Turning Dreams into Reality
I live in a country where pursuing dreams in technology is challenging. Technology is slow to grow, and international payment systems are restricted. Despite these obstacles, my determination only grew stronger. Five years ago, an economic crisis in my country destroyed the foundations I had built for my future. The crisis froze my dreams in the software industry. Companies on the brink of bankruptcy stopped investing in technology, forcing me to leave my career in software.
My First Steps
Even though I had to step away from the software world, my passion for creating never faded. Today, I don’t earn money from software or the internet, but I work on nonprofit projects. My first project was creating a platform using MyBB for discussions about movies and TV series. I dreamed of a space where people could connect! Despite all my efforts and launching a mobile app, MyBB’s outdated structure couldn’t attract users. People preferred easier platforms like YouTube and Instagram for discussions.
Finding Flarum
After a long search, I discovered Flarum. It was like finding an oasis in the desert. Flarum reignited my passion for building communities. It gave me a chance to revive the spirit of connection. Seeing the lack of effective firefighting services in my country, I decided to create a platform where firefighters and the public could ask questions, share experiences, and connect. This was a completely nonprofit project.
What the Platform Offers
On this platform, firefighters can track their shifts, share their experiences, and publish articles to raise public awareness. For example, a blog post on fire prevention could save a family’s life. Considering the limitations of WordPress’s comment system, I wanted to create a more interactive forum.
Flarum’s free, simple, modern, and mobile-friendly design played a major role in my decision. The user experience feels like a work of art. It’s almost as if Flarum was designed specifically for mobile use. Its simplicity, flexibility, and elegance were huge advantages for me.
My Experience with Flarum
Interacting with the Flarum community and developing custom extensions for my forum was an incredible joy. One of my favorite creations is the modern footer extension, which not only offers a sleek design but also makes navigation easier for users. This extension wasn’t just appreciated on my forum—it gained interest from other Flarum users too.
After a long time, using SSH, JS, and other coding languages again felt like a journey back in time. Returning to a creative process after years reignited my love for software development. Seeing the community’s interest in the extensions I developed made me incredibly happy. It wasn’t just a technical effort—it was part of a shared joy.
Final Thoughts
In the end, creating a platform where people can quickly access information and ask experts their questions during fires and emergencies became a source of immense pride. This project is not just a technical achievement; it’s the realization of my dream to serve society. Touching people’s lives is an indescribable source of happiness for me.
