A passion for software development
Kalonda Tonchi was born in Katima Mulilo and raised in Windhoek. He matriculated from Windhoek High School and studied computer science at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). His studies are ongoing, as are his international certifications in cloud solutions.He currently works as a junior software developer at MobiPay. It entitles him to build and maintain web/mobile applications, as well as learn about pre-existing systems and improve them where he can.
"When building an app, you’re usually always occupied as your time goes into constant critical thinking in order to solve problems," said Tonchi. He adds that a code needs to be programmed, debugged and tested continuously until it is in a stable condition. Barely a day goes by when he is not learning something new, as it is a necessity to always go through the development documentation in order to solve errors and bugs.
His learning curve has been steep, and his skills are improving by the day since he works with such wonderful and highly capable staff.
Accomplishments and challenges
His greatest achievement is that he is pleased with his current skill set, as progressing as a developer requires a lot of effort. He emphasises that he is very fortunate to work for a great organisation like MobiPay because it is rare in Namibia to find employment with a firm that develops cutting-edge solutions, which presents a significant challenge and pushes one's abilities to new heights.
He adds that if one is not attentive, constant critical thinking as a developer might lead to burnout.
"Practicing the fundamentals of knowing when to relax and obtaining adequate sleep is the best approach to stay focused and sustain his performance."
Building a quality, working product for satisfied stakeholders is all a developer can be proud of.
He is currently delving into cloud solutions and machine learning/artificial intelligence. Along with his developer skills, he aspires to become a remarkable data engineer over time. As he progresses, he will be much more capable of assisting the team in managing their workloads.
Tonchi thinks that perseverance and the satisfaction of completing a challenge are what keep him going. He mainly enjoys listening to music and staying up-to-date on the latest technological advancements.
"To create a big application, you need to start small and build it piece by piece. This modus operandi reminds me to apply the same way of thinking to other aspects of my life," concluded Tonchi.