Branislav Ballon

Branislav Ballon

JS & PHP developer, AI-enhanced

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About Me

I’m a full-stack JavaScript and PHP developer based in Slovakia who enjoys exploring new technologies and continuously learning. I prefer working on well-tested codebases, and I have hands-on experience with both end-to-end and unit testing. In addition to development, I enjoy design and user interfaces, and I often create UI concepts for my projects in Figma.

I try to live by the saying: “The real art is to make things simple.” I support local non-profit initiatives and ideas by creating websites for them. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, working on our cottage, playing sports, traveling, and reading.

Technologies

80%
React
80%
Claude Code
80%
Next.js
75%
Node.js
75%
Figma
50%
Laravel

Claude Code, Cursor, React, Node.js, Laravel, Inertia.js, Next.js, Strapi, TypeScript, Docker, Cypress, CI/CD, Figma, MUI, REST API, CSS, Sass, Git, GitLab, SQL, ESLint, Prettier, GraphQL, Express, Mocha, Chai, Joi, Knex, Redux, Tailwind, SPA.

Laravel Forge, PHP, WordPress, CakePHP, Yii, WooCommerce, Angular, Vue, Ionic, Gatsby, Jamstack, Leaflet, BEM, CSS modules, Bootstrap, PWA, jQuery, jQuery Mobile, MicroPython, RPI, CodeIgniter.

Work Experience

2023 - 2024

Website with CMS and Client Portal - Next.js, Node.js developer

Implementation of a website (articles, services, contact form, price calculator, PDF generation, ...) and user interface of a web application (login, registration, private zone). Frontend - Next.js, Typescript, SASS CSS modules - IDSK design components. Backend - Strapi CMS, implementation of custom endpoints and operations. Implementation of automated tests - Cypress. Project responsibilities: Architecture design, technology selection, dockerization of the solution, solution development. Creation and collaboration on CI/CD design and implementation. Project maintenance.

2023 - 2024

Internal Chat GPT Tool - Next.js, Node.js developer

Internal Chat GPT application with authentication, chat history and token management. Frontend - Next.js (13+), server actions, server components, Formik, MUI, Typescript. Implementation of chat history, user chat thread. FAQ zone manageable from CMS. Backend - Strapi, Docker, Typescript, Azure OpenAPI. Implementation of endpoints for working with user chats and messages, user token management, unit tests. Project responsibilities: Technology selection, project setup and configuration, lead developer, project maintenance.

2023 - 2024

Internal Portal and Seating Plan - Next.js, Node.js developer

Internal company portal with news, events and important information manageable via CMS. Frontend - Next.js. Backend - Strapi. Project responsibilities: Technology selection, project setup and configuration, mentoring and code review for junior developer, project maintenance.

2020 - 2022

MONSE Senior Monitoring - Senior React, Node.js developer | Monse

Implementation of web application dashboard - React, Redux, MaterialUI. Implementation of backend services and endpoints - Node.js, Express, Knex, OpenAPI, kafka.js, PostgreSQL, Winston, OTEL. Unit tests using Mocha, Sinon. Project responsibilities: Collaboration on architecture, services and interfaces design. FE, BE developer.

2019 - 2020

WooCommerce Eshop - Monse

Development of an e-shop based on WordPress and WooCommerce. Creation of a simple Auth server and endpoints for other applications. Development of a WordPress plugin for application technical support. Integration with third-party services. Collaboration on UI design and UX solutions. Project responsibilities: PHP developer.

2018 - 2020

PHP developer, JS developer

Development of prototypes and applications in React (UI design, technology selection and BE interfaces). Participation in service architecture design. Management and development of existing Yii2 applications. Management and expansion of WordPress websites. Collaboration on UI design and UX solutions. (React, Node.js, Yii2, CSS, SASS, LESS, Docker, WordPress, WooCommerce, jQuery, REST, GraphQL)

2016 - 2018

PHP, JS developer - freelancer

Development of prototypes and applications in React. Participation in service architecture design. Management and development of existing Yii2 (PHP) applications. Management and expansion of WordPress websites. Collaboration on UI design and UX solutions. (React, Node.js, Yii2, CSS, SASS, LESS, Docker, WordPress, WooCommerce, jQuery, REST, GraphQL)

2014 – 06/2016

Hybrid Mobile App Developer - freelancer (part time)

jQuery Mobile, Cordova, Phonegap, Intel XDK, CSS, HTML

11/2012 – 06/2013

FE developer - Adbee digital (part time)

HTML, CSS, CakePHP 2, jQuery

Education

2014 – 2016

FMPI - Comenius University (MSc.)

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava. Field: Applied Informatics (Computer Graphics)

2011 – 2014

FMPI - Comenius University (BSc.)

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava. Field: Applied Informatics

2007 – 2011

Andrej Vrábel Grammar School, Levice

Courses and Certifications

7. 4. 2026

Claude Code Masterclass

Course Net Ninja - netninja.dev. Certificate no: cert_bghl1ftt

26. 11. 2025

Under the Hood of GenAI

Course by Róbert Barcík. Skillmea.

23. 8. 2025

Local LLMs via Ollama & LM Studio - The Practical Guide

Course by Maximilian Schwarzmüller. Udemy Certificate no: UC-c4b1b3ae-cf14-423f-92a7-7b776cefe21c.

30. 6. 2025

Figma UI UX Design Essentials

Course by Daniel Walter Scott. Udemy Certificate no: UC-25623ad5-6c4b-42e9-ad5d-dffd92cab1f4.

1. 4. 2025

30 Days to Learn Laravel

Course from official Laravel courses platfom – Laracast.com Laracasts.com

18. 11. 2021

AWS Certified Developer - Associate

Official AWS Certification - Developer DVA-C01

1. 3. 2021

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Official AWS Certification - Practitioner CLF-C01