Tobias Stangl, Mobile Developer at Denovo: From the first “view source” spark to a developer’s voice that shapes products

A human path into software development—and what we can apply to our own practice

Listening to Tobias Stangl, Mobile Developer at Denovo GmbH, one theme stands out: his path into software is not a sudden leap but a chain of curiosity-driven steps—from peeking behind a website’s curtain to becoming a respected voice in the product process. It’s the kind of story we love to pass on to early-career engineers because it shows how discovery, broad fundamentals, and steady practice reinforce each other over time.

Tobias starts early: computers fascinate him, games draw him in, and office tools offer first hands-on tasks. But the real ignition comes in middle school when a teacher shows the class the source code of the school’s website. Suddenly the surface reveals its structure—the “magic” behind what you see. Interest hardens into motivation and, later, into concrete choices: an IT-focused track in school, a software engineering degree, an open-source university project that teaches kids to code with building blocks, and a deepening focus on Android development. Eventually he joins Denovo as a working student—and this is where he highlights what made a decisive difference: flexibility, trust, and the chance to contribute like a full team member.

In this editorial recap, we trace Tobias’ milestones and capture the learnings that feel most actionable for developers—whether you are starting out or looking to grow your impact inside a product team.

The first spark: curiosity, games, and a look under the hood

Tobias’ early memories are universal: computers are fascinating, games are compelling, and watching others at the keyboard is captivating. But initial experiments with office software don’t become the turning point. That comes with a moment many developers recognize: someone opens a site’s source code.

Two things come together at once. First, the realization that digital surfaces are built from structure and language. Second, the feeling that you might not just consume software—you can make it. From there, Tobias’ interest doesn’t fade; it becomes a steady driver that guides his next choices.

Choosing the IT track: fundamentals, first languages, a broad start

After middle school, Tobias opts for an IT-focused track at his business school (HAC). He receives a strong foundation: first programming languages, some web development, and small projects. It might sound understated, yet it’s the most robust base you can ask for. Fundamentals are the shared denominator; they let later specializations rest on something solid. Tobias describes this period as consistently interesting—proof that the early spark now has structure.

From our DevJobs.at vantage point, that’s a reliable pattern: when an early “aha” moment is reinforced with systematic fundamentals, curiosity converts into capability.

Studying software engineering: breadth as a strength

At university, Tobias studies software development and emphasizes the breadth on offer—from computer graphics to IT security to general engineering. That mix mirrors modern software reality: security, performance, architecture, and user experience are intertwined. Getting exposure across these areas early is an advantage, especially in mobile development where you frequently weigh trade-offs with product, design, and platform constraints in mind.

That broad grounding echoes later in his job when he talks about balancing cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and implementation complexity—recurring themes in his account of day-to-day work.

Open source as a springboard: block-based learning, Android, and real-world constraints

A defining experience arrives via an open-source university project: building an app that teaches children how to code using a building-block principle. This is where Tobias learns Android development and, by his own description, “stumbles” into practical software work that sticks.

It’s not just about the technology—Android—but the learning mode: a real application, real users (children), a clear educational objective, and the open-source context. That combination creates accountability, feedback loops, and a structured playground where learning is more than theory. One small step at a time, an exploratory project becomes a track to a professional specialization.

Joining Denovo: flexibility, trust, and being treated as a full team member

The transition into industry comes as a working student at Denovo. Tobias underlines three elements that make this period stand out. First: flexibility—the ability to balance university and work with room to maneuver. Second: trust—being included as a full-fledged team member rather than being relegated to “leftover tasks.” Third: experimentation—the chance to apply knowledge from university to real problems and see what holds up in practice.

This combination—freedom, responsibility, and learning opportunities—is a force multiplier for growth. It accelerates real-world experience without losing focus. Early exposure to meaningful tasks doesn’t just sharpen technical skills; it also develops judgment.

Many paths to a solution: parallel approaches, long-term projects, continuous improvement

Tobias describes an approach that feels both pragmatic and mature: for a given problem, the team will pursue multiple solution paths to learn what works and what doesn’t. That has two benefits. It prevents teams from locking into a single hypothesis too early, and it produces comparative evidence that strengthens decisions. Not every organization deliberately runs alternative paths—a willingness to do so signals an explicit learning mindset.

Alongside that exploration, there are long-running projects. Their value lies in systematic reflection: what did we not do well in the past; what can we improve next time? Continuity and retrospection balance out the experimental phase. Together they form a cycle of exploration and consolidation.

Mentoring and a culture of questions: trying new tech with support

Another key part of Tobias’ experience is the ability to try new technologies with the backing of experienced colleagues. That sounds straightforward, yet in practice it’s the lever that turns “we value learning” from a poster on the wall into everyday behavior. Tobias describes a healthy norm: you can ask anyone anything, and you keep learning—inside real projects rather than detached from them.

