459 - Güney Kayım

Güney Kayım is currently a Backend Engineer at WhatsApp . He has 15+ years of experience in the industry as a software and a research engineer. He also has experience in managing a team for a little bit over 2 years now.

After working in Turkey for ~7 years in various companies including startups (e.g. Vistek ISRA Vision) and corporations (e.g. MasterCard), he relocated to the UK in 2015. After working at Arm Ltd. as a Principal Computer Vision Architect, he joined Facebook (now Meta) in London in January 2021 as a Software Engineer.

Twitter (X) → x.com/yanolacagidi

Güney's Workspace Tour

Workspace Items

• 16" MacBook Pro, 2021, M1 Max
• 32" Dell P3222QE Display
• iLoud Micro Monitor Speaker
• MX Mechanical Mini Keyboard
• Apple Magic Trackpad
• BoYata Laptop Stand
• BenQ ScreenBar Halo
• Elgato Wave Mic Arm
  
• HyperX QuadCast S Mic
  
• Logitech Brio 4k Webcam
• Gameboy Frame
• MAIDeSITe Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk Frame
  
• IKEA Table top VÄSTANBY (Discontinued product) 170x78x5 cm
• 3D printed figures
• Albert Einstein statue
• 3D printed printed Marshall pencil holder
• Lego Bonsai Tree
• Herman Miller Aeron chair
• Strongology MOTIONIC Treadmill

Tools & Software

• VS Code is the main tool I use, I code on VS Code
• The predominant programming language I use lately is Erlang
• Metamate (our internal LLM)
• Almost all the other tools I use mostly are our internal tools

What is the most recent item that you've added to your workspace?

Treadmill :) The first piece of this setup is the Herman Miller Aeron chair - in other words, it is the only remaining item from my first WFH setup I built during COVID.

How do you spark creativity?

This is a tough one. I don't think I do anything special for that. I only try to do my best, don't try to cut corners, ask for help when I need and be thankful for the things I have in life. This keeps me motivated most of the time and I think creativity just comes along with it.

What does your typical day look like?

I start working around 9:00, with the first coffee of the day. Work until 12:30, then have lunch and come back to my office around 13:30 with the second and last coffee of the day. 2-3 hours, take a 1-1.5 hour break and work another ~2 hours (sometimes after 17:00, sometimes after 21:00)

Why do you enjoy or appreciate most about remote work?

I have many reasons :)

1. I get to spend more time with my family, drop my kid to school and pick up from school

2. I can get very flexible with my working hours, if I need to do some house work during the day I can do it and I can work in the evening. This is completely up to me.

3. I have an office in my garden, so my commute is ~15 seconds and I can get fresh air whenever I need it easily. When it's summer time, I can take my laptop out and work in the garden while I'm on my hammock.