Software Engineer Maxi Contieri on writing about “boring” fundamentals

This story is a part of Hacker Noon's Meet the Writer series of interviews. The series is intended for tech professionals contributing the most insightful Hacker Noon stories to share more about their writing habits, ideas, and professional background (and maybe a hobby or two). If you too would like to start contributing to Hacker Noon, you can do so here.

So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests.

My name is Maxi, I am a software engineer and teacher from Argentina.

I am a family man. I like sports, and I am obsessed with Fermi’s Paradox.

Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?

My latest Top Story was about GitHub Copilot.

There’s a lot of fuss about bad programming habits, and Copilot is amplifying them (like every other AI with the wrong dataset).

Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?

I have written a lot about clean code, refactorings, programming languages, TDD, productivity and code smells.

Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)

I write very short articles almost daily. From the eureka moment in the shower to publication, I spend about 3 or 4 hours.

Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing?

I write about boring things like programming. I cannot compete against fancy tutorials on trendy new rubbish frameworks.

Many people want to learn about the latest technology and not about software fundamentals.

What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?

I want to write a compilation or book.

Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?

I like smelling gas oil. Everybody does, but I am honest and willing to confess it.

Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?

Cycling and playing soccer.

What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?

More clean code fundamentals and software design tips.

Thanks for taking time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?

Carpe Diem.

We are all going to die sooner or later.