From Numbers to Code. The Artisan of the Day Is Kristian Just Kastrup.
Kristian Just Kastrup didn’t take a straight path into software development, even though he started programming webpages in school from an early age. Growing up in a farming background, programming wasn’t presented as a career option. He studied accounting for five years and even earned a master’s degree in the field.
But the day he handed in his thesis, he closed the book on accounting and opened a new one in programming. “I turned in my master's thesis. I just started programming and never touched accounting. It's just so much more fun.”
From Solo Freelancer to Agency
Kristian has been self-employed for over a decade, freelancing for customers across Denmark and the Nordic countries. In recent years, that one-person operation has grown into a full agency. “Nowadays, I have an agency with a couple of other guys. We are 12 people in total, working on all kinds of different exciting projects.”
Some of those projects involve clients he now meets at Laravel conferences. “That's been so much fun,” he says, though confidentiality means he cannot share specifics.
Discovering Laravel and Current Tech Stack
Like many developers, Kristian started with plain PHP before encountering Laravel through a colleague. His initial reaction was frustration.
“At that time, we just used plain PHP, I think. In the beginning, I was frustrated with Laravel because I didn't understand it. And then after that phase, it quickly became a love story instead.”
Since then, Laravel has become core to his work. His team relies on Horizon to manage large workloads and Forge to handle deployment. They also work with Vue and Inertia, while integrating other tools like Sentry and Nightwatch when needed.
Community and Conferences
Interviewed at Laravel Live Denmark, Kristian is no stranger to Laravel events. “I have been at Laracon EU for multiple years. It started, I think, eight or ten years ago. And I have been there many times, both in Amsterdam and Lisbon.”
Today, alongside Kasper Hartwich, he helps organize Laravel Live Denmark, which has quickly become a hub for the Danish community. “This is the second year of Laravel Live Denmark. I'm an organizer, so that's a pretty good reason to be here.”
Learning Laravel and What Makes the Community Special
His advice for young developers is straightforward: “Laravel has the best documentation in the world, so just start with the documentation. If that's not enough, use Laracasts. It's really a good resource to learn.”
More broadly, he encourages newcomers to value their work: “Make an effort and be paid for it.”
For Kristian, the community is one of Laravel’s greatest strengths. “It's so easy to get in touch with people who have had an impact on my career. Speakers at conferences, including those speaking today, are always available for a talk, a discussion, or to answer your questions. That has been really easy. And then there's just a good vibe in the local community.”
Your Story Belongs Here
You don't need to have a course, a talk, or a big launch. If Laravel has been part of your journey (a pivot, a side project, a moment of growth), we'd love to hear about it!
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