Adrian Bienias
Full-Stack Software Engineer
My story
Attending Children's Computer Academy
I have been interested in computers and software since I was a child.
My first computer was an Amiga 500 with Workbench OS. Later I switched to a PC with an Intel Pentium 100 MHz processor and Windows 3.11, then Windows 95.
In parallel with elementary school education, I eagerly learned how to use a computer as a 10-year-old, attending the Children's Computer Academy.
Learning HTML and PHP
Regularly reading the CD-Action computer magazine, I came across it to the introductory section of HTML and PHP.
I didn't have internet at home, so I learned to create my first websites only locally, copying code from a magazine.
The code editor was Windows Notepad, which wasn't making learning easier, just like the most popular browser at the time - Internet Explorer (version 5).
Distribution of advertising newspapers
My first earning experience was distributing advertising newspapers.
I received packages of advertising newspapers from multi-branch chain stores, which I then packed in disposable plastic bags and hung them on door handles in blocks of flats and on gates of single-family houses.
I was going to junior high school then, and earning money that way was nice pocket money.
LAN network administration
With a few friends from the block, we set up a local computer network.
I took over the setup and operation of the router by administering the network to which everyone was connected.
That was also the beginning of my adventure with security and "hacking".
Under the guise of network problems with one of my colleagues (having previously unplugged his cable from the router), I visited him and, as part of diagnosing the problem, activated remote access on his system.
I also had to watch out for files uploaded by others, because very often they were Trojans.
Using LANChat also taught me that private chats are not really private when the messenger sends messages over the network in unencrypted form.
Running the first website
My first website was devoted to my then hobbies, i.e. skateboarding and fingerboarding (a miniature version).
On the website, I posted instructions for creating my own, original version of the fingerboard and described how to perform tricks, including self-made 3D animations.
I learned 3D graphics program (Caligari trueSpace) similarly to HTML and PHP - thanks to CD-Action magazine.
To publish the website, I used free hosting offered by Wirtualna Polska - Webpark.
The disk space was "dizzying" and amounted to several MB.
From the technical side, it was a classic, i.e. HTML/CSS, JavaScript and PHP.
The website contained dynamic elements such as a clock showing the current time or the ability to sign in the guest book. There was also an option to complete a survey through which I collected feedback from users.
The graphic design style I would now call "dark mode". However, this was long before the term became fashionable.
In retrospect, I can see that I have always had a desire to share knowledge, and the Internet turned out to be the perfect medium.
Studied at Steinmetz High School in Chicago
After graduating from a junior high school in Poland, I started the next stage of my education in Chicago, USA.
Walking into school was like checking in at the airport. Each backpack was scanned on a tape that passed through an X-ray machine, and each student passed through a metal-detection gate.
Learning the subjects was a big challenge. Biology, math, geography, etc., were all taught in English, which I wasn't very fluent at the time.
Working on a construction site in Chicago
For a short period I tried my hand at construction.
At work, I learned terms like two-by-four or two-by-six to describe the cross-sections of rectangular timber (wood planks) used to build most American homes.
For example, two-by-four meant 2 inches by 4 inches rectangular timber.
Thus, I learned to efficiently use imperial units of measurement, measuring the appropriate lengths of boards, which I then cut.
I also learned how to use a nail gun.
Working at a grocery store in Chicago
Slicing meat and cheese by weight, serving salads to customers, cleaning up after the end of the shift. This was more or less my next job.
One day, one of my co-workers didn't turn off the slicer after he had finished slicing. When I wanted to use it, it cut off a piece of my finger.
I then resigned from further work there.
4-time winner of the typing competition on the keyboard
After returning to Poland, I started studying at a hotel technical school. It was a mistake. I would certainly use this time better by attending an IT technical school.
My grades in most subjects were poor and I didn't apply myself to study. The exception was computer science, in which I had an excellent grade on my final certificate.
In addition, for 4 years of studying at a technical school, every year I took part in a school typing competition, consistently taking 1st place in it. In this way, I won useful computer equipment: a wireless mouse, a webcam or a flash drive.
Protecting mass events
While studying at a technical school, I additionally worked as security at mass events, mainly soccer matches.
It wasn't a very progressive job, but somehow it was related to practicing martial arts and spending time with colleagues with whom I was working at the same time.
Maintaining the website of the ShidĹŤkan section
While training ShidĹŤkan, I ran the section's website at the same time.
At that time, I did not know any CMS yet, so I updated the content by directly editing changes in files.
Winning a silver medal in a martial arts competition
I took second place, winning the silver medal, but unfortunately it was nothing to be proud of.
There was only one competitor in my weight class besides me. So I only had one fight... which I lost, taking second place at the same time.
Acquiring a driving license for cars
Learning with the driving instructor went smoothly and I was well prepared for the exam.
