Welcome
Software Engineering • Cybersecurity • AI
Care Giver • AI Engineering Student • ex Mining Integration & ERP Analyst Developer • ex McDonald’s • ex Tuba Player
My name is Edmond Den Dekker.
I am based in Queensland, Australia.
Professional Summary
🚀 I started programming on my Amstrad CPC6128 when i was a kid. It had the floppy disk (save icon), and CRT (cathode ray tube) screen. I got addicted to the failure cycles that programming entails. As an adult i decided to study and make it my career.
👔 For 6+ years i have been in the software development industry, with experience in pre-seed small start ups to ASX listed companies. Had a career break for 7+ more years due to job hunting and a mental health crisis. During this down time i worked on my home lab building my skills in; odds driven seasonal forecasting, linux administration/hardening, full stack python development, and AI engineering.
👓 My technical blog is here.
♿ Due to my medical condition, a lived experience of schizophrenia, I can only work 7hrs per week. My condition is mostly stable. In my spare time I am still fit enough to be a part time care giver to my elderly mum, so this keeps me busy.
🚀 My continuing mission is to; focus on my health and care give to my elderly mum.
♿ Currently, my medical condition is stress-induced, and it prevents me from working safely in any full time industry.
Fun Fact
I have a cat. Her name is Lucky.
T Shaped Skills
A T-shaped skill set means having a broad understanding of many different areas, while being highly skilled in one particular area.
Below is my current T shaped skills.
Above shows that I was once an advanced ERP application and report developer, but I am now outdated. These days i'm into python and AI engineering.
Personality Type
So i decided to do a personality test. Here are my results.
ISTP (Virtuoso) is a personality type with the Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Prospecting traits. They tend to have an individualistic mindset, pursuing goals without needing much external connection. They engage in life with inquisitiveness and personal skill, varying their approach as needed.
See here for more details - Virtuoso ISTP Personality
Scope of Software Engineering Skills
The scope of software engineering is large.
During my university years I learnt about system decomposition. In practice it has helped me break down systems and tasks into small managable deliverables.
Also during university, i learnt PHP. Today, I cannot do it anymore. I forgot it due to lack of practice.
Today, I am more into python web development and AI engineering. Python is easy to remember, even after a holiday.
I learnt how to design and code software before the AI wave. But once you have a taste of coding with AI, you can never go back. AI is very helpful when building software. I find myself discovering design decisions with AI via ChatGPT. I also like to use Github CoPilot for coding python django sites.
Python django is an ideal choice if you find yourself always changing the database layer after the MVP (minimal viable product). This is because of django's built in migrations feature. This enables signature changes to be automated.
Python is fun. 😊
Scope of Cybersecurity Skills
The scope of cyber security is large.
Via Udemy ELearning, I taught myself how to harden a linux machine. I can harden virtual machines and physical machines. My favourite operating system is Rocky Linux, a Red Hat clone that is 1:1 bug compatible.
I also taught myself how to install and configure Keycloak, an identity and access management system. This enabled me to set up a home lab. The enterprise way.
For my home lab I installed and configured SmallStep CA, for TLS intranet website security. This enables the padlock security icon when visiting an intranet site.
For secure networking in my home lab, i decided to use Netbird. This gave me zero trust networking out of the box. I learnt how to enrol peer machines into the network. I also figured out how to set up DNS and access policies for my peers. The best value i get out of NetBird, is the ability to enable access from anywhere through OIDC (Open Identity Connect).
Scope of Artificial Intelligence Skills
The scope of artificial intelligence is large. I am still learning lots.
I'm a bit late to the AI bandwagon. But I am getting there.
Currently, I am learning Ed Donner's AI Enginering courses. There are six courses altogether.
I have learnt a lot. I found fine tuning an LLM very scientific. It is my weakness. I am more of a builder than a scientist.
Below is what i can do with AI engineering -
🔹Build a privacy policy, and terms / conditions summarizer.
🔹Build an agentic RAG chatbot, that is an expert in schizophrenia.
🔹Build a digital twin chatbot that can answer questions about my resume (in progress).
🔹Build a team of engineers that can code software (in progress).