About Me

3 min read
Funky Si profile image

Hey, I’m Simon Foster

My online persona is Funky Si — a nickname from university days that somehow stuck. I’m a full-stack developer passionate about building scalable, maintainable applications and robust DevOps practices.

With 18+ years in IT departments (since 2006), I’ve worn many hats: software developer, systems administrator, infrastructure engineer, database specialist, and DevOps advocate. My career has evolved from traditional ops work into modern cloud-native development, and I genuinely enjoy the intersection of development and infrastructure.

What I Do

I specialize in:

  • Backend Development: .NET, C#, SQL Server, scalable API design
  • Cloud & DevOps: Azure, AWS, Terraform, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), CI/CD automation
  • Architecture: Designing systems that are secure, performant, and maintainable

Certifications

Azure Fundamentals AWS Cloud Practitioner

Technology Stack

Organized by category:

Languages

  • C#
  • JavaScript
  • PowerShell
  • SQL

Frameworks & Platforms

  • .NET (Framework & Core)
  • Blazor
  • ASP.NET

Databases

  • SQL Server

Cloud & Infrastructure

  • Microsoft Azure (AppService, Functions, DevOps, KeyVault)
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Terraform
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Helm

Tools & Services

  • Git
  • Azure DevOps
  • GitHub Actions
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • And many more…

Featured Technologies & Projects

Recent work and areas of focus:

  • Kubernetes & Helm - Orchestration and deployment automation
  • OpenTelemetry - Observability, logging, and distributed tracing
  • Elasticsearch - Search and analytics
  • Azure Infrastructure - AppService, Functions, DevOps, networking
  • Infrastructure as Code - Terraform, ARM templates, Helm charts
  • CI/CD Pipelines - GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines
  • AI & Machine Learning - Exploring applications in modern development

Community

I’m passionate about sharing knowledge with the tech community:

  • Blogger - 11+ years of writing about technology, DevOps practices, cloud architecture, and professional development on my blog
  • Tech Enthusiast - Continuously learning and exploring emerging technologies like AI, Kubernetes, and observability

Blog & Writing

I regularly write about topics including:

  • Cloud architecture and infrastructure as code
  • .NET and C# development best practices
  • DevOps tooling and automation
  • Azure services and cloud deployment patterns
  • Kubernetes and container orchestration
  • Observability, monitoring, and logging
  • Professional development and career growth

Connect With Me

Want to collaborate, chat about tech, or discuss DevOps and cloud architecture? Connect with me on:

Feel free to reach out with questions, collaboration opportunities, or just to chat about technology!

Recommendations

Simon is an excellent developer, always looking for new methods and technology to improve existing solutions, along with his own skills. He is open to new ideas, though not afraid to share his thoughts and feedback and guide others to the best solution possible. It’s worth noting that Simon has vast knowledge on hardware and infrastructure which really does compliment his skill as a developer. - Alasdair Thomson (Head of Business Data Solutions at NPD Travel Retail)

Simon worked for my company for a number of years and was a very valued member of staff, and later on management. He is an intelligent and conscientious worker who gives over and above on a regular basis. He leads by example and was respected by his peers and the directors of the company. I would not hesitate to recommend Simon both in terms of the quality of his work and his ethics and values in life in general. - Alison Davies (CEO at Eurosafe UK)

If you want a developer who really understands DevOps, then Si is your man. With a mixture of operations, support, development and management experience, he can bring a balanced skillset to a team, as well as excellent knowledge of Azure, .NET, SQL and the web. - Keith Williams (Development Manager at IRIS for Cascade HR and KashFlow Payroll)

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