Usually, the people who volunteer to answer our questions are heavily involved in either the Joomla community or the Joomla project, or sometimes both. Mayank Sahu has just joined the community, but he's no newcomer to Joomla. He has years of development experience behind him, particularly on Joomla, and he explains his choice of profession to us.
He's keen to get involved if time permits, so let's welcome him and listen to his story.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Mayank Sahu, I reside in the vibrant town of Pipariya, nestled in the heart of Central India, specifically Madhya Pradesh. I have a passion for exploration, and traveling is one of my greatest joys. As a coding enthusiast, I immerse myself in the world of technology, always eager to learn and create. Helping others brings me a deep sense of fulfillment.

Outside of my digital endeavors, I have a creative side. Photography is my artistic outlet, capturing moments in time that resonate with me. On weekends, I indulge in the culinary arts, experimenting with different dishes and flavors. I thrive on adventure and embrace every opportunity to discover new places and cultures. Meeting new people is a constant source of inspiration, as I believe that connections are what make life truly remarkable.

And in a professional way ? 

I am a seasoned software developer with over 8 years of hands-on experience in web development, specializing in Joomla, PHP, Laravel, Angular and nodejs. My expertise lies in crafting robust and efficient web solutions that deliver exceptional user experiences.

My journey in web development began with a deep fascination for Joomla, and I've since honed my skills to become an expert in this content management system. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working on a diverse range of Joomla projects, from building bespoke templates to developing custom extensions, ensuring that every client's unique requirements are met with precision.

My proficiency extends beyond Joomla. I have a strong command of PHP, which serves as the backbone for many web applications. In addition, I am well-versed in Laravel, a PHP framework known for its elegant syntax and powerful capabilities. I have leveraged Laravel to create scalable and maintainable web applications, always focusing on clean code and best practices.

Angular and node are other technologies in my toolkit, and I have used it to craft dynamic and responsive user interfaces. Whether it's single-page applications or complex web portals, I thrive in architecting solutions that provide seamless interactivity and performance.

Throughout my career, I have remained committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices. I am passionate about continuous learning and exploring new technologies to expand my skill set.

I am excited about the ever-evolving world of web development and am eager to take on new challenges that push the boundaries of what is possible in the digital realm. 

When did you make your first Joomla website / extension?

In 2015, I embarked on my career in web development, and during that year, I created my first Joomla website and extensions. I began my journey with Joomla during my traineeship at a company, and from that point on, my passion for it has continued to grow.

What made you choose Joomla?

As a trainee at a company, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn Joomla. Since then, my enthusiasm and commitment to this platform have only grown stronger.

Can you describe the process of creating your first Joomla extension?

My initial foray into Joomla extension development involved a comprehensive study of existing extensions and their underlying structures. My first independent project was a custom image slider, undertaken primarily as a self-guided learning experience.

What challenges did you face?

I encountered some challenges while delving into the extension's structure, particularly in understanding and implementing method overriding within the existing flow.

Where did you get help (if you needed it)?

Official Joomla Documentation, Online Forums, Online Developer Communities like stackoverflow etc and my mentor.

What is/was your involvement in the Joomla Community? Do you take part in any events?

Not much till now and, up to this point, I haven't had the opportunity to participate in any events.

Now that you've put your foot down in the community, do you think you'll be able to get more involved?

Definitely but the only thing my availability depends on is - I work for an agency, they give a lot of tasks so I get very less time apart from it.

If there was one "little" thing I could do with my skills, I would like to help in developement when I have the time.

If there was one sentence to sum up your relationship with Joomla / Joomlers, what would it be?

My passion for Joomla runs deep, and I wholeheartedly appreciate its capabilities and community.

Are you, like Mayank, relatively new in the Joomla community and would you like to help out or give back?

These links can be useful:

Teams looking for volunteers: https://magazine.joomla.org/all-issues/february-2023/who-does-joomla-need-right-now

Ways to support Joomla: https://magazine.joomla.org/all-issues/august/18-ways-to-give-back-to-joomla