Meet the Makers: Mick Geraerds | Mobile XL

Celebrating Catalyst-powered innovations and the developers behind them.
 

Meet the Makers is a Q&A series that shines a spotlight on the brilliant developers in our community. We aim to showcase the diverse range of innovative solutions our community members have built using Catalyst. Join us in celebrating their achievements, learning from their journeys, and exploring how they leveraged Catalyst's capabilities to bring their visions to life.
 

So grab your favorite coding beverage, put on your coolest developer cap, and join us as we meet the makers who are reshaping the digital landscape with Catalyst!
 

Now, let's kick off our Meet the Makers interview! Today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Mick Geraerds of Mobile XL, a coding maverick who has built an exceptional application using Catalyst. Let's jump right into the conversation and learn from his incredible journey.

Q 1. Hey Mick! Great to have you here. We'd love to hear about you. How did you first come across Catalyst, and what was it about the platform that made you think, "This is the perfect fit for our project"?

Mick: Sure! I'm a developer at Mobile XL, where we work closely with Zoho on a bunch of cool projects. Part of my job is staying in the loop with everything new coming out of the Zoho ecosystem—and that's actually how I stumbled upon Catalyst. At the time, I was juggling multiple integration efforts, each with its own unique set of challenges. After evaluating Catalyst's capabilities, I was impressed by its scalability, flexibility, and seamless fit with our development needs. It quickly became clear that Catalyst was the right platform to bring our projects to life more efficiently and effectively.

Q2. That sounds awesome! Can you tell us a bit about the project you built on Catalyst? What challenge were you trying to solve or what need were you addressing?

 

Mick: Yeah, definitely! The project is basically a user-friendly portal that gives end users easy access to all their relevant information in one place. The client had this pretty complex structure across multiple accounts, and each end user needed access to specific data from various Zoho applications—like Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, and Zoho WorkDrive—without exposing sensitive information. So we built a system that lets users view and update their personal info, request new projects, and securely share documents—all while keeping data privacy tight. Catalyst made it easier to pull everything together in a clean, secure way.

Q3. It's always great to hear how Catalyst makes a real difference in development. Looking back on your experience, which features or tools stood out the most and really helped move your project forward?

Mick: For sure. What really stood out to me about Catalyst was how everything I needed was right there in one cohesive platform. For the front end, I worked with Angular, while I used Java to build a secure, robust back-end API and with Catalyst Data Store as the database, everything just clicked. Having all these tools seamlessly integrated into one environment really simplified the development process.

Q4. Every project comes with its own set of challenges. Were there any roadblocks along the way, and how did Catalyst help you tackle them?

Mick: Well, one challenge with using AppSail for Java in Catalyst is that it's instance-based. This means that any data stored in memory is lost when instances are closed. Then I found out that Catalyst has its own Cache feature. It stores data separately from the instance, so it stays available even if the instance stops.This was a game changer and really improved the reliability of my applications.

Q 5. So we're thrilled to hear about your overall experience working with Catalyst! What's it been like, and were there any features that really stood out to you?

Mick: Oh, it's been awesome! At first, I thought I'd just use Catalyst as a simple hosting platform for the front end and backend, but it quickly became so much more than that. I started tapping into all the built-in features, like Mail, Cache, and Stratus, and wow—everything just clicked. The seamless integration of these tools significantly streamlined my development process, allowing me to build and deploy with remarkable speed and efficiency. Catalyst has truly enhanced my workflow and elevated the overall quality of my projects.

Q6. Now let's talk about the impact your project had on your target audience or users. Have there been any notable successes or feedback you've received?

Mick: During testing, the client was genuinely excited about the application. Their positive reaction was immediate and sparked a lot of new ideas. It was incredibly rewarding to see that the project was not only meeting but exceeding their expectations, validating the hard work put into it, and confirming that we were on the right track.

Q7. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently during the development process or any lessons learned that you'd like to share with other developers?

Mick: Looking back, I think starting with Catalyst from the beginning would have been the best approach. Previously, when building features directly within Zoho applications, I often had to rely on workarounds to make things work. While they got the job done, they weren't always the most efficient or ideal solutions. With Catalyst, development has been much more flexible, and one of the biggest advantages is the comprehensive error logging. It has made tracking and resolving issues significantly easier. As a result, we've even begun migrating some of our older integrations into Catalyst to improve overall performance and ensure smoother operations.

Q8. As part of the Catalyst community, do you actively engage with other developers or contribute to the platform's ecosystem? If so, how has this involvement benefited you?

Mick: For sure! Within our development team, we frequently discuss challenges and explore solutions collaboratively. Since embarking on our first project with Catalyst, it has become our go-to platform for tackling a wide range of issues. We've been able to deliver features to our clients that we once thought weren't feasible within the standard Zoho environment. Additionally, participating in early access programs and providing feedback to the Catalyst team has been a rewarding experience—it's given us the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the platform's evolution.

Q9. Taking breaks from coding is key to staying balanced. What's your go-to way to step away from the screen and unwind?

Mick: When I'm not coding, I like to stay active to clear my head. Whether it's hitting the gym or going for long walks with my dog, I find it's a great way to recharge. I also love hanging out with friends, and video games are a big part of how I unwind. It's all about finding that balance and giving my mind a break!

Q10. Alright, for the final question—what's your best piece of advice or a bit of encouragement for developers stepping into the Catalyst world for the first time?

Mick: Catalyst is a solid tech stack. For developers used to working with Deluge, it's an exciting next step. It opens the door to more advanced coding and broader possibilities. If you're ever unsure about a feature in Zoho or run into challenges, I'd definitely recommend checking out Catalyst. It's packed with powerful tools that can help you meet your goals or streamline existing solutions. Once you get the hang of it, you'll realize just how much more you can do!

Stay tuned for our upcoming interviews, where we delve into the journeys of exceptional developers who have made their mark with Catalyst.
 

    

Note: If you're a developer and have used Catalyst to create an exceptional app, website, microservice, or solution, we'd love to feature you in our Meet the Makers series. Reach out to us and share your story of innovation and inspiration with the Catalyst community.

Happy coding!