Interviewer

Hello Miki,
Welcome to Code biruh Podcast!
I just want to say congratulations!

Interviewee

Hi there!
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and kind words!
I’m really excited to be here.

Interviewer

Alright, let’s jump into the first question as always, it’s our favorite one to start with:
W'd love to hear about your programming journey from the moment you wrote your first line of code to where you are now in your career. What inspired you to pursue this path, and how has your experience evolved over time?

Interviewee

Honestly, my programming journey began when I joined the Software Engineering department at university. Before that, I didn’t have much exposure to coding. But once I started learning it, I became fascinated by how you can solve problems just by writing lines of code.

What really inspired me to continue was the satisfaction of building things from nothing ,watching an idea slowly turn into something real through code.

Interviewer

Well, so here’s my next question
Have you ever worked with a team? If so, what kind of challenges have you faced in team collaboration, and how did you overcome them?

Interviewee

Yes, I’ve worked with different teams, both in university group projects and during internships and freelance work.
One common challenge I’ve faced is differences in how people communicate or approach problems. Sometimes, it’s hard to align everyone’s pace or expectations.

I’ve learned that being patient, listening carefully, and staying open minded really helps. Also, setting clear goals early on and dividing tasks fairly makes collaboration smoother for everyone.

Interviewer

Alright, next question
What’s your perspective on artificial intelligence? Some argue that relying on AI weakens one’s creative or problem-solving abilities and question its authenticity in tasks like writing or coding. How much of your work involves AI, and how do you personally use it?

Interviewee

I see AI as a tool that, if used wisely, can unlock a lot of opportunities. I understand why some people worry about it reducing creativity or problem-solving skills, but for me, it’s all about balance.

I use AI in my work, especially for brainstorming solutions, generating code snippets, or reviewing technical concepts faster.

Interviewer

Alright, great here’s my next question.
How do you integrate AI into your workflow? For example, when it comes to learning new programming languages or frameworks, I believe it shouldn’t take 4 or 5 months if AI is used effectively. What’s your advice for junior developers looking to speed up their learning using AI?

Interviewee

AI is part of my workflow almost every day. When I’m learning a new language, framework, or tool, I often use AI to speed up the process asking questions, generating quick examples, or even reviewing my code.

My advice for junior developers is: Don’t just rely on AI to give you answers. Use it as a learning assistant ask why and how, not just what. Try building mini-projects alongside using AI. If used properly,

Interviewer

Okay,What advice would you give to freshman students when choosing a department or area of specialization? Are there any key considerations they should keep in mind early in their academic journey?

Interviewee

Take your time to explore before choosing a specific path. In your first year, experiment with different areas web development, mobile apps, data science, AI.
See what excites you the most. Passion matters a lot in tech because things constantly evolve.

Also, think about where your strengths align and what industries are growing. And no matter which field you pick, strong problem-solving and coding fundamentals will always be valuable.

Interviewer

Good,ma next question is:
Some people claim that attending university is a waste of time for programmers. What’s your take on the value of a university education in the software and tech field?

Interviewee

While it’s true that you can learn coding from online resources, university gives you structure, discipline, and a chance to build solid foundations in theory and practice.

It also offers something you can’t get elsewhere easily connections, mentorship, and a space to grow socially and emotionally. Of course, self-learning outside the classroom is equally important, but for me, the combination of both has been the key.

Interviewer

Alright, great. my next question is:Looking back on your five years in the Software Engineering department, what are the most important things you’ve learned — both academically and socially? How did the experience shape you?

Interviewee

Looking back, the most important things I’ve learned are how to collaborate, how to manage time under pressure, and how to be resilient during tough times.

These four years shaped not just my career but my mindset. I’ve learned to be patient, disciplined, and always open to growth.

Interviewer

Wow, that's a great point. Next question is:
Could you share something about your internship at Addis Tech? What was your role, what kind of projects did you work on, and how did the experience contribute to your growth as a developer?

Interviewee

During my internship at Addis Tech, I worked mainly as a web developer. My role involved building and improving internal tools and features, fixing bugs, and occasionally contributing to design discussions.

It was a great hands-on experience because I got to work with a real-world team, follow professional coding standards, and see how projects are managed in a company setting. It really boosted my confidence and made me a better developer overall.

Interviewer

Good, ma next question is:
Tell us about your final year project. I heard it was selected as the top project of the year congratulations! What was the project about, what challenges did you face, and what made it stand out among others?

Interviewee

My final year project, DotCode, was actually selected as the top project of the year. It’s a code snippet management platform with both a web interface and a VS Code extension.

The idea came from a common struggle many developers face managing and organizing reusable code snippets across projects. With DotCode, developers can easily save, categorize, and reuse their snippets from both their browser and directly inside VS Code.

Interviewer

Alright, ma next question is:
Is there anything you regret not doing during your time at university, or anything you did that you now wish you had approached differently?