling the creation of the desired front-end components.

By effectively translating the requirements into a functional application, I played a vital role in delivering a solution that met the organization's needs. My ability to adapt and overcome challenges ensured the successful implementation of the application within the agreed-upon timeframe.

This experience showcases my proficiency as a Developer and my dedication to delivering high-quality solutions that align with client requirements. It highlights my expertise in database integration and front-end development, allowing organizations to leverage their data effectively through user-friendly interfaces.

Tools and tasks

In addition to utilizing the OutSystems platform, I also engaged with the OutSystems sales team to negotiate new contracts for the solutions I developed. As a professional with experience in solutioning, architecture, and various other areas, I am involved in calculating the commercial aspects of the solution.

This multifaceted involvement allows me to not only design and architect the technical solution but also consider the commercial viability and financial elements of the project. By collaborating with the sales team and assessing the financial implications, I ensure that the solutions align with the organization's budget and deliver value for clients.

Through these activities, I showcase my ability to combine technical expertise with commercial acumen. This holistic approach enables me to provide comprehensive solutions that meet both technical and financial requirements, ultimately driving successful outcomes for the organization and its clients.

Challenges & Problem Solving

When faced with the need to display industrial device network diagrams using GoJS in the OutSystems environment, I embarked on a learning journey to familiarize myself with GoJS and implement it effectively. During this process, I encountered the challenge of lacking specific resources from the external organization to assist with development on their server.

To address this challenge and meet the urgent requirements for impromptu demos, I took the initiative to create my own server. This server was designed to connect to their IoT queue and expose an API that I could access from my OutSystems application. Recognizing the time sensitivity of the situation, I dedicated an entire weekend to accomplish this task, as the request came in on a Friday afternoon.

By proactively creating a solution within a short timeframe, I demonstrated my ability to adapt and take ownership of the development process. The establishment of my own server allowed seamless integration between the external organization's IoT queue and the OutSystems application, enabling the display of industrial device network diagrams as needed.

This experience highlights my resourcefulness, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond to overcome challenges and deliver results. My proactive approach and ability to quickly learn and implement new technologies showcase my adaptability and commitment to meeting client requirements in a timely manner.

While working on the facility condition assessment application for one of our major clients, another department within the same client organization expressed a need for an application to streamline their property acquisitions and disposals processes. Recognizing this opportunity, I actively engaged with the department to understand their requirements and deliver a tailored solution.

Through effective collaboration and understanding their specific needs, I successfully delivered an application that addressed their property acquisitions and disposals processes. This solution streamlined their workflows, improved efficiency, and enhanced their overall operations.

By leveraging my expertise as a Business Analyst and engaging directly with stakeholders, I ensured that the solution met the department's requirements and aligned with their unique business processes. This proactive approach allowed us to extend our services within the same client organization, providing valuable solutions to different departments and fostering a long-term partnership.

This experience highlights my ability to identify and fulfill additional client needs, driving value and expanding our product offerings. By actively engaging with stakeholders and delivering tailored solutions, I demonstrated my commitment to delivering comprehensive and impactful applications that address diverse business requirements.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst, I engaged with stakeholders to gather requirements and swiftly created a specification for the application. While this may resemble a waterfall approach, the nature of the project allowed me to develop the specification within a few days. I firmly believe that confirming requirements with end users is crucial, and I prioritize thorough documentation where it can be delivered in a short period of time.

As the Developer, I diligently implemented the solution in accordance with the signed-off specifications. I ensured that the application was developed to meet the requirements and delivered a reliable and functional product.

As the Product Manager, I oversaw various upgrades for the application. This included implementing enhancements to improve its functionality and user experience. Additionally, I explored the feasibility of integrating new technologies to assess compatibility with existing architectures.

By adhering to a streamlined approach in creating specifications, diligently developing the application, and driving continuous improvements as a Product Manager, I demonstrated adaptability and a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions. I believe in striking a balance between efficient development cycles and thorough requirements gathering to ensure the successful implementation of projects and products.

