In our “Game Changers in Tech” series, we highlight the brilliant minds driving innovation at Bitrock. Our goal is to highlight the unique challenges they face in the fast-paced world of IT and how they rise to the occasion. Staying at the forefront of technology is not only essential, but it reflects our commitment to providing the best solutions for our clients. Each Bitrocker embodies this mindset, mastering cutting-edge tools and showcasing technical prowess while adapting to emerging trends. Through their stories, we’ll discover how they’re overcoming challenges and leading our company into the future.
In this edition, we’ll chat with Yi Zhang, Team Lead for our Front-End team, to explore his academic and professional journey, and gain precious insights into the world of technology.
Can you explain your position and career path?
My career as a developer began at university, when I worked in both academic and systems IT management. Although part-time, this was an excellent opportunity to enter the IT world while finishing my studies. After graduating, I joined a start-up that organized food and sustainability events, where I managed all the technical aspects of IT. It was quite challenging, but it remains one of the most relevant work experiences I have ever had.
Almost five years ago, I joined Bitrock as a mid-level developer, and as the team grew, some of my colleagues and I realized that we needed to create and fill a new role: that of Team Leader.
This role, currently filled by several of my colleagues, serves a strategic purpose on both technical and human level. On a daily basis, in addition to writing a lot of code, I am responsible for strengthening the department, overseeing training programs, and optimizing the selection process to ensure that each new team member is aligned with our values and vision.
What has been the most challenging technology issue you’ve faced at Bitrock?
Certainly, one of the biggest challenges was designing a micro front-end architecture using multiple frameworks and managing the smooth migration of various modules. It was a project that required a lot of coordination and technical skills, but the result was very satisfying and I developed and consolidated new skills through this experience!
What do you think are the most important trends for the future of our industry?
As far as the framework conditions are concerned, I do not see any significant developments in the short term. Non-technical people may not notice the minimal performance improvements between different frameworks, and the small degree of optimization does not justify switching to a new framework. Many companies find it difficult to even update versions of the same framework!
However, an interesting trend, however, could be the use of WebAssembly or the adoption of multi-threading in JavaScript, which I believe will become increasingly popular, especially as applications with complex client-side calculations become more widespread.
How do you keep up with these trends and how does Bitrock support you in this continuous learning?
To keep up, I do a lot of personal research, I watch YouTube videos, take Udemy courses, and read articles and books. I don’t have a go-to source: it really depends on how deep I want to dive into a topic. For a quick overview I’ll watch YouTube; if I want to build a specific skill I’ll take a structured course; and for more in-depth knowledge I’ll read technical articles.
Bitrock really supports my learning journey too, giving me access to platforms like Udemy and O’Reilly, which help me sharpen my skills and stay informed.
What advice would you give to those who want to keep up to date with IT development?
In development, it is important to find an inner motivation to learn and really understand the dynamics behind web development. It’s important not to limit yourself to the front-end, but to dig deeper, to understand the logic of communication between client and server and all the behind-the-scenes aspects that will keep you interested and help you grow.
It is also important to find a company that shares your values. When you feel like your work is contributing to something bigger, it’s easier to stay motivated.
Thanks to Yi Zhang, Team Lead Front-End Developer @ Bitrock, for this interview.
Stay tuned for more interviews in our Game Changers in Tech series, where we’ll continue to highlight the people who make Bitrock a benchmark for technological innovation.
