My First 8 Months on the Job

I really meant to write this work journal at the 6-month mark, but before I knew it, 2 extra months had passed.

I've been so busy and I also moved my blog from Notion to this new spot, and now I’m finally catching a moment to look back at everything.

 

 

Sep 2023 - Nov 2024

I jumped right into working on a Bitcoin L2 wallet app using React Native.
Luckily, I had already learned the basics of React Native on my own, which turned out to be a huge asset. Building the mobile app was not only fun but also a great learning experience.

I was fully responsible for several key pages including setting the amount to receive, menu, settings, and email verification. I also put together the description, previews, and testing guide for the Apple Store, so when the app was finally approved after several tries, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

Later, we updated the app to version 2, which had a new design ready for adding Taproot assets.

I also created the landing page for the app using Next.js, something else I had learned on my own. For the first time, I worked on localization.

Even though I joined the project after it had started and didn't work on the initial setup, being there for the app's first release, the updates, and making the landing page made it feel like my own.

It felt like this project was my first baby in my career, and it gave me the confidence that I could build something real and work as a developer.

 

 

Dec 2023 - Jan 2024

In December, we came up with the idea to provide an automated system for setting up testnet nodes through a Telegram bot. This service allows users to select the testnet nodes they're interested in, provide necessary details like wallet addresses and private keys for environment settings, and confirm their deposit transactions. It then automatically sets up and runs the nodes.

During this project, I got to run various testnet nodes including Taiko, Shardeum, Autonity, Penumbra, Dusk, Avail, Zora, and BEVM. This experience gave me a good introduction to Linux and Docker.

I also took on the challenge of database design. The senior members introduced me to database basics using MySQL. Over a weekend, I conceptualized how we should design the database and sketched out my ideas. I shared my draft with them, and fortunately, they were very happy with my initiative and helped me further develop the system. It was my first shot at databases, but, it was so fun — way more fun than I expected. They say it might get tricky later on, but so far, it’s been just so much fun!

I also played a key role in building the Telegram bot, particularly the feature that monitors the running status of nodes for admins.

Around this time, we welcomed two interns—one for research and another for frontend development. It was really nice to see the company growing.

 

 

Feb 2024 - Mar 2024

We decided to transition our service from the Telegram bot to a website. This project was special because I took on dual roles: Product Manager and Frontend Developer.

I benchmarked several services to design our own, determining what features we needed to offer, the options we would provide to users, how we would handle payments, and the overall UI/UX flow. It was challenging to handle all the questions like 'how will we do this?' and make the necessary decisions. However, it was an excellent experience to be responsible for the entire project.

As a Frontend Developer, I built the entire dashboard, node & server selection, and billing pages. On the billing page, I implemented a feature that allows users to select a network, currency, and amount. Then, with the click of the confirm button, it triggers the EVM wallet to pop up and execute the contract using Ethers.js. It was particularly rewarding to dive into writing the contract with Ethers.js and to deepen my understanding of concepts like contracts, signers, and ABIs.

 

 

Apr 2024

Without a designer, I had to pull together some design styles and components from another project to build the page. Surprisingly, I was really impressed by how quickly I could work this time. It only took me two days to build the staking service webiste.

It felt incredibly satisfying.

This project also gave me a great chance to dive deeper into Ethereum's smart contracts and experiment with wagmi hooks for reading and writing contracts. It was thrilling to see everything functioning perfectly—from staking and receiving stACE, to requesting withdrawals and getting NFTs, to finally seeing all the lists of requests, figuring out which were claimable, claiming ACE, burning NFTs, and getting ACE back.

I managed to handle the entire frontend for this project on my own, and although I'm well aware there are endless things I still don't know and need to learn, this experience really highlighted how much I've grown as a developer in just seven months. It's been a journey of personal and professional growth, and seeing my progress in real-time through this project has been truly rewarding.

In the same month, as we started hiring for a designer, I had the opportunity to be involved in the selection process. I screened applications, conducted first-round phone interviews, and even represented the CEO in the final interviews twice.

While I wasn't part of the decision-making of course, the experience was incredibly valuable. Although it wasn't directly related to development, it gave me insight into what companies look for in applicants. Clearly, technical skills are important, but so is the willingness to learn and a passion for collaborative work. This got me reflect on my own approach and consider how I can be a more valuable employee and colleague.