Tools and tasks

For this application, I explored different platforms to find the most suitable one for our needs. While I utilized the OutSystems platform successfully, I also conducted trials with PowerApps canvas applications and Model driven applications.

Although both PowerApps canvas applications and Model driven applications were completed during the trials, they were ultimately not adopted by the end users. The decision was primarily driven by the fact that these platforms fell short in terms of user experience (UX) and left significant gaps that were effectively addressed by using the OutSystems platform.

By evaluating and comparing multiple platforms, I ensured that we made an informed decision based on the specific requirements and preferences of our end users. The emphasis on UX and the ability to provide a seamless and intuitive user experience were essential factors in determining the most suitable platform for the application.

This experience highlights my commitment to finding the best technology solution for our projects, considering factors such as user experience, functionality, and user adoption. By selecting the OutSystems platform based on its ability to bridge the UX gaps effectively, we ultimately delivered a successful application that met the needs and expectations of our end users.

Challenges & Problem Solving

One of the major challenges we encountered was the pressure to adopt the Power Platform technology stack, despite difficulties in end user adoption. To address this challenge, we took an approach of creating identical applications using both the Power Platform and alternative technologies. We then allowed the end users to determine which technology they preferred.

While this approach may not always be applicable, in this particular case, there were no budgetary constraints or other issues that would impact the decision to use either technology. By giving the end users the opportunity to evaluate and provide feedback on both options, we empowered them to make an informed choice based on their preferences and requirements.

This approach demonstrates our commitment to ensuring user satisfaction and addressing their needs effectively. By providing multiple technology options and allowing end users to participate in the decision-making process, we prioritize their experience and preferences, ultimately leading to increased adoption and usage of the selected technology stack.

During a major project characterized by resource shortages, a significant opportunity arose as one of our clients expressed interest in a mobile application to support facility condition assessments. To enhance the productivity of our product team, I undertook an investigation into low-code alternatives suitable for our environment. This exploration yielded promising results, as we discovered that a low-code solution was a perfect fit for our customer's requirements.

Taking on the challenge, I assumed the responsibilities of analyzing, designing, and creating the mobile application. This enabled us to meet the initial demo timelines while also accelerating the deployment of the application into our product offering within a few months.

By leveraging the benefits of low-code development, we were able to streamline the development process and overcome resource constraints. The application proved to be a valuable addition to our product suite, providing our customer with the necessary tools to conduct facility condition assessments efficiently and effectively.

This accomplishment highlights my ability to identify innovative solutions, analyze requirements, and rapidly deliver applications that meet customer needs. Through this experience, I demonstrated my dedication to enhancing our product team outputs and ensuring customer satisfaction through timely and tailored solutions.

Roles & Responsibilities

In my role as a Business Analyst, I proactively engaged with stakeholders and subject matter experts to expedite the delivery process, aiming for a prompt demo and subsequent production release. To ensure efficient progress, I dedicated extra time during the initial evenings to create comprehensive specifications. These specifications were promptly reviewed and approved within the first week, establishing a solid foundation for the project.

As the Developer, I took the lead in creating the initial screens and consistently shared progress updates with stakeholders. This agile approach allowed us to stay on track and make necessary changes as needed, ensuring alignment with stakeholder expectations. Regularly showcasing the application's progress was crucial in maintaining open communication and incorporating feedback throughout the development process. As a result, we were able to conduct successful demos and gain approval to continue within a few weeks. The collaborative effort and efficient development cycle led to the successful delivery of a production-ready application in just two months.

As a Product Manager, I made strategic decisions on feature implementation. These decisions involved carefully selecting which features to include and which to exclude, as well as determining areas for improvement and simplification. I juggled delivery with timing, ensuring that the features delivered met the project goals and timeline.

By actively engaging stakeholders, adopting an agile approach, and making informed strategic decisions as a Product Manager, we achieved a prompt delivery timeline while balancing feature implementation and project constraints. This experience demonstrates my ability to effectively coordinate and deliver results, taking into account stakeholder feedback, project goals, and overall product strategy.