However, the practical exam itself, i.e. the situation in which I was assessed during the performance of tasks, paralyzed my abilities.
Nevertheless, I passed the exam on the first try, although already at the first intersection, the car died twice when I was about to drive.
Studying at the Wrocław University of Applied Information Technology
After graduating from high school and passing my final exams, I went to Wrocław.
I started my studies in the field of "Computer Graphics".
However, quite quickly, after the 1st semester, I resigned from further studies. I saw no value in gaining knowledge this way.
I learned much more effectively on my own, using courses, books or online tutorials.
I developed my skills in the field of computer graphics and web development, following the ever-growing curiosity in these areas.
Work at the Media Markt store in Wrocław
As an advisor in the computer department, I was helping clients choose equipment and diagnosed complaint defects.
In the meantime, I focused on personal development.
I was interested in, for example, speed reading and mnemonics.
With the help of picture stories, I memorized product numbers from price lists to check, at the customer's request, whether additional pieces of a given product were available in stock.
For example, 12345 for me is a lit candle (1) with wax dripping down the head of a swan (2) that is tattooed on the breasts of (3) a girl sunbathing on a sailboat (4) who has a hook (5) from a fishing rod stuck in by the caught fisherman.
Participation in workshops on setting up and running a business
Interested in the aspects of running a business, I took part in workshops focusing on issues related to starting and running a business.
Running a cleaning service
I started a cleaning business.
I designed and implemented the entire business from A to Z.
Conducting recruitment interviews in person was one of the most difficult challenges in terms of "getting out of the comfort zone".
I created an informative website, designed leaflets, which I later distributed around homes.
I commissioned a commercial to be recorded and aired on a local radio station.
In the end, I managed to acquire only two clients and after a few months I closed the company.
I had no idea about this industry and felt no desire to explore it further.
However, I noticed that I was very involved in creating graphics, advertising materials, and a website.
Provision of services related to sales on Allegro
At that time, Allegro made it possible to place HTML code on auctions. So I started creating and selling Allegro auction templates.
These were individual projects, but also mass equivalents in the form of ready-made templates that customers could choose from my catalog.
In addition, I created a template generator in PHP, to which I sold access in the Saas model.
Getting to know SOAP WebAPI, which was made available by Allegro, I also offered an automatic after-sales service, configuration of actions such as sending a message after the payment was booked, e.g. after buying a top-up code.
Finally, I sold the website together with the created software.
Day trading at Wucash Capital
A friend encouraged me to work in the company where he worked as a day trader, i.e. a broker performing buy/sell operations on stock exchanges within a single day (short-term speculation).
So I started trading stocks on US stock exchanges (NYSE and NASDAQ) using the Sterling software.
Despite the good results achieved for several months of work (generating commissions on profits that I could live on), I finally ended my adventure with day trading when the company's branch in Kielce, where I lived at the time, was closed.
Running a Christmas tree sales point
I got involved in running a Christmas tree sales point.
The point was operating on a franchise basis. My task was to receive the goods, unload them, set them up on the square and sell them.
I was financially responsible for the received goods, so I decided to hire someone to guard the square at night, using a caravan.
Winning in a banking competition
The bank (Dominet) where I had an account was taken over by another (Fortis/BNP Paribas).
On this occasion, a competition was announced in which the fusion had to be presented in an artistic way.
I decided to write a poem... which the jury liked so much that I became the winner of the competition, winning a trip to Paris.
Interior designer assistant at Manhattan Design
For the previous years, I developed my computer graphics skills also with the use of 3D graphics programs.
I was able to create visualizations based on technical drawings of apartments, houses or vehicles.
I decided to look for a job in the interior design industry.
I had no education in this field. I only had the skills I had previously acquired on my own in my spare time.
Personal delivery of my CV with the address of the website where I posted the portfolio of my three-dimensional visualizations brought results and I was employed in one of Kielce's companies.
Training at the Jung factory in Dortmund
The interior design company where I worked was establishing cooperation with a manufacturer involved in electrical installations.
I took part in a training at the Jung factory in Germany, introducing the applications and the production process of products related to electricity.
Acquiring a driving license for motorcycles
Fascinated by motorcycles, I got the coveted motorcycle driver license.
By buying a motorcycle, I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams.
Participation in an MMA seminar
Actively training and looking for development opportunities, I took part in a practical seminar conducted by a well-known Polish MMA fighter, Tomasz Drwal, competing in the UFC and KSW.
Freelancing
I made 3D visualizations, working with, among others, MaxiPizza.
I made three-dimensional technical models of the PKP traction network for Strunobet.
I worked with an advertising agency, creating websites.
I created WordPress templates, e.g. for Mr. Vintage and online stores, e.g. for the sale of dental equipment.
