DATA MICK

My name is Michael Janus, also known as Mick. I’m naturally curious and have a strong desire to learn, figure things out and make it work. I enjoy what I call "explorative building" — whether it’s software, hobby projects, or home renovations — with a focus on achieving tangible results.

Professionally, I’m a hybrid of software engineer, researcher, and data scientist with over 20 years of experience spanning diverse projects. I specialize in investigative work and projects where the path forward isn't immediately clear.

I advocate an explorative, bottom-up approach to development, creating user-facing applications early in the process. This enables collaboration with a select audience to uncover critical requirements, adopt quick learning and allow complexity to only grow gradually. But prioritizing simplicity and clarity over complex solutions is in many cases just as effective and easier to maintain.

In parallel, for over 25 years, I've run Mick's Rijmwoordenboek (rijmwoordenboek.nl), a popular website that has evolved from a personal project into a small business. Although the site’s appearance reflects the early days of the internet, I have consistently modernized its underlying technology to ensure its continued relevance and functionality. Currently, with the rise of generative AI, I am exploring new AI-driven techniques and conducting in-house software research to enhance the site's capabilities.