About Erik van de Blaak

What I do

Since 2010 I have been building CareerValue's web applications, such as the in-house ATS/CRM and the recruitment dashboard, from database to interface. I connect systems through REST APIs, such as that dashboard's job board integrations.

Since 2024 I have also been applying AI at CareerValue, for example to analyse and pre-sort CVs. The recruiter keeps the final say. Besides that I research and test what AI tools can do, and what I learn, I write up on my blog.

My technical core is PHP (Laravel), Python and REST APIs, complemented by frontend work and AI applications.

I am employed at CareerValue. I don't offer services through this site: it is my portfolio and blog.

From Delphi to Claude Code

1. 2024 – present

   AI Solutions Engineer & researcher · CareerValue BV

   Applying AI in CareerValue's software, and researching and testing what AI tools can do. What I learn, I write up on my blog.

2. 2010 – present

   Full-stack developer · CareerValue BV

   Web applications and integrations for the company's own recruitment processes, from database to interface.

3. 2008 – 2010

   PHP & web developer

   The move from Flash to PHP web development.

4. 1996 – 2008

   Multimedia & Flash developer

   Started with Delphi, FoxPro and ToolBook, then years of Macromedia Flash and ActionScript.

What I write about

The blog has five topics. Each topic has its own page with the articles and a short guide.

• Claude Code & coding agents (14 articles) Working with Claude Code and coding agents such as OpenCode and Mistral Vibe: setup, letting them run on their own, skills and the habits that help.
• Building AI agents (9 articles) How to build AI agents that work: the harness around the model, tool calling, MCP, agents working together and a complete example in PHP.
• AI models explained (5 articles) AI models explained: Mistral Large 4, the diffusion model Mercury 2, Jev that chooses instead of writes, and which model to run on your own laptop.
• Developers & the future (5 articles) What AI changes about the work of developers: how many programmers are needed, PHP in 2027 and teams that no longer understand their own AI code.
• AI tools for everyday work (3 articles) AI tools for everyday work, beyond code too: NotebookLM, Google's AI tools and the best sources to keep up.

Where to start

Besides code

Besides software development, I am a graphic maker and animator. That background shows in how I build software: I pay attention to composition, hierarchy, timing and interaction.

• Art and computer art
• Drawing and painting
• Digital and experimental animations
• Interactive visuals

Stack

• PHP 8
• Laravel
• Python
• REST API's
• JavaScript
• Alpine.js
• Tailwind CSS
• MySQL
• Oracle
• SQLite
• .NET
• Git
• PhpStorm
• Claude Code
• OpenAI API
• Linux
• Three.js / WebGL

Contact

A question about an article or an idea about AI? Email me, or follow me on LinkedIn or through the RSS feed.