Hello! I'm Samuel 👋

Web Developer, AI-Nerd, and Open-Source Enthusiast from Basel, Switzerland 🇨🇭

Terminal: whoami

$ whoami
Samuel Rüegger

$ location
Basel, Switzerland - The most beautiful spot on the Rhine

$ current_status
Coding with Star Trek in the background, LCARS interface on screen

The Human Behind the Terminal

I live in Basel – the city where people jump into the Rhine in summer and float downstream. With my Wickelfisch, I regularly jump into the cool water and drift comfortably downstream. That's pure quality of life! 🏊‍♂️

Fun Fact: I'm someone who genuinely gets excited when a new git commit goes through, who stares at diff output longer than most movies, and who pays more attention to the LCARS interface in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" than to the plot. Yes, I'm a nerd – and proud of it! 🖖

What I Do (Professionally)

For over a decade, I've been navigating the world of web development. What started as a hobby became a passion and then a career. I love solving complex problems with elegant technical solutions.

My Specialties:

• Full-Stack Development: From database to UI – I speak both languages
• AI Integration: Embedding LLMs in web applications? Challenge accepted!
• Performance Optimization: Slow websites are like slow terminals – unacceptable
• Open Source: Sharing code, strengthening community, improving together

Current Project: I'm actively involved with GuideOS – an innovative open-source project that revolutionizes how we work with operating systems and development environments. Here I contribute my expertise in web development and AI integration to create a modern, user-friendly platform.

Tech Stack (or: What I Play With)

backend:
  - PHP: [Laravel, Symfony, WordPress]
  - Node.js: [Express, NestJS]
  - Python: [for AI/ML experiments]

frontend:
  - JavaScript/TypeScript
  - Vue.js, React
  - Tailwind CSS (as you can see 😉)
  - SASS/SCSS
  - Bootstrap

build_tools:
  - Webpack, Vite
  - Gulp, Grunt
  - npm, Composer
  - Babel, PostCSS

cms_platforms:
  - WordPress (Themes & Plugins)
  - Headless CMS (Strapi, Contentful)

databases:
  - MySQL, PostgreSQL
  - Redis (for speed)
  - MongoDB

devops:
  - Docker (everything in containers!)
  - Linux (my home)
  - CI/CD (automation is life)
  - Git, GitHub Actions

ai_ml:
  - Claude AI
  - OpenAI
  - Custom LLM Integration
  - Prompt Engineering

desktop:
  - Linux (of course!)
  - GNOME with customizations
  - Terminal > GUI

Philosophy & Principles

Code is like jazz – it needs structure, but also improvisation. My principles:

• 🧹 Clean Code: Readable today = maintainable tomorrow
• 🔓 Open Source First: Knowledge should be shared, not hoarded
• 📚 Lifelong Learning: Learn something new every day (today: more about LCARS design)
• 🔐 Privacy by Design: Privacy is not optional, it's standard
• 🚀 Ship Fast, Iterate Faster: Perfect is the enemy of done
• ☕ Coffee-Driven Development: while(awake) { code(); coffee(); }

When I'm Not Coding

Rhine Swimming 🌊
Summer tradition in Basel: pack the Wickelfisch, jump in, drift comfortably downstream. Meditation for nerds.

Linux & Open Source 🐧
I constantly test new distros (Arch user BTW... just kidding, I use Ubuntu), configure GNOME to perfection, and read release notes like other people read novels.

Tech Blogging ✍️
I write about my experiences, failures, and successes. Because: shared knowledge = doubled knowledge.

Star Trek & Sci-Fi 🖖
LCARS interfaces, warp drives, replicators – the future I wish for. Make it so!

Mastodon Instead of Twitter 🐘
Decentralized, open source, community-driven. That's how social media should be.

Exploring Basel 🏙️
Fasnacht, Autumn Fair, Rhine riverbanks – Basel is more than just a location, it's a lifestyle.

Fun Facts About Me

• I can operate vim (and get out again!)
• My ideal vacation: A Linux laptop, good coffee, and a tech project
• I read other people's git commit messages for fun
• My browser has an average of 47 tabs open (minimum)
• I enjoy discussing tabs vs. spaces (Team Spaces, sorry not sorry)
• Star Trek TNG > all other Star Trek series (fight me)

Let's Connect! 🤝

I'm always open to:

• Exciting Projects – especially when it gets technically interesting
• Tech Talks – about AI, web development, Linux, or why LCARS is the best UI design ever
• Collaborations – open source thrives on cooperation
• Coffee & Code – in Basel or remote

Contact: Write to me via the contact page or directly on Mastodon.

$ fortune
"Life is too short for bad code and slow websites."
- Samuel Rüegger

$ exit

Philosophie & Prinzipien

Code ist wie Jazz – es braucht Struktur, aber auch Improvisation. Meine Grundsätze: