Konstantin Pankov
Low Level Programmer
Luxembourg office
I work as a low-level programmer on the Artec 3D team, where my primary responsibility involves developing drivers for a range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, and various embedded systems. What truly captivates me about this role is the immediate visibility into the functionality of my code. I relish the ability to witness in real-time how my programming efforts breathe life into a device. Before Artec 3D, I was involved in design verification, where you sometimes have to wait years for a finished project....
The challenge of my job is to understand how everything works in an operating system, in a device or in some chip and make our device work with them. My workflow extends beyond the operating system, often encompassing the driver subsystem, frameworks, and development kits, which comprise a vast and intricate landscape. In essence, writing code effectively hinges on a deep understanding of its appropriate application.
I joined the team not so long ago, but I can share a good case that taught me to quickly immerse myself in a new environment. We are currently prototyping the Spider 2 scanner, and accordingly we had some issues with the drivers on a particular laptop. Just last week we managed to cure this when we found out that Bluetooth wakes up from time to time and messes up our pictures. This scenario exemplifies the frequent ambiguity surrounding fault identification, and I've become increasingly adept at diving in headfirst to troubleshoot such challenges.
In Montenegro I liked the fact that here you can swim at least every day, and on weekends you can boldly go to explore beautiful natural places. In general, one of the favorite forms of entertainment in our family is to get in the car and go somewhere. I think we will continue the tradition of family travel in Luxembourg.
As a radio enthusiast, I even imported a transceiver from Russia, deeply engrossing myself in this versatile hobby, whether at home or outdoors. The radio community spans a diverse spectrum, with individuals intercepting signals from terrestrial sources, space, and satellites, and some use signals reflected off planes and even of the moon to connect to each other. The ever-evolving world of radio offers endless fascination, whether it's engaging in conversations or stumbling upon unexpected knowledge.
I like many areas of science and if you are also inquisitive, I can recommend watching the youtube channel Основа. There are often physicists and other scientists there, who tell quite interestingly about the structure of the world. And a little bit specialized, but still interesting - it's a radio channel with Alexei Igonin - a fascinating individual from Nizhny Novgorod who delves into the intricacies of radio communication.
Dogs. Although I had cats for most of my life, my wife and I welcomed a Spitz into our home, and I've always been drawn to the openness and exuberance of dogs.
2// If you would like to pick up any famous person to have a drink in a bar, who would it be?
3// If not programming, what would you like to do?
I would make furniture. My grandfather maintained equipment for silicon wafers production, but he could do a lot of things with his hands. He made furniture and built a house, and I helped him a little bit. I enjoy working with wood. And yes, if I hadn't been involved in programming, I would probably have had a workshop of some kind.