Hello, I’m Dmitry Ratner
With more than two decades in software development, I’ve specialized in large-scale engineering and complex systems, particularly desktop applications. My passion is crafting robust, maintainable software through modular architecture and clearly defined abstractions, enabling easy scalability, effective troubleshooting, and efficient teamwork.
Development Philosophy
At the core of my work are independent, self-contained modules. This approach ensures that each system component can be individually updated or debugged without impacting the entire application, allowing smooth upgrades and simplified task allocation within teams. I firmly believe that well-defined abstraction layers are critical for building sustainable systems. For me, a clear hierarchy, from function to class, package, assembly, module, and ultimately the complete system, is fundamental.
Desktop and Server Applications
Most of my career has been dedicated to creating desktop applications, often comprising multiple builds and modular plugins. Recently, I’ve expanded my expertise into client-server solutions and adopted the microservices architecture. Microservices have proven particularly effective for breaking down functionality into smaller, independent pieces, significantly enhancing maintainability and scalability.
Technologies I Use
I’ve been working with .NET since 2004 and hold MCPD and MCSE certifications. For large-scale projects, my primary tools are .NET and C#. For tasks requiring complex logic and high performance, I opt for native C++, occasionally leveraging NVIDIA CUDA for extreme computational tasks.
In UI development, my preferred framework has long been WPF, though I’ve recently explored WinUI 3. While promising, WinUI 3 isn’t yet my recommendation for large-scale projects. Additionally, I’ve found Blazor Client compelling due to its desktop-like development experience for web and mobile applications, despite its current limitations regarding multitasking, a feature I hope will be improved in future .NET versions.
Other Technologies
While .NET and C# form my core expertise, I frequently engage with diverse technologies, joining external projects using various languages and platforms. Though I don’t claim specialization in all these languages, I’m comfortable quickly integrating into new environments. I’ve also extensively used MATLAB to develop and maintain algorithms, even earning recognition as Plugin of the Week for one of my MATLAB plugins.
Solution Expert, Not Just a Programmer
I prefer to identify myself as a Solution Expert or Researcher rather than purely a programmer. My passion lies in transforming ideas into practical, real-world software solutions. Writing code is crucial, but my main drive is the creative journey: from initial concept to fully functional application. I thrive when exploring, testing, and refining ideas to deliver solutions that genuinely address user needs.
Embracing Challenges
What excites me most are the challenging problems that lack immediate solutions—the kind that many might avoid. These complex tasks fuel my creativity and determination to innovate and deliver meaningful, impactful software solutions.
