Developer Spotlight: Creativity, Community and the Art of Becoming an OpenEdge Developer
At 28, Lester Luoma brings together a rich heritage in music, math and technology to build impactful software solutions. Currently thriving as a developer at the Picas Group, Lester’s journey into programming is woven with creativity and a deep appreciation for solving challenging problems in supportive communities.
Finding Harmony: From Music to Code
Lester didn’t always envision a career in technology. “Honestly, it kind of started with music,” Lester reflects. “At a young age, I played a lot of trombone and violin. There’s a lot of counting and pattern recognition in music, and I believe this set a solid foundation for my math skills.” While both of his older brothers became mechanical engineers, Lester’s true passion emerged when he discovered software engineering in a college Java course. “I tried mechanical engineering, but I really, really liked the idea of looking into the nuance of how a process works.” This love of structure and creative thinking led him to major in information systems.
A Typical Day in the Developer’s World
Lester’s days are a blend of collaborative stand-ups, problem-solving and a steady rhythm of customer support and technical enhancements. “We do dev stand-ups a couple of times a week, share what we’re working on and help each other clear roadblocks. I check for updates from customers, troubleshoot issues and focus on enhancements in our conversion process. For the most part, it’s pretty fluid, but sometimes you go heads-down when things catch on fire.”
Learning OpenEdge ABL: A Supportive Challenge
Transitioning from Java to Progress OpenEdge ABL presented Lester with new opportunities and challenges. “When I first got hired, it was my first time working in an environment with complete GUI (Graphical user interface) functionality that can be simply changed visually. The ease of use was so much nicer in that transition.”
Lester reflects that the OpenEdge language’s English-like syntax made it easy to step in, but real mastery came with time. “It was mostly hands-on learning—kind of like being thrown in the deep end, but with someone there to help if you struggle,” he jokes. It took him about four to six months to feel confident, especially working through unique reporting needs and database communication. “Once I got the hang of it, things became much clearer.”
Top Reasons to Love OpenEdge
Asked about his favorite aspects of OpenEdge, Lester is thoughtful:
- “I like the syntax and the GUI aspect—both make development so much easier.”
- “The documentation is really, really good. I appreciate seeing example programs and being able to use that knowledge for testing and changes.”
- “I also love how stable this platform is. Unlike other languages, where you need to change/add logic to deal with issues as a result of a framework update, OpenEdge programs can be written and remain unchanged for incredibly long periods of time.”
Advice for Aspiring Developers
For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Lester has practical advice. “Find something you want to build—something you’re passionate about solving. If you don’t actually like what you’re building, learning the inner workings of a language is hard. Make mistakes, learn from them along the way, and finish your first project. You’ll learn so much doing that.”
Lester recommends building community through modern outlets: “A lot of young people are on Discord, solving problems together in real-time. Platforms like that and bootcamp-style communities are a great way to connect.”
Creativity and Future Ambitions
Lester sees a strong link between his background in music and his programming career. “Music is a creative and scientific endeavor-following sheet music and a conductor is a lot like following your customers’ requirements and a project lead.” He hopes to grow more into database administration, learn about DevOps and expand his skill set in the Progress environment.
“I just like solving problems and expanding what I know—especially when it comes to clean data and how things communicate behind the scenes.”
Looking Ahead
To the next generation of developers, Lester’s story is proof that combining creative roots, a willingness to experiment and a spirit of collaboration can turn curiosity into a rewarding career.
Inspired by Lester’s journey? Explore Progress OpenEdge, join a modern developer community, and start solving the problems that matter to you.
Jessica (Malakian) Newton
Jessica (Malakian) Newton is a Senior Product Marketing Specialist at Progress, focused on the Progress OpenEdge product. Jessica started her career at Progress as an intern in 2020 and has since developed into a full-time marketer, dedicated to guiding customers on how to maximize the value of their OpenEdge solutions. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys reading and writing.
