Software Engineering Mentor - Aberdeenshire

Software Engineering Mentor - Aberdeenshire Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Free intro session. I grew up in Newtonhill, went to Mackie Academy and live in Stonehaven.

I offer professional software engineering mentoring to budding engineers at any skill level. 25+ years of experience distilled into practical sessions on architecture, design, and coding. I specialise in C #, Microsoft Azure, IoT and AI, but my favourite thing is helping students understand how all this tech actually works. If you’re curious, motivated, or just need someone to guide you through the maze, I’m here to help you get started and grow.

What Does a Mentoring Session Cover?Mentoring sessions are all about what you want.We'll build a simple plan around what...
09/02/2026

What Does a Mentoring Session Cover?

Mentoring sessions are all about what you want.

We'll build a simple plan around what you want to learn, whether that's software design, cloud computing, using AI, or how a professional engineering lifecycle works.

Sessions are typically 60 or 90 minutes of practical, hands-on learning with real-world examples - no textbooks, no exams, just clear guidance from someone who's been doing this for over 25 years.

Get in touch if you'd like to book your free 1-hour intro session to see if it's right for you.

Knowledge Bite #7 – What is Vibe Coding?Vibe coding is when you describe what you want in plain language and let AI gen...
07/02/2026

Knowledge Bite #7 – What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is when you describe what you want in plain language and let AI generate the code for you - often without fully reading or understanding what it produces.

It's a bit like telling a stranger to pack your suitcase for a holiday. They might get it right - but if you don't check, you could arrive with no socks and three umbrellas.

For quick experiments, prototypes, or learning, vibe coding can be brilliant. You get results fast and see ideas come to life in minutes.

But in professional engineering, the code you ship is your responsibility - even if an AI wrote it.

The real skill isn't getting AI to generate code. It's reviewing, understanding, and improving what it gives you.

Vibe coding is a great starting point. Just don't let it be the finish line.

Knowledge Bite #6 – What is GitHub Copilot?GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that lives inside your code editor...
06/02/2026

Knowledge Bite #6 – What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that lives inside your code editor (like VS Code) and helps you write software faster.

As you type, it reads the context of what you're working on and suggests code - from single lines to entire files and functions - that you can accept, adjust, or ignore.

Think of it like a knowledgeable colleague sitting next to you. They watch what you're doing, anticipate what you need next, and draft it for you.

But Copilot isn't just autocomplete. You can ask it questions, get it to explain unfamiliar code, and even have it generate tests or documentation for code you've already written.

The key thing to understand: Copilot doesn't replace your thinking - it accelerates your doing.

Knowledge Bite #5 – What is the Cloud?The cloud simply means using someone else's computers instead of buying your own....
04/02/2026

Knowledge Bite #5 – What is the Cloud?

The cloud simply means using someone else's computers instead of buying your own.

Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google run massive data centers full of servers. Instead of purchasing and maintaining your own hardware, you rent what you need from them.

Think of it like renting a flat vs buying a house. You don't worry about the boiler, the roof, or the foundations — someone else handles all that. You just move in and use it.

The cloud lets you:

• Scale up when you need more power
• Scale down when you don't
• Pay only for what you use

This flexibility is why most modern software is built and run in the cloud.

Knowledge Bite #4 – What is DevOps?DevOps (Development & Operations) is about breaking down the wall between the people...
04/02/2026

Knowledge Bite #4 – What is DevOps?

DevOps (Development & Operations) is about breaking down the wall between the people who build software and the people who run it.

Traditionally, developers would write code and "throw it over the wall" to an operations team to deploy. Problems happened when things didn't work as expected.

DevOps means:
• Developers and operations work together
• Software is tested and deployed automatically
• Problems are caught early, not in production

Think of it like a restaurant where the chef also serves the food. They see what customers experience and improve faster.

DevOps makes software delivery faster, safer, and more reliable.

Knowledge Bite #3 - What is an API?An API is how different pieces of software talk to each other.Instead of directly to...
23/01/2026

Knowledge Bite #3 - What is an API?

An API is how different pieces of software talk to each other.

Instead of directly touching each other’s data, programs send requests and get responses using agreed upon rules and contracts.

A simple way to think about it: An API is like a waiter in a restaurant. You don’t go into the kitchen - you place an order, and the waiter brings back the food.

APIs make systems safer, more flexible, and easier to exchange data and instructions (such as sending an email using the company email server).

Knowledge Bite #2 – What are Application Layers?Most software systems are made of three or more main parts:• Frontend –...
21/01/2026

Knowledge Bite #2 – What are Application Layers?

Most software systems are made of three or more main parts:

• Frontend – what the user sees and clicks on
• Backend – the part that decides what should happen
• Database – where information is stored for later

For example: When you log in to a website, the frontend shows the login screen, the backend checks your details, and the database stores your username and preferences.

You don’t need to master all three to be a software engineer - but understanding how they work together is a great first step.

Knowledge Bite #1 - What Is Software Architecture?Software architecture is the big picture of how a piece of software i...
20/01/2026

Knowledge Bite #1 - What Is Software Architecture?

Software architecture is the big picture of how a piece of software is put together.

It answers simple questions like:
• What parts does this system have?
• What does each part do?
• How do the parts talk to each other?

Think of architecture like a plan for a house.

Before you build rooms or choose paint, you first decide where the walls, doors, and plumbing go.

Good architecture makes software easier to build and easier to change later.

Bad architecture makes even small changes hard and frustrating.

Using AI Agent Mode in VS CodeOne of the biggest challenges when starting out in software engineering isn’t writing code...
19/01/2026

Using AI Agent Mode in VS Code

One of the biggest challenges when starting out in software engineering isn’t writing code - it’s knowing where to start, what to ask, and how the pieces fit together.

That’s where AI Agent mode in VS Code can be a game‑changer when used properly.

Instead of just asking for snippets, you can:
• Explore an unfamiliar codebase and ask why things are structured a certain way
• Get step‑by‑step guidance when designing a feature end‑to‑end
• Ask questions about architecture, trade‑offs, and alternatives - not just syntax
• Learn how experienced engineers reason through problems

Used well, AI acts like a junior‑friendly thinking partner:
not replacing learning, but accelerating understanding.

The key lesson I teach early on: AI is most valuable when you research, plan, then implement - not when you paste prompts and hope.

This mindset shift helps developers move faster and build better systems.

If you’re curious how to use tools like this effectively as part of learning real‑world software engineering, I cover this in my tutoring sessions.

Learn Software EngineeringWant to design and build real world software systems — not just write code?I offer Software Ar...
19/01/2026

Learn Software Engineering

Want to design and build real world software systems — not just write code?

I offer Software Architecture & Engineering tutoring with a practical, hands on focus for learners at any stage.

Ideal for students who:
• Are just starting out and want to understand software engineering
• Are early in their career and want to level up quickly
• Can already code but want to learn about design, architecture, and delivery
• Aspire to become professional engineers, architects, or technical leads

I focus on what’s often missing from courses and tutorials:
• How systems are designed in the real world for production
• Solution architecture, research, planning & rapid prototyping
• Combing services such as cloud, AI / Agents, IoT and real-time big data handling

I offer a free 1 hour intro session to understand your goals and create a tutoring plan.

📩 Message me to arrange a free intro — in person (Stonehaven) or remote via Teams.

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