Meet the Team: Mike Flowers, Senior Mobile Software Engineer

Over the past few months, we’ve been sharing what it’s like to work at KOMODO, introducing our talented team members and having them share the real take on their roles here and what they get up to.

This week, it’s the turn of Mike Flowers, a long-time member of the team (he’s been with us for 6 years now) and a Senior Mobile Software Engineer.

Over to you, Mike…

When you were applying for the role, what attracted you to KOMODO and were your instincts accurate?

My story is a little bit different.

I didn't apply for a role, per se, instead, I was looking to get more involved with mobile development. A friend of mine was working at KOMODO doing app development. I asked him if the agency was looking for another mobile developer to join the team, what it was like to work there, etc.

I gave him my CV, had an interview with the Dev Lead at the time, and started soon after that. Rather than my instincts being accurate, I'd say I've not been disappointed.

KOMODO is genuinely one of the top places I've worked.

In a nutshell, what does your role entail? 

Anything and everything to do with App Development, Deployment, Research etc. If the App connects to a Web API, then on occasion, I'll make those too.

My job is typically well-scoped because of the nature of how apps work. They're utilities to perform specific functions and rarely go into protracted development efforts. Because of this, each project I work on has specific goals, which makes it ideal to plan and deliver in full, which could last between a month or six depending entirely on the requirements.

It's my job to provide feedback to our design team about any app-specific requirements that need to be factored in, which could impact how we implement a feature. Apple has a long list of guidelines that I need to keep regularly up date with, which I need to take into account in the planning stage so we don't run into any problems.

During development, I have to not only develop the feature but, usually, factor in cross-platform differences between Android and iOS. It can sometimes be a real challenge to get things working across all devices. They may have similar features, but how they operate is totally different, even between two Android devices.

Implementing native features can sometimes be a real challenge, things like Camera, Notifications and Security all function differently and have quirks that need to be worked around. I also have to support on all apps, whether it be native Java/Objective-C, to Xamarin or React Native. To support this I need to always keep on top of new features being released in upcoming OS versions to make sure I can support apps effectively going forward.

What do you love most about working at KOMODO?

Ok, I’m going to cheat on this question and list a few things:

1. Using latest technology. As you might expect, we’re all about new technology and making sure we’re co-creating products that are relevant and utilise the latest tech. We're never scared of using new stuff and we're always learning.

2. Variety on the different projects. If every project you work on is different, it's hard to get bored. I’m lucky to work on a range of projects that keep things interesting and make the working day fly by.

3. The chat in the office is usually a big ole belly-laugh and it’s because of the great team. Obviously, the pandemic made office chat a bit tricky, but thankfully we have Slack and regular video stand-up meetings to keep communication ticking along (and keep the GIFs coming!). We’re starting to trial new hybrid was of working now and it’s great to be back with the team, in person!

What does a typical day look like for you?

Working remotely has impacted my role in terms of a lack of face-to-face meetings and Discovery sessions, but overall, the day-to-day is much the same. As you might expect, it involves a lot of code!

A typical day involves getting into the office, having our daily team stand-up meeting, checking emails and Slack and getting on with coding, really. I’ll have catch-ups with the team, including design and project management, and client check-ins when required, but my day is mostly code, code, code, which is exactly how I like it.

My day can also involves exciting lunches nearby and Friday pints. Socialising with colleagues is encouraged and there are plenty of means to do so, from the sun terrace out the back of the office to team lunches and drinks after work. This is what I’m most looking forward to once things head somewhere towards normal and we can all get back to the office in one way or another!

What advice would you give someone thinking about applying for a role at KOMODO?

Stop thinking, start applying!

It’s a fantastic place to work and the fact I’ve been here for 5 years and am still enjoying it, feel challenged and excited by the work is testament to that.