Ilia Shalygin

Software Engineer, AI enthusiast

Hello eveyone!

I’m a software engineer with a backend background, currently exploring what it means to build software with AI.

I’ve spent most of my career working with Java, Kotlin, Spring Boot, databases, distributed systems, and the infrastructure behind them.

These days, I’m particularly interested in agentic development and using AI coding agents as a natural part of the development process — from turning ideas into working software to iterating, debugging, and shipping projects.

I’m currently studying Software Engineering in New Zealand, while continuing to build things and work on my own projects. I also enjoy getting involved in the local tech community and regularly take part in software development and AI events around New Zealand.

Outside of software, I spend a lot of time reading. I’m particularly interested in political science and economics, with a side interest in philosophy and psychology. I enjoy reading about how societies work, how people make decisions, and why institutions and ideas evolve the way they do.

This site is where I keep my projects, writing, experiments, and CV. It’s a place to document things I build, things I learn, and occasionally things I find interesting.

I’m always open to new business opportunities, collaborations, partnerships, and interesting projects.

Me on a boat

Recent writing

All posts
  1. How this site is built

    One container, one volume, and a folder of Markdown files. No database, no CMS, and nothing that stops working if I lose interest in it for a year.

  2. Writing and formatting ✏️

    A reference for the Markdown this site understands, including the three image layouts and what happens to a photograph when you upload it.

Selected projects

All projects