Personal Background

My name is Serhat Güler. I'm 24 years old, currently living in Chemnitz, Saxony, but originally from Upper Franconia, Bavaria. I have Turkish roots and have been a tech enthusiast since early childhood.

Early Tech Journey

My journey began when I first encountered computer games as a kid. Around 2011, at age 10, I started playing games on the PS2 and Nintendo DS. Since my family wasn't familiar with computers and consoles, I explored and learned on my own.

In 2013, at age 12, I got my first Android phone and started learning how to root it, install custom apps, and mod Minecraft: Pocket Edition. I discovered an app called BlockLauncher, which provided a modding API ("ModPE"-PE stands for Pocket Edition, the original name before it was renamed to "Bedrock Edition" due to the same code base supporting other platforms such as PC or consoles) library with functions to write mod scripts in JavaScript. Behind the scenes, it translated the scripts into C++ and injected them into Minecraft: Pocket Edition, hence the name "launcher." This was a pivotal moment in my programming journey, as I began experimenting with the API, learning by trial and error. Initially, I created simple and somewhat trivial mods, but I soon became inspired by the mods available for the PC Edition of Minecraft (written in Java, whereas Pocket Edition was a complete rewrite in C++). I aimed to create similar mods for Pocket Edition to enhance the experience for myself and others.

After creating several mods, I encountered the limitations of ModPE, particularly its lack of networking features, which restricted mods to single-player. At the time, players often exploited vanilla servers using scripts to cheat, as the servers lacked proper client-side verification. This led to creative workarounds, such as DNS tricks, to bypass ModPE's restrictions. Eventually, PocketMine-MP, an open-source server software written in PHP, was released. Initially supported by Mojang (the creators of Minecraft) before being dropped, PocketMine-MP introduced a Plugin API that allowed developers to drastically modify server behavior, enabling custom game modes like mini-games or Hunger Games (today often known as Battle Royale).

From Modding to Programming

With little knowledge of PHP, I began by tinkering with open-source plugins to understand how they worked. Over time, I noticed similarities between PHP and JavaScript, which made learning PHP more intuitive. Writing plugins became a passion, as I could test and play them with friends, creating unique game modes and experiences. The sense of accomplishment and recognition from others for my work as a teenager was incredibly rewarding and further fueled my interest in software development.

Growing Passion and Challenges

My parents initially misunderstood my hobby, thinking I was just playing games. However, I was deeply invested in development. When schools introduced various trades, I was confident in my path-I always knew I wanted to be a developer.

At 15, my interests expanded to Android development. My first app was a simple web hosting tool for HTML sites. Despite its limitations, I was proud to share it and receive positive feedback. Helping others with IT issues became second nature, and I embraced every new challenge, learning as I went.

Educational and Career Beginnings

From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in IT. When various trades were introduced in school, it only confirmed what I was already certain of by the age of 12.

My internship at ZAE, a research institute for sustainable energy, took that passion to the next level. The experience further fueled my enthusiasm for the field and solidified my commitment to a career in software development.

Education

From October 2020 to July 2025, I studied Computer Science (Informatik) at Hochschule Hof, University of Applied Sciences in Germany. I successfully completed the core curriculum, building strong expertise in software engineering, algorithms, databases, and system architecture.