TechLead-Story: Christoph Bernhofer, CTO at iLogs
TechLeadStory
Christoph Bernhofer
Team
Size and Roles:
- The development team consists of approximately 40 members.
- There are two product development teams and three project development teams.
- The majority of developers are Java Fullstack developers, each with individual preferences.
Organization and Methodology:
- Each dev team has its Team Lead responsible for coordinating sprint composition.
- Division into product and project development teams optimizes for longer sprints in product development for a robust base product, and shorter sprints in project development for flexibility to address customer needs and minimize time-to-market.
Distinctive Team Aspects:
- Emphasis on flat hierarchies, discussions at eye level, and close collaboration.
- Full flexibility in coordinating implementations.
Recruiting
Integration in Recruiting Process:
- Specific skill requirements for new hires come directly from the dev teams.
- Team Leads are involved in interviews to assess how well a candidate fits into the team, alongside evaluating technical skills.
- Prioritizing good team composition and a positive team atmosphere is the highest requirement for new hires.
Onboarding Procedure:
- Dedicated individuals are assigned to new colleagues to simplify the onboarding process.
Qualities Beyond Technical Skills:
- Team composition is paramount, ensuring that a new team member aligns well with the existing team dynamics.
Technologies
Technical Challenges:
- The decision on the right framework, considering changes in licensing and technological orientation, poses a significant challenge, especially with the use of standard Java technologies.
- The commitment to a specific technology in product development makes abrupt shifts challenging.
Technologies in Use:
- Standard Java EE on Payara for the backend.
- Java Server Faces 2 frameworks like PrimeFaces are used partially.
- Lightweight frameworks like React or Angular-based frontends are increasingly used.
Evolution of Technology:
- Transition from monolithic architecture, prevalent in the early 2000s, to (micro)service-oriented architecture.
- The shift provides more flexibility in components where it is demanded and necessary.
Dev Interview Info
