~/grkn $ cat about.md
About
Hi, I’m Gürkan.
I turn complex needs into simple, reliable, and manageable systems. I enjoy writing code, but what really motivates me is building systems that solve real problems — that’s why I prefer being involved in both the software and the infrastructure it runs on. I care about producing work that’s free of unnecessary complexity: understandable, built to last. I keep up with new technologies, but I always choose what fits the need, not just what’s newest.
Background
Writing code since 2008. Started out as a sysadmin in 2013 — already writing back-end code alongside it — then focused mainly on back-end development from 2018, and picked up DevOps in 2020. These days I mostly write plans and let AI agents write the code, then review what comes back — that’s the shepherding part.
What I work with
PHP and Laravel above all, plus JavaScript, Node.js, Express.js, and AdonisJS. On the infrastructure side: Linux (Ubuntu), server administration, and Docker.
I also have a strong interest in cybersecurity. Not as a professional — but I actively study and experiment with it across the code, the servers it runs on, and the network in between.
Off the clock
Running on caffeine, recently learned to drive, and traveling solo when I can. Happiest reading history, watching documentaries about it, or talking psychology.
Elsewhere
You can see what I’m currently using and listening to on the pocket page, or find my write-ups — mostly in Turkish, on Laravel and server administration, and whatever else is on my mind — on the blog. Turkish is what I actually write; the English version linked from each post is an AI translation, not a rewrite.
If you want to reach out, the contact page goes straight to my inbox.