Can you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Tim van Vliet, I am 25 years old, and I study Computer Science at the Associate Degree program in Roosendaal. I chose this program because I find software development incredibly interesting and enjoy tackling new challenges. Outside of my studies, I spend a lot of time staying active. My favorite activity is strength training at the gym, but about four months ago I also started running. Recently, I even completed my first 10-kilometer race! Spending time with friends is just as important to me. Going out together and creating great memories is something I truly enjoy.

Can you tell us about your internship?

During my internship, I mainly contributed to rebuilding the existing application within the new architecture, with a focus on backend development. Among other things, I set up the communication between different parts of the application, built centralized error handling, and towards the end of my internship, I worked together with the lead developer to review and improve the application's security.

What was your biggest challenge during your internship?

My biggest challenge was at the beginning of the internship. I had to learn how the existing codebase worked and adapt to the development style used at 2-Controlware. This was especially challenging because .NET was completely new to me. What I learned most from this experience was how to quickly find your way around a new codebase and technology stack, and how valuable it is to regularly brainstorm and collaborate with your team.

How did you end up at 2-Controlware?

I found my way to 2-Controlware through a friend who was already working here. He mentioned that there might be room for an intern within the development team, and fortunately that turned out to be the case. What especially attracted me was the research component of the internship assignment, which focused on the relatively new technology gRPC. I was also excited about the opportunity to gain experience with .NET.

How did you experience the atmosphere within the team?

The atmosphere within the team was fantastic. It is a very friendly and welcoming group where there is always time for a joke, and that is something I really appreciate. From day one, I felt genuinely welcomed. There was always room to ask questions, and everyone made it clear that they wanted me to succeed and complete my internship successfully. The team's helpful and enthusiastic attitude made it easy for me to feel at home very quickly.

What was the highlight of your internship?

From a development perspective, the highlight was without a doubt seeing my first pull request approved and merged into the codebase. (Of course, I made sure to take a picture of that moment!)

Beyond the technical achievements, I thought it was very special that I was invited to join a team dinner even before my official start date. A few months later, I was also invited to spend a weekend in the Ardennes as part of the company's 20th anniversary celebration. Despite the tropical temperatures of around 30°C, we had an unforgettable weekend filled with great conversations and lots of fun. By the end of that trip, I had earned the nickname "Triple Tim", after proving that even in the heat, I could still appreciate a good Belgian tripel!

What's next?

I look back on my internship with great pleasure. The months flew by, and during that time I not only learned a lot about .NET and gRPC, but also discovered how enjoyable it is to work in such a close-knit team.

After my internship, I still have a few resits to complete, but if all goes well, I will hopefully graduate soon. After that, it will probably be time for a well-deserved vacation before starting my professional career. In the longer term, I would also love to continue my education part-time, although I have decided to postpone that plan for a year.