# My Web3 Journey My path into Web3 started with a role as a junior smart contract developer, though it took an unexpected turn. Instead of just writing smart contracts, I immersed myself in building test environments and creating documentation and presentations. At first, I felt like I was being handed tasks that no one else wanted—"Let's have La0oni handle the documentation and tests while we build the actual product." However, my journey in the cryptocurrency ecosystem revealed the true value of this work, enlightening me to the unexpected benefits of foundational tasks. I've been fortunate to work alongside developers who consistently strive for excellence. We focus on maintaining high standards in everything we do and always think several steps ahead. This environment has been instrumental in shaping my approach—their forward-thinking mindset and commitment to quality helped me develop the right vision for software development. ## The mindset These early experiences fundamentally shaped my approach to development. I discovered that: - Excellence in software goes beyond writing efficient code - The foundational work, though often invisible, is crucial - Thoughtful planning outweighs rapid implementation - Making complex systems understandable is as valuable as building them I grew to appreciate the depth of comprehensive testing, which goes beyond basic scenarios into fuzz testing, invariants, and full integration tests. Documentation became my way of connecting developers, auditors, and non-technical stakeholders. One lesson I consistently return to is the importance of resisting the urge to dive straight into coding. Through experience, I've learned that 80% of meaningful work happens before writing the first line of code. This emphasis on preparation is a reassuring guide in the often chaotic world of software development. It means: - Deeply understanding the project requirements - Studying existing solutions and approaches - Creating detailed specifications - Understanding the environments / out-of-the-box interactions Even under deadline pressure, this preparation proves **invaluable**. It's become a core principle of my development philosophy. My journey led me to build an automation framework—systems that operate silently but are essential to project success. I developed automatic transaction handling, report generation, and operational maintenance systems. This work reinforced my belief in the value of automation, inspiring me to continue seeking out impactful but often invisible contributions.