Between Master Plan and Reality, there is usually a massive glitch.

The Rough Beginnings

Born in 1982 and raised on the island of Usedom. Instead of messing around with PCs back then—which wasn't really possible anyway—I had all sorts of other nonsense in my head, but definitely not programming. I never would have thought that my path would lead me there. At 15, I slowly started to become normal when a school internship at a construction site put me in contact with older guys, from whom I learned that my previous life choices weren't exactly something to strive for. A good year after my internship, I came into contact with programming for the first time. The trigger was once again the construction site, as I actually wanted to learn how to read architectural blueprints. Back then, there was no internet for me because it was way too expensive and still in its infancy, and I had no interest in a 56k modem anyway, since I knew what those were like from friends. So instead of studying the blueprints, I started wondering how all of this actually worked, and somehow stumbled upon QuickBasic. At the time, the only available manual was a massive digital guide on the DOS level that you could only navigate using the cursor keys rather than a mouse pointer. Programming my first game this way felt like a wild, months-long solo mission, but I made it to the finish line. On that first labyrinth tour, I recreated the table tennis game known from the UNIVERSUM console.

This led me, through a few detours, to decide on a distance-learning course focused on C++ while experimenting with DirectX 7 on the side. To be honest, I never got very far with C++. Even so, I somehow managed to build a simple 3D city using 3D Studio Max and the Watcom Compiler where you could walk around. Collision detection was still too complicated for me, so you could just walk right through walls. Financial hardships eventually forced me to drop out of my studies while struggling to scrape by as a temp worker in Berlin. Originally, Berlin was planned as a transitional phase to keep trying my hand at game development, but the exact opposite happened. Instead of coding, I ran around to different employers every day and enjoyed way too much beer at the local doner kebab shop after work to even be able to operate a keyboard.

The Hotel Era & The Great Crash

A lucky coincidence brought me back to Usedom to design a single hotel website. The site was finished pretty quickly, and in the process, I discovered my knack for print media while also unknowingly taking over the entire IT infrastructure. Networks, phone systems, cash registers, video surveillance, and everything else you can imagine in IT—I did it all. However, my employer at the time refused to get me official training in the field so he wouldn't have to pay me more. As a result, my skills in this area only reached an amateur pro level. While other companies later tried to optimize themselves and their business processes with expensive SAP software, I instead developed my own custom web application for time tracking, interfaces to hotel booking systems, and even proprietary booking systems. That saved the company enormous costs and made me incredibly proud.

Driven by this pride, I built my first own project, the "Usedom Kompass" vacation rental platform, in the hope of finally achieving independence. A few people signed up, but before the project could really take off, unexpected personal and financial setbacks caused my entire existence to collapse. Devastated, I threw in the towel, left the island, and decided to turn away from IT completely to search for a completely different meaning in life.

From the Bundestag to the Subway Shaft

In the hope of giving something back to society and adding more meaning to my life, I began training as an educator. However, my hands still couldn't stay away from code, which is why I built my first dating app back then—originally named "Dynamic Placeholder" and later released as "Place to Meet". With it, I wanted to create something completely new, but unfortunately, numerous setbacks forced me to abandon this first attempt once again. Through a bizarre twist of fate, I then landed as an external developer in the German Bundestag. It felt prestigious to walk through the Paul Löbe House, but the stiff corporate environment completely drained my creativity. I was forced to remove good ideas because they might otherwise have led to a few job cuts. Even though I could have had a carefree life there, I simply couldn't endure this torment, and I constantly felt like I was cheating myself if I continued working there.

Seeking a radical change, I went straight from the highest halls of politics down into the subway tunnels and became a Berlin subway driver. Yet my heart never stopped beating for working with children. In 2024, I decided to give my dream a second chance and restarted my educator training. During this time, I even shared my journey and my vision of becoming a companion for children in an official interview: Read the interview about my path here (available in German only). Unfortunately, the intense team dynamics present in the facility ultimately took a heavy toll on my well-being, forcing me to retreat once more. To reorient myself, I promptly went back into the tunnel. Even though I can't pursue my educational passion right now, I stay true to coding because it provides deep inner fulfillment. While my apps didn't become massive hits, they kept me going and gave me the necessary foothold.

Imperfect Skills & Today's Vision

Looking back, I never lost my connection to programming, but I also never became this hyper-networked textbook software engineer. My self-taught skills remained at an advanced beginner level, and I never felt "good enough" for big tech companies. Today, I am incredibly grateful for AI assistance because it finally bridges that gap and helps me bring my chaotic, creative visions to life without getting stuck in syntax.

Although I develop games myself, I play surprisingly little nowadays. World of Warcraft is one of the few exceptions. After having sunk into it for extended periods twice before, I was drawn back to Azeroth in 2025. If you happen to roam around there as well, just look for Kolvain. Maybe our paths will cross.

However, while today's gaming and app landscape is dominated by aggressive advertising methods, psychological user-retention tricks, and pure greed, I try to do the exact opposite. Out of idealistic conviction, I design my projects so that they remain untouched by this disgusting monetization, keeping the fun and genuine ideas front and center.

And when I'm not fighting against code or incomprehensible app store policies, I dream of my new passion for scuba diving, which unfortunately I can only pursue during vacations. Inline skating, mindless straight-line walking into nature, or chasing motorboats on my paddleboard are also things I occasionally do when I need to clear my head for a moment. I still wake up every day and dream of new things I want to program; it's just a shame that the to-do list keeps growing while time is always too short.

Should you wish to support me in any way, I thank you very much in advance. That could be a comment on TikTok or Instagram. Or you play one of my games—currently it's just Net Five, but the next one is already in the compiler. Perhaps you also have your own idea that we can bring to life together. But even if you just tell a friend or acquaintance about me, that fulfills my mission with purpose.