Tools and tasks

To enhance our development process, I leveraged the low-code platform OutSystems. This platform empowered us to create both web and mobile applications efficiently. These applications have been successfully deployed and are currently in use.

As part of our continuous improvement efforts, we are currently upgrading the application to integrate with various other applications that have been deployed. These applications have undergone their respective development and are now ready for integration. This integration will further enhance the functionality and capabilities of our existing application, providing a seamless experience for users.

The use of the OutSystems low-code platform has proven to be a valuable asset in rapidly delivering robust web and mobile applications. The ongoing upgrades and integrations highlight our commitment to staying up-to-date with evolving technologies and ensuring the continued effectiveness and scalability of our solution.

Challenges & Problem Solving

One of the significant challenges we faced was the frequent updating of the assessment models created by our asset management engineering team. These models could undergo several versions, ranging from 5 to 10, within a short span of time. To address this challenge, I implemented a dynamic model importer within the application.

Rather than hard-coding the assessment models into the application, the dynamic model importer allowed for flexible and seamless updates. This approach ensured that the application could accommodate changes to the models up until the go-live date. Even after the system was live, the models continued to evolve, and the system was designed to support the simultaneous use of multiple models.

By implementing the dynamic model importer, we successfully overcame the challenge of rapidly changing assessment models. This approach provided the necessary flexibility and adaptability to accommodate the evolving needs of our asset management engineering team. It ensured that our application could effectively utilize the most up-to-date models, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in the assessment process.

This solution demonstrates my ability to design and implement dynamic features that can adapt to changing requirements, even in a fast-paced environment. By implementing the dynamic model importer, we were able to ensure that the system could handle continuous model updates, ultimately improving the overall effectiveness of the application.

Upon joining IMQS Software, I began my journey as a Solution Analyst/Architect. This role, different from what I was accustomed to, afforded me the opportunity to spend more time with clients, focusing on designing tailored solutions by leveraging our standard products and incorporating relevant third-party components.

My responsibilities included conducting comprehensive as-is analyses of entire municipalities. This involved meticulously documenting the challenges they faced and identifying areas for improvement. By collaborating with the clients, I defined enhanced procedures and recommended digital optimizations to streamline their operations.

Throughout this process, I combined my expertise in solution analysis and architecture to develop bespoke solutions that addressed the unique needs of each municipality. This hands-on approach allowed me to leverage our standard products while integrating additional elements to create customized, efficient, and effective solutions for our clients.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Solution Analyst/Architect, my role involved conducting interviews with key municipal stakeholders who were involved in various aspects of the infrastructure asset management lifecycle. This allowed me to gain insights and gather requirements directly from those individuals. Additionally, I had the opportunity to define integration solutions between our product suite and popular ERP solutions such as SAP and BCX's Solar solution. These integrations aimed to streamline processes and enhance the overall efficiency of the asset management lifecycle.

I also played a pivotal role in the implementation of the latest government chart of account changes, which involved integrating our solutions with new governmental systems. This ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitated seamless data exchange between our product suite and the government's systems.

Furthermore, I actively responded to various tenders, particularly those from government entities, where requirements were often vague and ambiguous. Despite these challenges, I successfully defined potential solutions that aligned with the tender requirements, showcasing our capabilities and expertise in addressing complex governmental needs.

Through these experiences, I demonstrated my ability to engage with stakeholders, navigate complex integrations, and translate vague requirements into actionable solutions. This allowed our product suite to effectively meet the needs of municipal clients and government entities while driving efficiency and compliance in infrastructure asset management.

Tools and tasks

Throughout my roles and responsibilities, I have utilized various tools and performed diverse tasks to ensure efficient and effective project execution. Some of the notable tools and tasks include:

• As-is and to-be specification formatted documentation: I have prepared detailed documentation that captures the current state of systems, processes, and requirements (as-is), as well as the desired future state (to-be). This documentation serves as a reference for understanding the project scope and guiding the implementation process.

