Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I am Lebanese and I am living in Lebanon

How long have you been programming?

Since 2006. My first websites were simple HTML pages built with FrontPage.

What is your expertise?

I'm not an expert, my expertise is a little mix from a lot: Photoshop, HTML and CSS, jQuery, and a little PHP.

What got you into XOOPS?

Good question! And I'm sorry if my answer is long, but let me tell you the story - I am graduate in psychology, and as undergraduate I was looking for part-time job. I found one in printing press: resizing pictures with Photoshop then submitted them to the press‘s website by using the famous photo album Coppermine. I liked the idea especially that I learned at school some of Photoshop basics but I didn't have any idea about managing pictures online, a week ago I could understand every task in coppermine . I was surprised by PHP options and I decide to build paid websites for clients and create for them their online identity, sure in HTML because it was so easy for beginners, but still looking how to learn PHP and build websites written in that language. I've tried for the first time PhpNuke, because it was used a lot in my country, but I didn’t like it a lot. When my friend asked me to develop his new political website with a secure application, I spent 2 days thinking about it, but I knew well that PhpNuke cannot be the right choice due its big susceptibility to be hacked. I felt that I cannot build such a websites so I decide to give up and leave the world of web development with beautiful memories and useful experiences. However, at the same time a precious advice from someone motivated me to look forward and find another CMS written in PHP. I found XOOPS and many others CMS, but while comparing their features, XOOPS was always in the top, especially since I could find an Arabic support at ArabXOOPS. I contacted Mowaffak without knowing him and asked him if XOOPS can do my friend’s website requirements. I found a very generous assistance from him and I did the first website with XOOPS!

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

Lot of things: Simplicity and security are the most important, and XOOPS let you always get more by doing less

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

I am a moderator in ArabXOOPS community, also a member in XOOPS official website here and the French community. I like to contribute in the forums and helping newbies to better use XOOPS and solving their technical problems : in CSS, in PHP…etc, I create free xoops themes, and also translate modules from English and French into Arabic and vice versa

If you could add one feature to XOOPS, what would it be?

I think it will be a nice "look & feel" for module templates and blocks by adding AJAX effects or to make them more friendly use and editable from the home page.

What is your major achievement in programming that you're most proud of?

I am proud of everything I did so far with XOOPS, especially since my major (a psycho-analytic help in schools) is totally different from web development. But even with my limited skills, I was able to create over 20 free XOOPS themes and developing one module (Obituaries) and now I am preparing the second one with Nikita (a moderator on the French support)

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

Sport, cooking, reading, I like to spend time with my family and my friends, helping seniors and homeless through NGOs, walking on the beach in the morning and listen to a quiet music,

You favorite dish and drink?

Pizza is always in the top of my list

What about movies and music?

I prefer comedy movies. Regarding music , I consider it a part of me, I listen to all kind of music except rap. Music for me is a friend that can change my mood, and that can intervenes in my life without permissions.

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?

As Gandhi once said: Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?

Usually today and here, but if it’s for a few days vacation, I would like to live a true adventure in any forest or desert with the team from Animal Planet Channel to pack my curiosity and venture into the very heart of adventure and discover a world I never knew existed.

Who is the person that you would like to meet and why?

The only person in my mind now is my father, who passed away when I was little child, so I would love to meet him one day just to tell him "I love you"

I would like to say "Thank you" to all XOOPSers, especially to you Mamba, to Mowaffak Ali, Kraven, Nikita, Trabis, Kris, Ghia and Marcello Brandao - I learned from your kindness a lot.