Meet Mathieu, who made the leap from mechatronics and the medical device industry to software development at XWiki. Now part of the Client team, he's helping reshape the platform in ways that even surprise him.
What keeps him going? The constant learning, the hands-on projects, and the chance to see XWiki evolve with every line of code. Let’s dive into his story!
Out of respect for Mathieu’s choice to keep his photos off the Internet for privacy reasons, we won’t be sharing any pictures of him in this article.
Tell me about yourself briefly
I'm Mathieu, 36 years old. I have been at XWiki since nearly 2,5 years as a member of the Client Team.
I'm curious about tech and sciences in general (including less techy ones like history). I also play games (PC and board games), which I especially like to do with friends, but also love to hike and ski in the mountains and do a bit of woodworking.
🌄 The journey to XWiki
What were you doing before XWiki? Did you change careers when joining our team?
Initially I'm a Mechatronics Engineer, so I was working closer to hardware even if software was always the main component. I've worked in the medical device industry, but most of my career was actually in the space industry, working on a satellite simulator. Just before XWiki, I actually have tried to change fully my career, because I needed a break after COVID lockdowns. It was a short parenthesis, and XWiki was a career change while staying in software.
What is it like to be working in the Client team at XWiki?
It is quite varied. There is often something new to learn, and a new feature to bring. It is not only about developing, but also understanding the client's needs. When working on past projects, it can require a good dose of analysis also. XWiki is used in many different ways, sometimes I don't even recognize it after it has been adapted so well by our users.
🔎 Open-source impressions
Was open source something you had an interest in prior to XWiki?
I started using open-source software with Firefox 2 because it was free (free as in beer). Privacy issues, devices made artificially obsolete, and software abusing their situation of monopoly, convinced me to embrace the values of open source. The community aspect came later, but I'm quite hooked at updating OpenStreetMap data now.
What's the open-source value you identify with most?
Freedom, I can't be locked out by a company neither forced to use the software another way than the one I want.
⌛ Being an XWikier
How was the integration process at XWiki for you?
It was quite intense. XWiki has a lot of features to be discovered. Not coming from the Web Development industry added to the pile. I am still learning new things, which is also what makes it interesting.
What were the biggest ways in which XWiki changed during the time you've been around?
The company grows fast. There are a lot of new people to meet at each seminar.
What would you say is the most valuable lesson you learned during your time at XWiki?
It may sound weird, but I would say asking questions. I was used to being a lot more on my own, so questions where a last resort. In XWiki, sharing knowledge is part of the mentality. I'm still progressing on that :)
What has kept you at XWiki so far?
The values that the company conveys and the team.
If you could describe XWiki's culture in one word, what would it be?
Openness
Favorite memory up until now at XWiki?
My first seminar combined with a week of staying in Iași for an office exchange beforehand. I was warmly welcomed by our Romanian team, which I was seeing for the first time in majority. I was glad to meet them, have long discussions until late in the night, and discover a bit of Romanian culture on the way.