From March 2016 to September 2019, I worked as a Software Engineer at CodeTaiwan, an EdTech startup based in Taipei. Our mission was to develop and deploy a custom Learning Management System (LMS) used directly by private schools to deliver their curriculum.

Working in a lean startup environment meant embracing versatility and taking ownership across various technical domains – truly a role where I wore multiple hats. This period was crucial for refining my core technical skills across the full stack and infrastructure.

Key Contributions & Responsibilities:

• LMS Feature Development & Automation: I created automated reporting tools directly within our newly developed LMS. This significantly streamlined data collection for educators and administrators, reducing manual report generation time from roughly four hours per week down to just one hour.
• Platform Architecture: I architected and defined the core logic for an integrated ad-serving platform within the LMS. My design focused on scalability and performance, enabling an 80% increase in user scalability and achieving a 20% improvement in page load speed, which directly enhanced user experience and engagement.
• Cloud Infrastructure & Backend Administration: I was responsible for administering and scaling our Linux-based backend servers. This involved leveraging both AWS (EC2, S3) and Google Cloud (GCP) services, utilizing containerization with Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes to ensure optimized server performance, reliability, and efficient resource utilization.
• Agile Process Facilitation: I actively facilitated regular progress check-ins with cross-functional partners (like curriculum designers and educators). This promoted transparency throughout development cycles and created faster feedback loops, translating directly into actionable tasks and yielding 30% more efficient iteration periods per sprint cycle.

Technical Growth in a Startup Environment:

This role was instrumental in my technical development. The need to contribute across the board meant rapidly learning and applying a wide range of technologies. My skillset expanded significantly during this time, encompassing frontend development (JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS, various CSS frameworks), backend development (Node.js, Express), databases (SQL/PostgreSQL, MongoDB), core computer science concepts (Data Structures & Algorithms), testing (Jest, Mocha, Chai, Jasmine, Puppeteer, Playwright), and modern DevOps practices (Git, Linux, AWS, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes).

Conclusion & Company Evolution:

CodeTaiwan was a dynamic and challenging environment that provided invaluable hands-on experience, significantly shaping my technical foundation. While the original LMS venture faced headwinds and ultimately dissolved post-COVID, with the initial owners parting ways, the entrepreneurial spirit didn’t completely disappear. Interestingly, a part of the business successfully pivoted, spinning off into a unique English after-school program where children learn the language alongside the strategy of the Pokémon Trading Card Game – a venture that is apparently thriving today! For me, the core takeaway remains the immense value of the foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability gained during those formative startup years. It solidified my passion for building robust software solutions and navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.