Surevine Q&A : Matt Vivian

Credentials

Role

matthew_vivian_profile

Software Engineer

Joined Surevine

October 2013

The questions…

What is your ‘alternative’ job title?

Bit Coordinator

How would you sum up your role in one sentence?

I build software that makes it easy for its users to do great things.

Who is your geek idol?

This is a tough one. There are many that have guided me and there are more who inspire me. Martin Fowler’s work has always struck me as being well reasoned and pragmatic. I have learned a lot from his books and blog posts over the years.

What are your OS and browser of choice?

I’m currently lauding Xubuntu for revitalising an old ThinkPad that had been gathering dust for the past eight years. On modern hardware I don’t think you can beat OSX, it really does “just work”. What I need most from a browser is speed and low resource usage. I like to open lots of tabs across multiple windows so it has to behave well. Chrome has fitted the bill recently, though historically I have favored Firefox.

What open source tool could you not live without?

Git. It gives me the freedom to experiment effortlessly, without fear, while remaining systematic. No other SCM tool has been able to do this for me.

What is your favourite gadget at the moment?

I’d love to say that it’s my video-equipped quadcopter but I’m not allowed to buy one until the roof is fixed so I’ll have to say it’s my doorbell. Not quite as exciting as a quadcopter, I know. It is a proper geek doorbell though. Networked with graphs and mobile notification. The best feature is that it allows me to astound the family with unbelievable notifications.

What is your most used app?

It’s probably Tweetbot. I should tweet more often that I do at present. I’m currently reading Show your Work, by Austin Kleon, which is inspiring me to share more of what I do.

What music do you listen to whilst working?

A mix of my favorites from the 90s with a few more modern variations on a similar theme. Take a look at my profile on last.fm for more. The Internet is great isn’t it!

Where do you find motivation?

In knowing that I can make things better and by working with people who are genuine in their commitment to do the right thing.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Dog, definitely dog.