Blog & News
CodeIgniter Community Voice - Michael Wales
EllisLab is blessed with two of the greatest communities that can be found anywhere on the internet in ExpressionEngine and more recently CodeIgniter. Despite being a relative newcomer to the scene, the people attracted to CodeIgniter are among the smartest, most talented and down-to-earth developers around today. From time to time we want to highlight some of these talented people, and we’ve asked them to lend their voice to ours. Have your voice. I hope you enjoy what they have to say as much as I did.
This week, our Community Voice author is Michael Wales, a programmer, a father, an aspiring author, and an award winning Airman. For the past 3 years, he’s been focusing the majority of his time on CodeIgniter. He is among the most consistent contributors to the community, has released numerous libraries and tutorials, and is one of the most highly sought after freelancers within the community.
What follows is a summary in his own words of how CodeIgniter has changed how he works, and how he develops.
90% of my work comes from word-of-mouth, which means I can never have my name in too many places. Although I claim to be a CodeIgniter Programmer, I’m willing to take on a vanilla PHP project if the client insists (although I’ll definitely fight for CI beforehand). I’ve been known to crank out a web design or two and anyone that subscribes to my blog knows I often drift off into topics completely unrelated to programming (Battlestar Galactica, the military, etc).
Why do I stretch myself so thin? Because it gets my name out there. I want “CodeIgniter Programmer” to by synonymous with “Michael Wales.” Cocky? Self righteous? Conceited? Maybe - but I’ve always been determined to be the absolute best at whatever I aim to achieve. CodeIgniter has given me that goal to aim for - to be honest, it’s changed my life completely.
CodeIgniter, the Framework, has allowed me to work for clients with vastly different requirements. Whether it’s the hottest new Web 2.0 site, a corporate Intranet, a portal for a gaming community, or a local business’ website - and believe me, I’ve done them all.
CodeIgniter empowers me to deliver the best possible product I can to the client.
CodeIgniter empowers me to deliver a product at a cheaper price than many competitors because I can complete it twice as fast.
CodeIgniter empowers me to let clients utilize whatever architecture they want because CodeIgniter’s going to work.
CodeIgniter, the Community, has given me friends that will last a lifetime. Whether it’s chatting into the wee hours of the night about the wife and kids, walking me through a bit of code I’m just not getting my head around, or putting in a good word for me with a client - and believe me, I’ve done them all.
CodeIgniter empowers me to meet new people, learn about new cultures, and see things “in another man’s shoes.”
CodeIgniter empowers me to seek out new opportunities and to encourage me when I take a risk.
CodeIgniter empowers me to admit when I need help and to allow others to help me.
CodeIgniter, the Clients, have changed my outlook on life and given me a renewed hope that things will be okay. Whether it’s giving me a project that starts my daughter’s college fund, paying me up-front for a project before it’s complete when I need the money, or allowing me to supplement my military paycheck so that my family can live more comfortably - and believe, I’ve done them all.
CodeIgniter empowers me to seek out new challenges and attack problems from “outside the box.”
CodeIgniter empowers me to become a better listener, follower, leader, husband, father, and man.
CodeIgniter empower me to overcome all obstacles and complete the task at hand.
CodeIgniter empowers me - and my family - to leave our Air Force family behind in April 2009 at the end of my enlistment. Although it’s scary - hell, it’s downright petrifying - I know we will be okay. I know we’ll always be welcome in the CodeIgniter family.
- Michael D. Wales
Posted by Derek Allard on June 19, 2008
