I’m Shad Arf, a dedicated backend web developer specializing in Laravel and API architecture. With a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Soran University (2021–2025), I’ve honed my skills in PHP, database design, and server optimization. During my internship at Inforr LTD, I deepened my knowledge in DevOps, Laravel, and Vue.js. Outside of coding, I enjoy AI exploration, server optimization challenges, and a good game of chess.
"Shad, you can find a job very easily, and I'm not worried about your employment status."
— Sherwan Qurtas (University President, Soran University)
Technology ▪️ AI Exploration ▪️ Server Optimization ▪️ Chess ▪️ Web Development
My academic background
Soran University (2021 – 2025)
Graduated: July 2025
A selection of my key development projects
Role: Full-Stack
Team Size: Solo
Duration: 9 months (Started August 1, 2024)
Type: Academic Project
Developed a fully normalized and scalable multi‑store book distribution system. Designed a 28‑table schema for relational integrity, built secure RESTful APIs with Laravel (CRUD + role‑based access), and crafted a Vue.js front end with dynamic forms and validations.
Role: Backend Developer
Team Size: 2 Members
Duration: 9 months (Started September 1, 2024)
Type: Academic Project
A Flutter-based mobile app connecting users with drivers for package delivery. Built Laravel APIs for real‑time requests, authentication, and order tracking.
Role: Reviewer & Full-Stack Developer
Team Size: 4 Members
Duration: 1 year (Started September 1, 2022)
Type: Production Project
Client: Soran University
Enhanced and maintained the student registration system for 2023–2024: backend workflows, real‑time validations, and UI improvements. Successfully registered over 1,500 students.
Role: PHP Developer
Team Size: 6 Members
Duration: 6 months (Started October 1, 2023)
Type: Production Project
Client: Soran University CDC
Online platform for CDC events: CRUD features, event management, and dynamic dashboards. Collaborated with staff to translate needs into functional features.
Role: Full-Stack Developer
Team Size: Solo
Duration: 6 months (Started February 1, 2023)
Type: Personal Project
A PHP‑based chatbot for Soran University: real‑time messaging, authentication, and message history. Presented at the University Showcase as my first major PHP project.
Role: Full-Stack
Team Size: Solo
Duration: 1 year (Started September 1, 2023)
Type: Startup Project
Status: Defunct (Owned)
Designed and developed the official LMS & content portal: course registration, lecture uploads, and certificate generation. Integrated FastPay for payments, managed roles for students/teachers/admins, and built an admin dashboard with real‑time reporting.
Laracasts tracks + other self-learning milestones
Instructor: Jeffrey Way
38 lessons • Completed 2023-07
Built a clone project while following along; cemented fundamentals of routing, Eloquent, queues, and tests.
Instructor: Jeremey McPeak
19 lessons • Completed 2024-07
Deep-dive into stateless auth, rate-limiting, API testing, and versioning; foundation for web applicaiton back-ends.
Instructor: Jeffrey Way
43 lessons • Completed 2024-08
Mastered reactivity, Composition API, Pinia state, and SPA routing.
Instructor: Katerina Trajchevska
14 lessons • Completed 2024-08
Learned SOLID principles, refactoring pattern.
Instructor: Stephen Rees-Carter
16 lessons • Completed 2024-8
Practiced XSS, CSRF, SQLi mitigation & OAuth.
Instructor: Jeffrey Way
9 mini-episodes • Completed 2024-09
Practice-driven TDD exercises using PHPUnit—each episode is a focused Kata to build workflow habits, refactoring skills, and test-first thinking.
The tools and technologies I use to build efficient solutions
Expert in backend architecture & API development
Strong foundation in server-side scripting
Building reactive user interfaces
Frontend scripting and dynamic behavior
Building robust Console applications
Data analysis & machine learning basics
Responsive design & utility-first frameworks
Contabo VPS, Cloudflare, server optimization
Building component-based UIs
Linux distribution for servers and desktops
Version control & collaboration
CSRF protection, input validation, hardening
My career path and key milestones