Akseli's various rambles and posts about gaming, gamedev, FOSS, programming and other things.

The move from Blue Systems to TechPaladin

Posted on 2025-09-16

People have been a bit weirded by what happened during this period. People have been interested in this after the post by Jonathan Riddell was written.

Here's what I remember from the situation.

Order of events

  1. I get laid off from previous job in 2023-10-10.
  2. Nate Graham learns of this and invites me to join Blue Systems.
    • I would be joining the team that works with Valve contracts. Cool!
    • He had no power to really "invite" me but told me that there's a good spot I could fill.
    • I apply and cross my fingers
    • I get into interview and get hired!
  3. I work for Blue Systems until ~31.10.2024, renewing the contract yearly.
  4. Blue Systems holds a get-together in late 2024.
  5. I am really bad with traveling due to anxiety and I was still recovering from the Akademy 2024, I skip this get-together.
  6. I get a video call from the get-together, where I'm told news: the team that has the Valve contract is being laid off.
  7. However! We also have this chance to start working with our single contract, Valve, in separate company.
    • Essentially, we, the team that works with Valve, are moving to new company and continue this contract under it's name.
  8. A lot of chatter in work Telegram about how the new company should be governed.
  9. A lot of differences in opinions. Long debates. Talks.
    • Everyone had their own opinions and plans.
  10. My wife gets really sick and has to spend chunk of December in hospital.
    • I have zero energy for any of the work governance things.
    • I just wanted to make sure I have job and get my salary.
    • Thus, I did not really care what the plan was going to be.
  11. Eventually, we decide Nate's plan for this is the easiest.
    • More info here Personal and professional updates — announcing Techpaladin Software
    • I would have been fine with whatever plan, as long as I get to keep my job and continue my work and getting paid.
    • I do not remember any kind of voting or anything like that. We just went with it. Everyone was very tired of this weird situation.
    • We all just wanted to get back to work.
  12. Time goes by and TechPaladin is ready for continuing the work around March.
  13. I have some small interview about the situation with Nate, and he asks me if I'm still interested to join.
    • No contract was made yet with anyone. TechPaladin was barely established at this point.
    • I assume everyone in Valve team went through this discussion. I do not know anything else.
    • We had no money to pay for non-Valve related work.
  14. I end my contract with Blue Systems around March 2025.
  15. I start my contract with TechPaladin around same week.
  16. I still work there!

Messy.

Yeah, it's really messy. And I wish it had gone differently. But that's how things go.

I have been laid off before, twice.

First time when I was a very fresh programmer, I was suddenly told in middle of day that my contract will end right before my probation period will end.

Then second time, I went for a leave due to burnout, come back to work, and on same day I'm told I'm getting laid off.

It sucked.

So Jonathan, I can sympathize with your feelings about the situation. I hope you get help for your issues and warmth to your life. Sincerely. I do not have anything bad against you.

My experiences at TechPaladin

  • TechPaladin has always paid my salary in time.
  • My contract is completely legal where I live.
    • I'm sure I could negotiate it into something more shiny with help of lawyers, money and time.
    • But I trust TechPaladin to not screw me over.
    • And if they would do so, I would leave immediately and cut my losses.
  • I've never been "abused" in any way.
    • People care about me there.
    • They notice if I'm burning out (looking at you Dolphin) and help me switch projects.

Sure, I might be naive for trusting a company like this. But I'm just like this. If I like the people who I work with, I trust them. This is not the first company I trust like this. It won't be the last either, probably.

And I just want to fix bugs in KDE software without having to think about the corporate stuff, but still have money for food and rent. TechPaladin lets me do that.

In the end, the contract is my choice and this is the choice I've made. So far so good.

And my friends and family know me. If TechPaladin would go against my values or rights, all of them would know.

Conclusions

Draw your own conclusions.

Or better yet, join KDE to help keep the project running: https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved

Maybe this post helps shine light on things, anyway. Not that I really need to do this, since it's all private matters, but since it's been blown open, meh. Might as well. I'm tired of the misinformation I've seen around.

glhf.

ps. if some youtuber reads this, hi