Colorado-based portfolio

Practical software, clean interfaces, and backend-first thinking.

I’m Zaden Maestas. I build web projects with a focus on reliability, automation, and the kind of engineering that makes everyday tools feel calm and easy to use.

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Based in: Colorado
Programming since: 2019
Preferred stack: Python, JS, Bash
Working style: Linux-first

About

What I care about

Backend-first

I like building systems that are predictable, maintainable, and easy to reason about before they are flashy.

Linux-friendly

My background on Linux shaped how I think about tooling, scripting, and working efficiently from the command line.

Student mindset

I’m still learning constantly, which keeps my work practical, iterative, and open to better patterns as I find them.

Industry readiness

What I’d bring to a team

Readable work

I tend to write code and projects that are easy to revisit, which matters when other people need to maintain them later.

Practical communication

I can explain what I built, what tradeoffs I made, and what I’d change next, which is useful in interviews and on teams.

Self-directed learning

Being self-taught means I’m used to finding answers, filling gaps, and shipping through ambiguity without waiting for perfect instructions.

Open to

Internships, junior backend roles, and project-based opportunities.

Best proof

GitHub, shipped sites, clean communication, and a willingness to keep improving.

Experience

Professional background

Intern Software Developer

DenverPCTech

2023 - 2024

Websites and backend development

Worked as an intern software developer at DenverPCTech, developing websites and backend systems for smaller companies in the area and meeting customer deliverables through custom solutions tailored to their needs.

Projects

Portfolio snapshots

GitHub

Open-source experiments

A collection of small tools, website experiments, and backend ideas that show how I like to learn by building.

View GitHub

Systems

Automation and utility work

Scripts and helpers that reduce repetitive work and keep projects easier to maintain over time.

Skills

Tools I reach for

Python JavaScript Node.js HTML & CSS Bash C++ Processing PHP