Who are you?
Simo Wideman
What do you do at AtoZ and how long have you been a #AtoZperson?
I’m mainly responsible for developing test automation for a client, although the role tends to evolve a bit depending on the project situation. I’ve also been somewhat involved on the sales interface at AtoZ, which has been quite refreshing. I’ve now clocked a little over three and a half years of service.
How did you end up at AtoZ?
I knew our CEO Mikko from a previous workplace. I vividly remember a somewhat silly detail: I saw a LinkedIn post about AtoZ folks skiing in Mustavuori. It just sounded like a damn fun community, so I sent in an application. There was a bit more behind it, but that’s the short and rough version of how it all happened.
I ended up going straight into a long-term project, where I’ve been ever since.
What’s the best part of your job?
Freedom. I’ve had a lot of flexibility and freedom to influence various things at work.
Share a technical tidbit related to your field, or what are you currently excited about?
Locally running language models have been interesting lately. These days, even with AMD graphics cards, it’s very easy to experiment with running local models using the AI suite that comes with Windows drivers. So there’s no need to tinker with Ubuntu/WSL and PyTorch dependencies—LM Studio, Ollama, and ComfyUI are practically available at the click of a button on Windows too.
30-billion-parameter models fit quite nicely into the 16GB memory of an RX 9070. With sufficiently clear prompting instructions, you can generate, for example, a Python script that processes CAN bus definition files. Now if only I could integrate that into VS Code somehow…
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Being able to control my body’s caffeine half-life would be pretty cool. Or just flying with the power of thought.
What skill would you like to learn next?
Additive manufacturing. I’ve been thinking about getting my own 3D printer.
What song describes your life right now?
Today we actually had some trouble at work with a problem that turned out to be pretty dumb in the end, so:
Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit
If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one. Maybe Neil deGrasse Tyson. He’d probably be the best person to explain the ultimate meaning of the universe, whether we’re living in a simulation, and so on.
What’s the best thing about AtoZ?
My colleagues.
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself that others might not know or guess?
I’m left-handed. However, I throw a ball and cut with scissors using my right hand. On PE class in middle school, a baseball glove actually felt better on my left hand :D
What do you most like to do in your free time?
Among the more sensible activities, I’d highlight Nordic skating, which I’ve recently gotten into. I’m currently building a smart home around Home Assistant. I found a fun GitHub library for remotely controlling my wife’s car with a Raspberry Pi, which I’ve been tinkering with lately.
If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?
Straight to the top of the food chain—a killer whale?
Finally, share your funniest work memory from AtoZ:
I once brought our late Shetland Sheepdog to the office to escape a plumbing renovation at home. Toivo found a nice spot there and the old gentleman got to be AtoZ’s office mascot for a couple of days ❤️