About Me

Learn more about my journey as a Software Engineer based in Calbayog City, Philippines, my technical expertise, and my passion for building scalable web applications.
Aaron Ruben S. Bartolome

FROM MOVIE HACKERS TO REAL CODE

How curiosity turned into a career building tools that actually work

It started with movies. You know the scenes—hackers typing furiously, green text flying across black screens, breaking into systems with a few keystrokes. I saw that and thought: "I want to learn how to do that." Turns out, real development is less Hollywood drama and more problem-solving. But the excitement? That stuck. Now, two years into my career as a Software Engineer, I'm not hacking into systems—I'm building them. CRM platforms managing 100+ campaigns. Page builders empowering content teams. High-performance websites serving thousands of users. And honestly? It's way more satisfying than anything I saw in those movies.

THE JOURNEY

I'm Aaron Ruben S. Bartolome, a Software Engineer working remotely from Calbayog City, Philippines, specializing in Vue.js and Nuxt.js. I graduated with a degree in Information Technology from Northwest Samar State University in 2024. During my last year of college, I discovered AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT—not to replace learning, but to accelerate it. That decision shaped how I work today. Since joining Summit Media in February 2024 (intern → junior engineer → building production systems),
I've:
  • Built an enterprise CRM managing 100+ advertising campaigns with complex status-driven actions and real-time synchronization
  • Created a dynamic page builder with 15+ components that cut content creation time by 50%
  • Modernized multiple company websites with 25%+ PageSpeed improvements
But here's what matters most: I build tools that make people's jobs easier. The CRM helps sales teams close deals faster. The page builder gives writers creative freedom. That's what drives me—not just writing code, but solving real problems.

HOW I ACTUALLY WORK

🤖 AI-Enhanced Learning (And I'm Not Hiding It)

I use Claude and ChatGPT extensively. Started in college, still use them daily. But here's the thing: I don't just copy-paste solutions. I ask AI to explain the "why" behind patterns, then make sure I genuinely understand before implementing. This lets me:
  • Learn faster without sacrificing depth
  • Get multiple perspectives on solving problems
  • Debug complex issues by discussing approaches
  • Stay current with best practices
AI is my learning accelerator, not my crutch.

⚡ Thriving Under Pressure

There's something about tight deadlines that puts me in the zone. When my team lead said "Build this CRM, you're solo, deadline's tight"—I felt excited, not scared. That pressure sharpens my focus. I stop overthinking and start building. Maybe it's adrenaline. Maybe it's competitive drive. Either way, I've learned I do my best work when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking.

🧹 Code Like Someone's Reading

I write code for the developer who comes after me (often future-me at 2am debugging). Even under pressure, I prioritize:
  • Meaningful variable and component names
  • Clear state structure and data flow
  • Comments on complex logic (especially business rules)
Why? Because I've debugged messy code. I've untangled spaghetti logic someone rushed. I refuse to create that pain for others. Clean code takes 10% more time upfront and saves hours later.

🎯 Frontend Today, Full-Stack Tomorrow

Confession: I actually want to do backend more than frontend. But I learned frontend first, and my job needed frontend skills, so I went deep into Vue.js and Nuxt.js. And honestly? I love the immediate visual feedback—seeing what you build come to life in the browser is satisfying. But I keep asking: "How does the backend handle this API call? Could we sync data better? What's happening in the database?"
So now I'm learning:
  • Node.js and Express.js
  • MySQL and MongoDB
  • API design and database architecture
My goal: Build full-stack applications, maybe even a SaaS product, completely on my own. I want to understand the entire system—from database queries to UI interactions.

THE MISTAKES THAT MADE ME BETTER

That CRM project I mentioned? I made so many mistakes.
  • Overcomplicated state management in some areas
  • Could've abstracted repeated patterns better
  • Learned about edge cases the hard way (production bugs are great teachers)
But here's what I realized: Mistakes are just expensive lessons. After finishing that project, I didn't feel defeated—I felt more confident. Because now I have battle scars. I know what works and what doesn't. I can spot potential issues before they become production problems. That experience—building something complex with zero prior knowledge—taught me I can figure things out. And that confidence is worth more than perfect code.

BEYOND THE CODE

When I'm not building web applications, you'll find me:
🏃 Running - I'm active in local running events. It keeps my body strong and my mind clear. There's something meditative about a good run that helps me solve coding problems I've been stuck on.
💻 Learning New Tech - Always exploring. Currently diving into backend development, but I'm curious about everything from new frameworks to system design patterns. The running might seem unrelated to coding, but it's not. Both require:
  • Consistency over intensity
  • Pushing through when it gets hard
  • Celebrating small progress
  • Understanding that growth takes time

WHAT DRIVES ME

I want to build projects that actually help people's workflows. Not just "another CRUD app" or "a clone of X." I want to create tools that make someone say: "This saved me 3 hours today" or "I can finally do this myself." That's why the page builder project excites me—writers who used to wait on developers can now create custom layouts independently. That's real impact. That's the kind of software I want to keep building.

WHERE I'M HEADED

Right now: Frontend specialist building production applications
Learning: Backend development—Node.js, Express, databases—to become a true full-stack developer
2-year goal: Senior Developer position where I can mentor others while building complex, high-impact systems
Dream: Build a SaaS product that solves real workflow problems (maybe for content teams, maybe for sales teams—industries I now understand)

LET'S CONNECT

I'm always open to talking with:
  • Fellow developers exploring Vue.js or full-stack development
  • Teams building tools that solve real problems
  • Anyone curious about AI-enhanced development workflows
  • Companies that value clean code and fast learners
Want to discuss:
  • How to thrive under tight deadlines?
  • AI tools for accelerated learning?
  • Vue.js + Nuxt.js architecture patterns?
  • The journey from frontend to full-stack?
P.S. — Those movie hackers that inspired me? They got one thing right: building software is powerful. But the real power isn't in breaking systems— it's in building ones that help people do their jobs better.
2026