• Bid response documentation: I have created compelling bid response documents that effectively showcase our solutions and address client requirements. These documents outline the proposed approach, deliverables, timelines, and pricing, enabling us to compete successfully in the market.

• Architectural design using Lucidcharts: I have utilized Lucidcharts, a visual diagramming tool, to design architectural frameworks and system structures. This helps to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of the solution, facilitating effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.

• Solution implementation planning: I have been involved in planning the implementation of solutions, mapping out the necessary steps, resources, and timelines. This involves coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth execution and alignment with project objectives.

• End user engagement for testing, review, and usage follow-ups: I have actively engaged end users throughout the project lifecycle, involving them in testing activities, gathering feedback, and conducting reviews. This user-centric approach ensures that the solutions meet their needs and allows for continuous improvement based on their input.

These tools and tasks have been instrumental in achieving successful project outcomes, fostering collaboration among teams, and ensuring client satisfaction through effective documentation, design, implementation, and user engagement processes.

Challenges & Problem Solving

One of the significant challenges we encountered was the delay in implementing solutions due to the fast-paced nature of new developments. We realized that our current product suite did not adequately address the integrated market we were targeting, as it primarily focused on individual market segments rather than offering a comprehensive enterprise integration solution. Consequently, the solutions we designed increasingly relied on external components rather than leveraging our own products.

Recognizing the need for change, I applied for the position of Lead Product Manager. I believed that by being closer to the product delivery teams, I could have a more significant impact on driving product innovation and improving the integration capabilities of our offerings. This role would allow me to work closely with the teams responsible for product development and delivery, ensuring that our solutions were designed and implemented in a way that seamlessly integrated with existing systems and catered to the requirements of the integrated market we aimed to serve.

Through my application for the Lead Product Manager position, I aimed to bridge the gap between solution design and product delivery, enabling us to provide a comprehensive and integrated solution that met the evolving needs of our target market.

After successfully presenting the case to the CEO regarding the necessity of rebuilding our debtors management system with cutting-edge technologies, I was promoted to the role of Software Development Manager. This role encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, including conducting business analysis for the new system, developing a comprehensive roadmap, planning the delivery phases, architecting the functional foundation, and overseeing all reviews, demonstrations, and sales activities with key clients.

Roles & Responsibilities

In my role as a Business Analyst, I conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the existing system to identify and document its full range of features. I demonstrated my expertise by creating an overall functional decomposition framework, enabling efficient tracking of development progress. Additionally, I took the lead in formulating detailed specifications for major feature enhancements, ensuring alignment with project objectives and surpassing previous versions.

Working collaboratively with the QA team, I contributed to the implementation of test automation solutions. I showcased my analytical prowess by developing algorithms and testing sheets for calculators, providing a comprehensive breakdown of accounting scenarios. These scenarios encompassed early and late payments, interest rate modifications, monthly interest charging, cashbox and bank reconciliation effects management, among others.

My contributions as a Business Analyst played a vital role in optimizing the existing system and ensuring its accuracy and reliability. These accomplishments demonstrate my ability to drive successful project outcomes and provide valuable insights for informed decision-making.

As an Architect, I took on the responsibility of designing the overall solution in collaboration with senior software engineers and test automation teams. Together, we developed a robust system that continuously improved its reliability with each release. One of our notable achievements was the creation of custom automated deployment pipelines. These pipelines allowed for partial deployments to different regions, enabling us to thoroughly test and validate changes before making them available nationwide. This approach ensured a seamless and controlled deployment process, enhancing the overall stability and performance of the system.

In my role as a Product Manager/Software Development Manager, I fostered regular communication and collaboration with various stakeholders involved in the product's lifecycle. This included engaging with key individuals such as the legal team, financial auditors, marketing team, training team, helpdesk, account managers, board of directors, as well as industry lawmakers and crucial clients. By maintaining consistent communication on a weekly basis, I ensured alignment and gathered valuable insights from these stakeholders.

