Michael B., Back-End Developer
Every system I’ve built has carried a part of me, not just in code, but also in the way I think, the way I solve problems, and the lessons I take with me afterward. This year, three projects shaped me the most: Qurious, KabayanXpress, and eQQuip Me.
Each of them was different in scope and challenge, but together, they molded my developer mindset in ways I didn’t expect. Looking back, I realize these projects weren’t just milestones in my career—they were teachers.
Qurious: Learning to Think Objectively
Early in February, I was thrown into Qurious, a real-time transcription system. Just hearing “real-time” was enough to overwhelm me. The vision was ambitious, maybe too ambitious, with so many features lined up on the whiteboard. It almost felt like we were building three different systems in one.
At first, I struggled with the scope. How do you even begin to design something this complex? That’s when I realized I needed to step back and look at it with fresh, objective eyes. Instead of drowning in endless features, I asked myself: what do we really need first?
That shift in perspective changed everything. We broke the project into three smaller, more manageable backends—one for transcription, one for admin features, and one for engagement. Suddenly, what once felt impossible started to feel like building blocks I could actually put together.
Qurious taught me that objectivity is about clarity. It’s about cutting through noise, narrowing focus, and tackling problems one piece at a time. That mindset has stayed with me since.
KabayanXpress: Seeing the Bigger Picture
If Qurious was about objectivity, KabayanXpress was about vision. Our CEO always spoke about “reducing friction” for clients, and the project’s goal was clear: move translation requests fully online. Simple enough, right?
Not quite.
The moment we tried translating that vision into code, we hit roadblocks. There were loopholes, contradictions, and workflows that didn’t make sense when digitalized. I had to constantly zoom out and ask myself: what’s the bigger picture here?
That’s when I started thinking like an architect. We designed the system with three connected parts: —clients uploading requests, project managers overseeing them, and a shared backend tying everything together. Each piece had to fit seamlessly into the next.
KabayanXpress showed me the importance of seeing the whole system, not just its parts. It was like drawing a map before building the roads. Once I could see the overall picture, the individual challenges became less daunting.
eQQuip Me: Embracing Adaptability
Then came eQQuip Me, a live quotation system. Compared to the other two, this one felt less about planning and more about surviving change.
In a startup-like dev team, things rarely go according to plan. New requirements popped up mid-development, unexpected features needed to be added, and sometimes, yesterday’s approach no longer worked today. At first, it was frustrating. Eventually, I understood that this was just the nature of software development.
So, instead of resisting change, I learned to embrace it. I started building with scalability in mind, making room for future adjustments. I became more flexible with tools, more open to shifting approaches, and less attached to doing things “the way they’ve always been done.”
eQQuip Me reminded me that adaptability is survival. Technology moves fast, and the only way to keep up is to bend without breaking.
Closing Reflections
When I look back at these three projects, I don’t just see systems—I see the lessons that came with them.
From Qurious, I learned to think objectively. From KabayanXpress, I learned to see the bigger picture. From eQQuip Me, I learned the value of adaptability.
These aren’t just technical skills; they’re mindsets I carry into every project now. At the end of the day, building systems isn’t only about writing code—it’s about how you think, how you solve problems, and how you grow with each challenge.
And for me, these lessons are just the beginning.
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