Each month we introduce one of our Ambrose Fox team members. For our clients who rarely see what goes on behind the scenes, we would like to show the range of individuals that make Ambrose Fox. This month we speak to our Lead Web Developer, Matt Beck.

What do you do at Ambrose Fox and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?

I am the Lead Web Developer, this means I help to plan and manage projects for our clients, as well as do some of the programming that goes into building their business platforms. I also do server management and the hosting of our clients websites. I do all of the JavaScript apps and APIs. I’m always doing research and development into new and emerging technologies that we can use.

You would come to me specifically if something involved React or JavaScript. For example, Examine – the examination platform we developed for ISVPS – was built using React and I know how to implement any changes to it.

What do you enjoy about working for Ambrose Fox?

The best thing about Ambrose Fox is that it’s a small and agile company. It’s easy for us to experiment and test new technologies and different ways of doing things.

What skill do you think everyone should learn?

I think it’s really important for people to learn how to relax.

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Version-controlling everything. It’s a way of tracking the history of changes to files. When I joined Ambrose Fox there was no version-control. I implemented the use of GitHub, and version control using Git. It makes the reviewing process easier and a lot faster. The team aren’t stepping on each other’s toes when editing files – we can see the full history of changes instantly.

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

I’m currently learning more about systems architecture, which is designing systems and all of their components, including the networking behind them, how they all communicate with each other and how clients access the system. It’s knowing where things are hosted, load balanced and firewalled. It’s really interesting.

What are we most likely to find you doing at the weekends?

I spend my weekends going for walks and playing chess.

If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?

Binance, Signal, and a Web Browser.

What is your favourite TV show?

Southpark.

What is your favourite food?

Sausage rolls.

If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?

A pinball machine!