The product I managed held a prominent market share, establishing itself as an industry leader. Client feedback consistently emphasized its exceptional user-friendliness and reliability. With a high level of autonomy, I took ownership of creating and managing the product roadmap. Additionally, I regularly engaged with the board of directors to ensure that the product's next phases aligned with the organization's overall strategies.

Through my strategic management of the product and effective collaboration with stakeholders, I contributed to its continued success and alignment with market demands and organizational goals.

Technologies Used

• C# WPF & WCF

• PostgreSQL

• Smartbear Test Automation Suite

Challenges & Problem Solving

Initially, the entire application was developed as a web application using Java. However, after engaging with clients, we discovered that the infrastructure limitations in South Africa would hinder the reliable usage of the web application, especially in rural branches. As a result, we swiftly transitioned to the latest technology stack at that time, which was based on C#. This shift allowed us to accommodate the infrastructure constraints and provide a more accessible solution.

Simultaneously, we updated the roadmap to include the development of a web application in the future, with a projected timeline of 5 to 10 years. This strategic decision ensured that we could address the needs of all branches, including those in rural areas, over the long term.

During the development process, we encountered challenges in updating the application's calculators without affecting specific accounting scenarios that were previously functioning correctly. To mitigate this, we implemented a comprehensive test automation suite that involved meticulous scenario specifications. These specifications required manually playing out entire accounting scenarios in Excel and having them reviewed and approved by accredited financial auditors before making any changes. This stringent testing approach ensured that all current and previous scenarios had to pass successfully before considering a release.

I have maintained ongoing communication with the development team, even after leaving the organization. I was pleased to hear that they followed our original roadmap, resulting in the creation of a new cloud-based application on Azure using the C# Blazor framework. This transition enhances scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, aligning with industry standards.

By continuously adapting to infrastructure limitations, implementing rigorous testing methodologies, and following the roadmap, we have successfully evolved the application to meet user needs and ensure its long-term effectiveness.

Moving to Compuscan IT in 2004 proved to be a massive door opener for me. While quickly progressing from Junior developer, to Intermediate developer, to Team Lead, I was learning to swim in the deep end of the fintech industry. This product was an existing product which I inherited and with a great sales team behind me, more than trippled the client base, easily having had most of the market share.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst, I actively engaged with stakeholders across the microfinance industry in South Africa, operating at various levels. Additionally, I had the unique opportunity to contribute my technological expertise to the development of the technical reporting aspects of the new national credit act.

In my capacity as a Developer, I consistently updated the application with relevant features and requirements, ensuring its compliance with legal regulations and positioning it as a leading competitor in the market.

As a Product Manager, I effectively collaborated with stakeholders from diverse departments within the organization, including marketing, finance, sales, and support. By carefully considering input from each stakeholder, I made critical decisions on a daily basis to steer the product's direction, ensuring a balanced and cohesive approach.

Throughout these roles, I consistently demonstrated my ability to engage with stakeholders, leverage technical expertise, and make strategic decisions that had a significant impact on the success and relevance of the product in the market.

Technologies Used

• Delphi 6.0

• Borland Interbase 6.0

• Firebird 1.5

Challenges & Problem Solving

When I took over the lead on an application that I hadn't been involved in from the beginning, I faced the challenge of lacking architecture design documentation. To address this, I quickly immersed myself in the project, documenting and learning the architecture to the best of my ability. Additionally, the system had a significant number of legacy bugs affecting data integrity, leading to occasional instability.

To mitigate these issues, I devised and constructed an application that would thoroughly examine the entire database, identifying known data integrity issues and resolving them whenever possible. The application also logged any items that required manual intervention. This solution helped enhance the system's stability and ensured data integrity was prioritized.

Through this experience, I gained valuable insights and a heightened awareness of the criticality of data integrity in all the products I design, build, or manage. It has made me exceptionally diligent in implementing measures to uphold data integrity as a fundamental aspect of any system.

