dev.ua 4 years. Here are 10 stories that have made a splash on the market during this time

Today dev.ua celebrates its birthday. Four years have passed since the cheerful presentation at Unit.city. Although in reality we did not set ourselves any deadlines, launching in fact in the most uncertain times. First the Covid epidemic, then a full-scale invasion. Gostomel, Irpin, Bucha, Borodyanka, occupation are not just words for us. Journalists from dev.ua have experience of surviving during occupation, we worked for a long time from different parts of Ukraine, where we sometimes miraculously managed to leave the capital and the already occupied towns near the capital. No one understood whether dev.ua would survive. The business model that was initially laid out in the project had to be quickly changed. We cut salaries, did not lay off people. We rowed with all our might, looking for opportunities to survive. And, as you can see, we found them. 4 years for a small industry media in a warring country is quite a period. And if you take into account the fact that the media is self-supporting and has no external funding, it seems like a miracle.

We survived. We persevered. And, hopefully, in a year we will celebrate five years in a free country with a wide circle of friends. And here you can remember how dev.ua came about in the first place — a rather (un)random story.

Over these four years, we have written thousands of materials for you — news about the war, mobilization, and Ukrainian developments sometimes garnered half a million views in a matter of hours. However, our useful texts, not about the work of the IT industry, but market insights, have repeatedly found a response from readers.

This text should not be long. Therefore, below we leave you with the 10 most impactful stories from dev.ua authors over our four years. These texts do not lose their relevance. They can be reread to remember the times and events that you and I experienced together.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. How Rocket Investor Is Connected to High-profile Fraud Case in Europe

«At the border, they looked at me like I was an idiot, asked if I was lost.» The story of a former Luxoft Engineering Director who returned from the US to defend Ukraine

«Standing by the window, I saw Russian tanks drive into the yard. One of them aimed at me.» VA Astound Commerce on the evacuation from Irpin and life in the war

«I’m a bit too old for IT according to most employers. But the CCC decided that the army needed me with all my years and ailments.» How a 56-year-old developer from Odessa entered IT during the Great War and unexpectedly became a soldier

Who are Anonymous and why are they helping Ukraine defeat Russia?

Competition in the market for services for fugitives from Ukraine is intensifying. Dealers are coming up with new schemes for men. Offers range from 25,000 UAH to 8,500 euros

They created a supersoft that Rozetka allegedly wanted to buy. But now Epicenter and Allo want to sue them for millions. Hubber’s story from beginning to end

«Do you know that they plan to fire Vova and Petya? Now we are quietly looking for a replacement.» Confession of a former recruiter who left IT forever, where managers not only tolerate intrigue and «sniffing,» but also support it

Outsourcing is slaves. In Ukraine, they boast about the slave rating. An hour-long conversation with Max Polyakov, who launched a rocket at the US spaceport

He went on Kickstarter for $10,000 and received 50 times more. A master class from a Ukrainian programmer who invented the indispensable car gadget Carsifi