Finally, I completely focused on web development, resigning from further development of my skills in the field of 3D graphics.
Running a website with video courses Kuvi.pl
While creating websites, I decided to start teaching others this profession.
Initially, I provided access to video courses in a slightly modified version of Joomla CMS.
Over time, I decided to create my own solution, a platform with courses, which I launched under the Kuvi brand.
Inspired by the Udemy, I also made it possible to sell courses to other authors on my website.
I finally sold the site.
Skydiving training
I received a parachute jumper qualification certificate, entitling me to perform independent jumps.
On the practical exam, however, I had a lot of problems and I passed the exam only on the second attempt.
Just like during the driving test, I was paralyzed by stress.
In the air, relaxation and a freely falling silhouette are important.
The awareness of doing something for the grade unfortunately affected my ability to perform exam tasks in the air.
So far, I have made over 110 independent skydives in total.
Teaching IT lessons in a technical high school
The educational materials I created turned out to be helpful also in schools.
One of the IT teachers, who recommended my materials to his students, additionally invited me to teach a lesson in an IT technical school.
Speaker at EduCamp in Kielce
I appeared as one of the speakers at an event organized under the name of EduCamp.
Speaker at TechKlub Kielce
I introduced the participants to my approach to blogging and running a business based on the provision of educational services.
Moving to Asia
Taking advantage of the possibility of 100% remote work as a creator of video courses, I decided to move to Asia.
I spent the first month in the Philippines, staying with Poles running the Ucieczka Do Raju project.
However, I was more drawn to living in a big city than on a small paradise island, so after a month I moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I rented an apartment there in an apartment building with a swimming pool and set up an office in it.
The tourist visa allowed me to stay for 3 months from entering Malaysia, so I was visiting the surrounding countries - Thailand and Singapore - to extend my visa for the next quarters.
Finally, I lived in Asia for almost a year, experiencing the pros and cons of remote work before it became ubiquitous in IT.
Participation in Startup Weekend Kielce #2 (powered by Google)
I took part in a 3-day event as a developer, joining the team implementing a business idea in the form of a hackathon.
Speaker at the Student Forum Business Center Club in Poznań
I appeared as a speaker, sharing my experience of running a business based on creating video courses.
Participation in the Brian Tracy congress in Krakow
Wanting to develop my business skills, I took part in the congress of one of the great American sales trainers - Brian Tracy.
Speaker at Meet.js in Kielce
I spoke at a meeting of the JavaScript community, putting together two tools for performing HTTP queries - Fetch and Axios.
Work at Atlassian in Gdańsk
Looking for challenges and development in the IT industry, I found a job at Atlassian.
I was hired as a Software Engineer with a frontend specialization, where I worked for 2 years, moving to Gdańsk at the same time.
Participation in public speaking workshops
Wanting to develop my public speaking skills, I took part in practical workshops.
Training "Attacking and Protecting Web Applications"
Developing in the field of web development, I took part in a training organized by the Niebezpiecznik.
Windsurfing training
I learned to sail on a windsurfing board, learning the basics of using a sail drive.
Distinction as a meritorious honorary blood donor of the 3rd degree
After several years of more or less regular blood donations, I received the badge of a meritorious honorary blood donor of the 3rd degree (I donated over 6 liters of blood).
Launch of the Codisity website
I decided to try my hand at the education business again by creating a new training platform Codisity (short for Coding University).
However, I noticed a problem that had not affected me before.
The amount of knowledge and experience in the field of web development that I gathered was much greater than before, when I originally started my adventure with web development courses.
Thus, the topics that interested me, in which I wanted to develop, became more and more specialized and less interesting for a wider audience.
So I started thinking about returning to a full-time job, which would allow me to further develop my web development skills.
Participation in the Hot Hatch Cup at the Silesia Ring track in Poznań
For a long time I have been interested in sim racing, racing in simulation-type games, i.e. games that imitate the behavior of cars in the physical world as faithfully as possible.
When the opportunity arose to check how sim racing actually translates into real driving on the track, I decided to take part.
My best lap time on the Silesia Ring track in Poznań was 1.57.930 in the Hyundai i30 N car.
With zero previous track experience, I was very happy with the result.
Creation of the series "100 JavaScript Bugs"
I launched a project - a free JavaScript email course in the form of 100 lessons sent daily with an example of a hidden error in the JavaScript code.
The 100 JavaScript Bugs project has been very well received by the participants and I receive many positive comments about it.
Publication of open source OSEMS software
Looking to optimize the cost of sending newsletters, I created my own OSEMS tool for email marketing and made it available under the MIT license in the form of open source code.
Cooperation with N-iX
As a Senior React Developer, I started working with N-iX, providing software engineering services for their client, a well-known Spanish clothing holding company.
