A coder once said, "Programming is like growing vegetables."
At Monosus, members with various titles such as director, designer, coder, etc. work every day. I have a vague idea of what their jobs are, but when I listen closely, it seems that even people with the same title do different things.
So, we decided to ask the members of Monosus who work hard at manufacturing, "If you had to compare your job to another profession, what would it be?"
First, we have front-end engineer Kadonami.
What is your job?
A "guide" who bridges the gap between the front end and the back end
- To get straight to the point, I'd like to ask you about your views on technology, or rather, your work.
SUNAMI : Eh? I don't think I can say anything clever about it at all (laughs).
- I would appreciate it if you could answer intuitively without thinking too deeply about it!
Sunami might be more like a "guide." A travel guide or a bus guide.
- What do you mean?
Sunami: To get a little more technical, the work we do involves people who create the data that appears on the front side of the website, known as "markup" or "front-end," and people who build the systems behind the website, known as "back-end." My job is to act as a go-between between them, receiving data from the back-end and passing it on to the front-end, telling them "this is how it should be displayed." I thought I was providing a kind of guidance, so I called myself a "guide."
- How did you end up working as a guide?
Sunami : Before I knew it, it had become like that. I often go on "permanent assignments" where I am seconded to client companies to work. At my first permanent assignment, I thought I would be creating the visible part of the website, which is the front-end, but I also ended up experiencing the "guide" part.
When I returned after finishing my residency, I was able to work as a guide and demand for it increased, so before I knew it, I was doing that all the time.
-What is the best part about being a guide?
Sunami : That's true. When you're creating visual interaction, you often have to make small changes to colors or text, but Guide-san handles data that is not meant to be changed, so it isn't affected by other elements that much. Once you've bridged the gap, all you have to do is keep an eye on it... that might be a good thing.
Next up, he will become a "great detective" who uses the skills he has acquired to solve his clients' problems.
To be honest, even at Sunami , I get bored quite easily (laughs). I feel like I've mastered the "guide" part quite a bit, so next time I'd like to try something a little different.
- What's next?
Sunami: I'm currently working on DX (Digital Transformation) at the Kamiyama Town Hall in Tokushima. The term DX seems to be used to mean using the power of digital technology to improve various services and people's lives. It's still a bit vague, but in the future I'd like to work on solving clients' problems using the skills I've cultivated.
- How would you describe that job?
What about Tsunan ? I don't know why, but Conan came to mind. A "great detective" who sees problems as "cases" and solves them?
- Wow, the transformation from "guide" to "great detective"...
I'm sure Sunami is wrong (laughs). I might get in trouble for that.
- It's been seven years since you joined Monosus, and a lot has changed. I heard that you've been holding study sessions at Monosus recently.
Sunami: It's common in this industry, but I don't want to dismiss people quitting as "unavoidable." From an engineer's perspective, I want Monosus to look attractive. Since around 2020, I've been holding study sessions to improve the overall skills of the company and increasing the opportunities to talk with people.
- I don't think such ideas would come easily if you don't have the sense that the company is your place.
Sunami : I see. That's right. Maybe it's because I feel like something isn't enough that I feel like I should add more.
"Guide," "great detective," and the feeling of "I'll try and add something that I feel is lacking." Listening to your story, I got the impression that "kindness" is at the base of your work.
I would like to continue this column for a while. I look forward to seeing everyone involved in manufacturing.
SUGIMOTO Kyoko
Freelance writer. Since autumn 2016, she has been serializing ``Kamiyama no Musumetachi'' in Hinagata, in which she interviews women who have moved to Kamiyama.