Miroslav is an experienced iOS developer and an accomplished consultant. He has shipped over 40 apps to the App Store, several of which are used by thousands of people worldwide. He is an agile team leader and has worked with over 100 clients from all around the world, helping them take their projects and companies to the next level.
Since he joined Codementor, Miroslav has given 700+ sessions, sharing his expertise on mobile development and startups with other developers. He’s been the #1 iOS & Swift mentor for the whole of 2016. Miroslav is part of CodementorX, our network of top software engineers available for hire.
What are the most exciting projects that you’ve worked on?
I have a background in digital agencies, which didn’t offer much opportunities for great projects; so in the beginning of 2014, I started working on my own startup, Style InCities, which is a photo sharing app for fashion enthusiasts. Besides the social aspect, I also built an advanced photo editor, utilizing the graphics card of the iPhone to apply effects. Another great project I have built from scratch and am especially proud of is HealthLinx, a social network for doctors (HIPAA compliant) and their staff which enables them to share information about their patients, create groups and group chats. Since mid 2016, I have been working on another startup, Movez, which is an event-based social network. I co-founded the project with someone I met on Codementor. Originally Joshua Hollis asked me to help him solving few issues on the app and on our second session we talked a little bit more about their business plans and it turned out to be so exciting I accepted the offer to become a technical co-founder and early investor in the app.
What are your favourite technologies, and why?
I love Swift (who doesn’t?) for its brevity, safety, and flexibility. It also looks beautifully clean, which is important to me. 
When I work on iOS projects, I prefer using Storyboards/XIBs for the design parts and I am a big fan of auto layout. In the past few years, I have become a strong proponent of Firebase, which brings some vital features like realtime and offline, and offers a lot of flexibility and high performance (if you know how to take advantage of this technology).
If you didn’t have to work for money, what would you do?
Building rockets to Venus and Mars.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Think critically, think for yourself – by my high school physics teacher.
What do you wish you knew when you started programming?
Man up and get a job! I think that even back then, I would have been able to land a job with enough courage and ingenuity.
What were your best collaborative experiences?
It’s the startups – Movez, Instarly and Style InCities. It just bonds people together when they have a common purpose and share on the success. Also, on Codementor, I have developed friendships with many of my clients and mentees. Since relationships on Codementor are so personal, you’ll never feel alone as many developers do.
What was your first encounter with technology?
I don’t remember the exact moment I started programming, as my transition from gaming to programming at about the age of eleven was fairly smooth. As a kid, I loved making computer graphics and animations, and playing games. Then came the internet (in my town in the Czech Republic, that was in the very late 90s), and I wondered if I could create my own games. I then stumbled upon Game Maker on the Internet, downloaded it, and also printed out the book (the only way to actually get a book like this at that time). It didn’t take long before I learned GML (game maker language), which is similar to JavaScript. I also received a book from my parents about Delphi and HTML, and also learned that quite early. My life changed, both by learning how to program and by the emergence of the Internet. It has really empowered me.
What is the first thing you ever built?
I remember a simple shoot ‘em up game I created. No coding miracle by any measure.
What tools help you be productive?
Xcode, Sublime Text, Chrome Browser, Zoom, Gmail and of course Terminal! My super-duper overpriced custom MacBook Pro 15” 2014 is my weapon of choice. It is my life.
What inspires you?
People who take challenges inspire me. I don’t mean the ice bucket types of challenge. I mean challenges like colonizing Mars, Bitcoin, or Internet for Everyone.
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