More words
about me

Hi, my name is Paweł. I’ve been into programming since 2006, and I’ve been developing my skills professionally since 2011. I started out as a Full-Stack developer, but today I focus entirely on the Back-end. I have extensive experience working with custom PHP systems, and I’ve even built my own framework. Nowadays, my daily work revolves around Symfony, which has become my main development tool.
As a database engineer, I combine knowledge of system optimization with the ability to design solid, scalable applications. I’m passionate not only about creating solutions that work, but also ones that are easy to maintain and developer-friendly. This ebook is the result of my years of experience and my desire to share practical, real-world knowledge.

In everyday life, I’m not someone who claims to be an expert in everything, but I take great satisfaction in sharing knowledge, and I’ve seen that my guidance truly helps others. That’s what motivates me to keep growing and to support those who need it. Privately, I’m a husband and dad to two amazing kids who teach me patience every day and give me countless reasons to smile (love you!).

I have many passions—from cooking and building furniture to assembling paper models, a nod to my dad who introduced me to this hobby when I was a child. I also enjoy tinkering with cars from time to time—thanks to Michu from M4K for your YouTube channel.

Paweł Liwocha
working

And now I will tell you
about your experience

For over 14 years, I’ve been working as a developer, delivering projects of various scales and complexity. During this time, I’ve built dozens of PHP-based applications, gaining hands-on experience at every stage of the software development process.
I specialize in building solutions from the ground up—from business requirements analysis, through system and database architecture design, all the way to delivering a final, working product. My work spans both small-scale projects and complex applications that require an advanced approach to scalability and optimization.
Thanks to such a versatile background, I’m able not only to solve current problems, but also to anticipate challenges that may arise during system growth—allowing me to create solid, well-crafted products.

For over six years, my development work has revolved around Symfony. If something isn’t built with it, I often try to convince others that this framework is worth considering. Six years might sound like a lot to you—or maybe not—it all depends on your perspective. Before I discovered Symfony, I worked with a custom framework I built myself while working on my engineering thesis. That gave me a chance to dive deep into how frameworks work under the hood.
So why did I choose Symfony? Because reinventing the wheel is a waste of time. Today’s frameworks, like Symfony or Laravel, are well-oiled machines backed by a global community and the experience of tens of thousands of developers. With such tools and support available, I don’t see the point in building custom solutions known only to me.

Over the years, I’ve worked on a wide range of projects—from websites and online stores to complex systems. I’ve contributed to an international money transfer system, an app supporting call center consultants, and a platform for one of Poland’s leading real estate developers to manage customer interactions and apartment services.
I also designed the microservice architecture and applications for one of Poland’s largest rich media companies. I co-created a CRM/ERP system for a beauty industry company in the UAE, as well as apps for retail chains focused on employee engagement through gamification. In addition, I’ve developed systems for analyzing and processing graphic materials. Throughout these years, my work has focused on building scalable, well-thought-out solutions tailored to real business needs.