While working at the same organization where I contributed to the Judo and Roof Sheeting applications, I was given an opportunity to delve into business intelligence (BI) and data analytics. Although I did participate in customizing a service desk application, my primary role revolved around data management and reporting.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst, I engaged with a diverse set of clients who utilized our service desk solution. These clients included major private sector companies and public sector institutions within South Africa. My responsibilities included documenting their processes and creating relevant matrices for measuring service desk performance.

As a BI Developer, my duties included creating, publishing, and scheduling reports for all clients. Additionally, I was responsible for performing database upgrades when necessary.

Technologies Used

• Crystal Reports

• Ingres Database

Challenges & Problem Solving

Due to the substantial number of reports running almost simultaneously each morning, week, and month, we began to face time-outs during report execution. These reports were critical, especially during month-end processes, hence the need for a solution was immediate and essential.

I took the initiative to review every single query executed by the reports and optimized them where possible. Collaborating with the team, we established a separate reporting database specifically designed for rapid information retrieval. This solution effectively resolved the issue we were facing, ensuring the successful execution of reports

In 2002, I found myself working on a project that quickly evolved from a simple concept into a complex application with a multitude of requirements. Initially conceived as a tool to manage the scheduling and job carding of roof sheets for the construction industry, the application quickly expanded to include features such as order optimization and prioritization.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst, my boss and I worked together to create detailed specifications for the change requests in the application. Eventually, I took over this role completely, spending most of my time at the client site to better understand their needs and observe how they used our application.

I also took on the role of Developer for the project. Initially, my boss started the application, but I soon took over all development aspects, with the benefit of being on-site and continuously understanding the real-world application and impact of our product.

Additionally, I stepped into a Project Management role due to the project's ever-changing scope and fixed price tag. I had to ensure that we delivered value while staying within budgetary constraints, which involved careful management and coordination with the client.

Technologies Used

The application was built using Visual Basic 6 for development and MS SQL 7.0 for the database. We integrated our application with the existing ERP system by reading its Pervasive database and capturing new orders as they were registered.

Challenges & Problem Solving

One of the major challenges was the integration with the ERP system. Initially, I planned to use a trigger on the main sales table to queue new sales for our application. However, this approach didn't work as expected due to the ERP system disabling triggers during sales record insertions. To overcome this, I implemented a scheduled task to poll the sales table for new orders instead of relying on a trigger. Although not the ideal method, it served its purpose at the time, allowing us to continue our engagement with the ERP company and keep the customer's operations running smoothly.

This project was a testament to the importance of adaptability, on-site client engagement, and innovative problem-solving in the face of technical challenges. The experience significantly contributed to my growth as a business analyst, developer, and project manager.

At the young age of 20, I found myself immersed in a rewarding project - creating a comprehensive register for Judo members all across South Africa. This early venture provided me with valuable experience in both business analysis and development, setting the stage for my future career.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst, I frequently found myself in discussions with Judo senseis and sponsors, understanding their needs and expectations for the product. These interactions were invaluable, allowing me to gain insights into the sport and its community, and adapt our product to best meet their needs. This role also involved managing and presenting numerous product demos and reviews.

Simultaneously, I was involved in the Development of the application, initially collaborating with my boss. Over time, I took over the complete development responsibilities, carrying the project through to its successful completion.

Technologies Used

The product was developed using Visual Basic 6, with a MS SQL 7.0 database serving as the backbone for data management. These technologies provided the robustness and flexibility necessary for the application.

Challenges & Problem Solving

One of the biggest hurdles we faced was dealing with the existing register, which was created in a file format incompatible with the prevalent applications on Windows 2000 machines. Our saving grace was an old Windows 95 machine that allowed us to access the legacy files. In an intensive, hands-on process, we transferred the register data onto floppy disks (stiffies) and imported it into our new product, ensuring no data loss.

This experience not only honed my technical skills but also instilled in me a deeper appreciation for problem-solving, adaptability, and the importance of understanding user needs - lessons that continue to guide my work to this day.