14 hours ago
- Started the decade as a 17-year-old college freshman in Russia, dropped out after losing motivation, and moved into software development.
- First job at an outsourcing company earning $18k/year; later quit to learn web development through a free volunteer program.
- Rejected from a dream job at a Russian social media company, then hired by Roman Mazurenko to build an iPad app (Stampsy) in Moscow.
- Pivoted to web development with React in 2014, creating open-source tools like hot module replacement and Redux.
- Gave first conference talk on React with time-travel debugging at ReactEurope in 2015, leading to a job offer from Facebook's London office.
- Relocated to London in late 2015, faced challenges with language, bureaucracy, and taxes; joined React Core team remotely.
- Co-created Create React App in 2016 and contributed to React 16 rewrite; built a career explaining and building UI tools.
- Personal milestones: marriage, death of friend Roman Mazurenko, and growth in public speaking and side projects.
- Ended the decade with a focus on teaching and building, acknowledging privilege and the impact of open source contributions.