In mobile development this is especially crucial. Platforms evolve, frameworks change, OS versions ship new APIs. Teams that proactively explore new tools and cross-pollinate knowledge build resilience—technical and organizational alike.

The developer’s voice: part of the process, heard on tech, customer, and design decisions

What Tobias singles out as particularly meaningful is that developers at Denovo are heard—not only when it’s time to implement, but throughout the process. Engineers weigh in on technologies. They contribute to customer-facing decisions: what would be best, what aligns with needs, what is cost-effective versus more efficient. And they speak up on design: which ideas are feasible, which alternatives create more value, what’s realistic to implement.

Tying technical and customer perspectives together has direct impact on quality and sustainability. Early feasibility input reduces friction later, and decisions become more robust because they reflect constraints of time, complexity, and cost.

Practical product work: weighing options, arguing well, sharing responsibility

From Tobias’ account we can infer a clear operating mode:

• Solutions are built and evaluated—against value, effort, and risk.
• Developers argue alongside product and design when customers’ needs, cost/benefit trade-offs, and efficiency are at stake.
• Designs are treated as starting points, tested for feasibility, and refined with engineering input.

The result: responsibility is shared. When teams jointly reason about why a solution makes sense, they own decisions as a group—a marker of team maturity that pays off in quality and delivery reliability.

Practice, practice, practice: advice for newcomers

Tobias ends with focused advice that we consider the heartbeat of his story. Real interest in software development is essential. It’s not enough to think “this looks cool”; you need to actively engage. A powerful first step is to pick a project you genuinely care about and implement it. Don’t obsess over polish. Don’t wait for perfect. Make it real and learn by doing.

You also need ambition and persistence. That aligns with what we hear across many developer journeys: skill compounds through repetition, not one-off highlights. If you want to deliver, you must iterate—and cultivate the mindset to revisit problems and try again.

Practical steps for your own path—guided by Tobias Stangl’s story

Here are five actionable steps distilled from Tobias’ journey:

1. Anchor your curiosity in a concrete spark—and double down.

• His “view source” moment turned wonder into motivation. Find the moments that grip you—be it a technical riddle, a feature idea, or a device—and go deep.

1. Invest in a strong foundation.

• Basics in programming, web, and general engineering compound over time. They make you faster and more confident in decisions later on.

1. Learn through real applications.

• Whether open source, a personal side project, or an app with a clear audience: practical context accelerates learning because feedback is specific.

1. Seek teams that see you as a full developer.

• Places where you get early responsibility, your opinion is heard, and learning is supported act as multipliers for your growth.

1. Train your decision-making muscle.

• Weigh multiple solution paths. Name trade-offs. Consider customer perspectives. This is where your impact grows.

Team quality in practice: exploration plus retrospection

Taken together, Tobias’ account outlines a team culture we consider exemplary: room to test multiple approaches, long-term projects with explicit learning, mentoring that makes new technology less daunting, and developers integrated into decisions—technical, customer-facing, and in design.

This doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on trust and on turning learning into an explicit process: testing hypotheses, revisiting assumptions, capturing lessons, and owning decisions collectively. For mobile engineers in particular, this culture teaches not just a platform; it teaches product work as a craft.

What we’re taking away from this session—for education choices, projects, and career moves

From our conversation with Tobias Stangl, Mobile Developer at Denovo, several durable guardrails emerge:

• Curiosity needs fuel. A single spark—like viewing a site’s source—can be enough if you convert it into learning steps.
• Breadth builds depth. A degree that touches graphics, security, and engineering prepares you for real product trade-offs.
• Practice beats theory when well framed. An open-source app with a clear goal (teaching kids with building blocks) makes learning tangible.
• Team culture is decisive. Flexibility, mentoring, and being treated as a full member accelerate growth significantly.
• Developer voices raise product quality. Early involvement in tech, cost, and design decisions builds more durable solutions.
• Skill is built by repetition. “Practice, practice, practice” isn’t a cliché; it’s a working principle.

Closing note: The quiet power of sticking with it

Tobias narrates his journey without theatrics—and that’s what makes it convincing. No dramatic pivots, no shortcuts; just consistent steps: curiosity, fundamentals, breadth, practice, team, responsibility. This rhythm is a reliable blueprint—for mobile developers and anyone who sees software as a long-term craft.

Follow that arc and the curtain you first lifted in school turns into a panoramic view. You see connections more clearly, handle trade-offs with more confidence, and find your voice—in the team, with customers, and in the product. That’s what Tobias Stangl’s session at Denovo shows us so clearly.

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