About Matthew

Hi, I’m Matthew Heltman, a software developer, systems engineer, and lifelong learner with a passion for building practical, reliable, and well-designed solutions.

I specialize in Python development, Linux systems, SQL/database design, automation, and infrastructure modernization. Over the years I’ve worked on everything from enterprise server administration to custom application development to full production migrations. I enjoy solving real problems for real people, whether that means writing a Python service that runs flawlessly in Docker, building tools to improve business workflows, or tuning a database to be faster and more reliable.

My Journey

My path into programming started during my time at Cloverdale Paint Inc., where I worked in enterprise IT for a 1,000+ employee company managing dozens of Linux servers. While supporting a large environment, I discovered a love for automation and software development. I taught myself Python, Bash, SQL, and ABL, and quickly began building tools that made daily operations faster and more dependable, including a network monitoring tool and an Android barcode-scanning app that saved countless hours of manual data entry.

That early spark grew into something bigger. Today, I continue to build, improve, automate, and modernize systems through my independent work and my business, AlderAutomation.

What I Do

I build solutions that make technology simple and dependable for businesses.
Some examples include:
- Rebuilding entire data pipelines in Python, mapping APIs to existing SQL schemas with zero downtime.
- Migrating infrastructure from legacy systems (like CentOS) to modern, supported platforms such as AlmaLinux.
- Designing internal business tools like quoting systems, barcode utilities, and network monitors.
- Optimizing SQL databases to drastically improve performance and reliability.
- Deploying services in Docker and adding monitoring, alerting, and automation layers.
- Managing WordPress sites and handling ongoing maintenance for clients who rely on their web presence.
- I take pride in delivering solutions that are stable, clean, and long-lasting.

Technical Philosophy

I believe in choosing tools that are:
- Open-source
- Reliable
- Maintainable - Secure by design - Linux-centric (Debian, Fedora, and NixOS are my preferred environments)
- I care about clarity, quality, and making systems that keep working, day after day, without babysitting.

Education & Continuous Learning

I’m currently completing my Bachelor of Computer Information Systems at the University of the Fraser Valley, specializing in software development. Before that, I earned my Diploma in Information Technology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where I was frequently on the Dean’s Honour Roll and helped build a full-stack web application as part of my capstone project.

Outside of school, I constantly self-study through LinkedIn Learning, Codecademy, and technical textbooks. Continuous learning is one of the pillars of my work.

Outside of Work

When I’m not coding, I’m usually experimenting with new Linux setups, working on game-development side projects, learning new technologies, or exploring ways to automate everyday tasks. I also enjoy gaming, design, and building out my long-term “Pillage and Plunder” ARPG software ecosystem.

What I Value

I value honesty, clarity, and building software that truly solves problems. I work hard, I iterate, I learn fast, and I care about the people who rely on the systems I build.

If you want someone who understands both the technical side and the human side of software, that’s where I do my best work.