It is summer, and the Digpro office is yet again filled with the chatting and laughter of ambitious students who are on a break from their universities. During a couple of intense weeks, they will explore areas where their academic knowledge can be put into professional practice. Supported by their mentors, they will foremost work within areas of test, development and design. A balmy and cloudy afternoon in June, Maria Moliteus, who is at Digpro for her second summer, and Axel Wretman, who returns to Digpro for his fifth summer, sit on the terrace and talk about what it is like to be back. It is a conversation which keeps falling back to how technical knowledge opens doors to design and user experiences, something both of them are interested in.
Maria, who studies computer science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, has completed her third year and bachelor’s thesis.
“I feel comfortable with programing, and I have learnt to tackle complex scenarios the last year. For me, the education is a lot about prioritizing time and working with other students. For my bachelor’s theses, I used an eye tracker to find interaction patterns in eye movements. A lot of code for compiling the data was required. I wrote the thesis with Carin Bystam, whose father worked at Digpro for several years.”
Last summer, Maria worked in Team Organizer. This year, she is part of Team dpCom. Together with Carin, her peer from university, she programs functions for cables, pipes and ducts.
”Carin and I are developing a new function. The aim of the function is that objects in the application maps are to take a specific color which indicates the status of the object. We have different colors depending on if the object is partly completed, completed or not completed.”
Maria finds the extensive code database which is the foundation of Digpro’s application a tad challenging. Notwithstanding, her mentors are always supporting and answering questions. Thus, Maria can focus on developing.
”It is refreshing to be here, since I can dive into the Java-code. Surrounded by highly skilled people, who ensure me that development is allowed to take time and that the quality of the outcome is most important, I trust that I can do a great job.”
Navigating the code database is sometimes challenging, as is merging the logic of new functions with code that has been developed for several years.
“Then again, there is always help close at hand. The friendly atmosphere at Digpro is deeply rooted”, she confirms.
After a couple of weeks working at Digpro, Maria is going to Öland on holiday. After that, she will be part of the reception of new KTH students. Axel Wretman commences his fifth and finale year at Linköping University in the autumn. He studies software technology to become a civil engineer.
”I am excited and a bit nervous about the upcoming final year”, he relays. “It is the finishing line, where everything is to come together.”
Axel began working at Digpro via “Tekniksprånget” in the summer of 2017. The same year, which was the one before he started his university studies, he was doing extra hours. Initially, he worked with testing. Then, after successfully taken the Digpro programming test, he was allocated to correcting bugs. It kept him busy until he started his studies, and he has returned to Digpro every summer since.
“Currently, I am in Team Operator”, Axel says. “I am trusted to develop new functions, which the other team members delegate to me. It is varied and interesting.”
As Maria, Axel is fascinated over the comprehensive application.
”The code database is gigantic and constantly furthered developed”, he laughs. “Every summer, there is something new to learn. But like Maria said, we always get great support from our mentors.”
Axel’s aim this summer is to develop code in a manner which is best for the application.
”My endeavor is to reach the quality level of the Digpro developers. I know how incredibly skilled they are, and I intend to deliver the same, high standard.”
Vacationing in Amsterdam and Greece awaits before the final university year starts. During his years at university, Axel has focused on algorithms, but he keeps an open mind for different areas.
“I turn everything that I do into something worthwhile. But indeed, creative areas such as graphics and visualization are appealing. An application should not only be functional with a high level of security – it should also be easy to use.”
Maria agrees, and says that she too is interested in data technology which can be used in creative areas, such as design and UX.
“A great application is not only functioning code. There has to be logical and visual reasons behind the functions”, she concludes, and Axel affirms.
The clouds are getting heavier, and a drop of rain lands on the table where they sit. It is a cue for returning to an afternoon of programming.
Do you want to know more about working at Digpro? Visit our career pages – we advertise available positions, and also welcome open applications.
