At Klayr, we are dedicated to revolutionizing blockchain technology with innovative solutions that are both user-friendly and impactful. Our success is powered by a team whose diverse talents and perspectives drive our mission forward.
Get ready to dive into the world of pixels and code with our very own front-end magician, Franka Beekman! Franka’s journey in web3 started with zero blockchain knowledge. Today, she’s behind the stunning interfaces you love on Klayr. With a knack for translating high-level concepts into engaging, interactive web elements, Franka ensures that every click on our platforms is nothing short of magical. Join us as we uncover the layers of technical expertise and learn more about how Franka turns visions into digital reality, one line of code at a time.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hey! I’m Franka, 32 years old, a gamer, a nature enjoyer, and a big front-end freak. I live with my lovely cat Nero in a small village bordering a “big” nature reserve in the Netherlands, where I often go for hikes to enjoy the joys that nature brings, either alone or with friends/family. When I’m not gaming or hiking, you can often find me enjoying a good Belgian beer with my brother and/or some friends, preferably sitting outside in the sun. 😎
What are your passions and hobbies? Share with us 2 fun facts about you.
I love playing RPGs (role-playing games) both tabletop and in video game form. There’s something wonderful about immersing yourself in a different world and creating a persona in it. I also enjoy hiking a lot as said above. Nature calms me down and will never not be beautiful to me. My favorite holiday destinations are mountainous areas because they have the best hiking spots. Another thing I really enjoy is music, mostly metal and drum ‘n’ bass, but I love most music.
Fun facts about me: I’ve brewed my own beer multiple times (nothing beats cracking open a cold home-brewed beer), and I love dinosaurs. As a kid/teen, I actually wanted to become a paleontologist.
What brought you to Web3?
Raphael did. I started doing some WordPress jobs for him years ago, and after a few years he and the (then) Liskscan team were looking for some extra help, so they invited me, and the rest is history, haha. I grew really fond of the team, and they were happy with my work, so when they announced their plans for Klayr to me I obviously was happy to join them. I came from a place where I barely knew anything about Web3, and I’ve learned so much since I started my journey here.
What excites you the most about working with and at Klayr?
The progress we’ve made and how much we’ve grown as a team. Having been with the core team since before Klayr it’s amazing to see how far we’ve already come in such a short time. It’s great to have so many amazing team members. I feel really at home here.
What is the future of frontend developers in Web3, in your opinion?
Frontend development in Web3 is not that different from the usual stuff. Still, I see great opportunities for developing safe and decentralized apps, so if you’re interested, just give it a shot. It does help to familiarize yourself with blockchain apps and wallets, but you’ll adapt quickly enough.
What was the biggest challenge you had when coding for Klayr? What’s the most creative or unusual way you’ve solved a front-end development problem?
My biggest challenge was getting our new project ready for multiple people to work on – setting up a repo, creating a good starting structure, defining the theme, and related things. It’s a lot to get ready, and you want to do it right so that you don’t have to go back later and fix everything.
I usually try not to choose too creative or unusual solutions because they often end up being a bit hacky, which can break things if done wrong. I feel like almost anything can be done if you just Google long enough, haha. If I do choose creative solutions, though, they’re often related to CSS. CSS is great, and I love working with it, but sometimes, its limitations can be a pain in the a** to work around.
If you could only use one front-end framework for the rest of your career, which one would you choose and why?
That would have to be React. I’ve gotten really used to it since I started my Web3 journey, and I love the component-based development style. Every finished component feels like a small victory.
What is the message you want to send to other Klayniacs?
Stay excited about the future of technology. Together, we can build it to make the world a better place!
