uProfile March 2025 - Karl Tynan

An introduction to Umbraco

My Umbraco journey undoubtedly began back in 2011-2012, when I helped a fellow developer friend on some freelance projects, crafting front-end styling for a few client websites he was building. That collaboration turned out to be more than just a weekend side hustle as it introduced me to Umbraco, a CMS I had never encountered before. Little did I know that this unexpected discovery would spark a whole new chapter in my development career.

By 2008, I was already delivering front-end projects in the .NET ecosystem, primarily working with ASP.NET Web Forms. Many of the concepts were transferable, and Umbraco immediately clicked with me. The simplicity of creating document types and the intuitive content tree just made sense to me. It was a refreshing contrast to my earlier experiences, where I either built custom CMS solutions with PHP or wrestled with Drupal in frustration (albeit for a very short period in my career).

I think I fell in love with Umbraco. I began seeking roles in Bristol that worked with the CMS. That led me to Gibe Digital, where I got the chance to work with Umbraco hands-on. It was there that I also had my first encounter with the friendly Umbraco Community, a connection that would become an invaluable part of my life.

Karl delivering a presentation on his CODECABIN experience to the umBristol audience.

umBristol meetups

I soon became an active member of the Umbraco scene in Bristol, attending (and even helping host) the umBristol meetups. It was at these gatherings that I first met Lee Kelleher and many other umbazing folks from the local Umbraco Community. Before long, I found myself not only attending but starting to speak at meetups, and becoming a regular at talks and social events across Bristol.

Around 2017, I was invited to become a co-organiser for umBristol, a role I was thrilled to take on. Over the years, as Umbraco itself grew, so did our little community, evolving into something much bigger and more vibrant. With that growth came a larger organising team and plenty of behind-the-scenes work that they all do, from sourcing speakers to the logistics of running successful events. A huge shout-out goes to Cat Todd, Callum Whyte, Dan Bramall, Joe Glombek, Jonathan Richards, Lee Kelleher, Nurhak Kaya, Steve Temple, Thomas Morris, and countless others who have been instrumental in organising and running the umBristol meetups over the years. Their dedication and passion have helped shape our local community into what it is today!

Umbraco UK Festival, Codegarden, and CODECABIN

It wasn’t long before I started hearing about the Umbraco festivals and events outside of Bristol. My first adventure took me to the Umbraco UK Festival in London where I felt right at home alongside my umBristol friends. It was there that I started to expand my network, making new friends with fellow Umbracians from across the UK and beyond. And I have to emphasise that “friends” is the key word here, not “connections”. The Umbraco Community isn’t just about networking, it has helped me build genuine friendships that make every event feel like a reunion.

Next came my first international adventure: Codegarden in Denmark - the biggest Umbraco event of them all. Back then it was held in Copenhagen not Odense, and the wild antics, unconventional format, and infectious energy had me hooked instantly, bringing me back year after year. It is the perfect blend of Umbraco learning, reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, and soaking up the incredible buzz of being part of such a unique and friendly community - a must do!

In autumn 2016, I was fortunate enough to attend the very first CODECABIN event, a special experience spent with like-minded developers in a cabin deep in the woods. Back then, it was a first-come, first-served application process, but the process has since become more thoughtful, where you explain why you're a good fit and what you hope to contribute or gain from the event. After the honour of attending successive events since 2016 (we will ignore the events of 2020 and 2021), I was thrilled to be invited to join the CODECABIN co-host team in 2022, alongside the amazing Lotte Pitcher. Originally founded by Lee Kelleher, Matt Brailsford, and Lucy Brailsford, I had the privilege of joining a fantastic co-host team to help run this unique, annual Umbraco event - an experience that continues to be a highlight of my year.

And if you were at my Saturday night quiz during CODECABIN23, I owe you an apology for how long the one-eyed pirate cannonball beer pong took… But, to be fair, I really thought the Umbraco Community would have better aim than that!

Karl is a CODECABIN co-host, known for his fun quiz night and signature golden sequin jacket.

Looking to get involved?

You don’t have to be a developer or have experience contributing to GitHub to get involved with Umbraco - there are plenty of ways to contribute and connect, no matter your background or skill level. Try to attend an Umbraco meetup near you - meetups are the heart of our amazing Umbraco Community. If in-person meetups aren’t an option (or your thing), Discord is a fantastic platform to stay updated, ask questions, and connect with others.

If the opportunity arises to attend a conference like Umbraco UK Festival, Umbraco Spark, Codegarden, or CODECABIN (applications are open!), I highly recommend you take it. There are also many conferences across Europe and the world waiting to welcome you. Umbraco truly is a friendly community of like-minded people eager to share, learn, and grow together.

Getting involved with the Umbraco Community not only boosted my career but also led to amazing, lifelong friendships. It’s probably safe to say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I sincerely hope that reading this might inspire someone else to have a similar experience.

Karl fully embraced the chaos and antics of Umbraco Bingo at Codegarden 2023, rocking his Umbraco Olympic headband with style.

A bit more about me

Whenever I catch up with folks at Umbraco events, the conversation almost always kicks off with, “Have you been to Disney again recently?”. My answer is usually either, “Yes” or, “I’m heading there pretty soon actually”.

It’s true - my wife and I are huge Disney theme park fans and we have been known to make quite a few trips to Walt Disney World in Florida over the years. In fact, this April 2025, we’ll be visiting Disneyland in California for the first time, making it our third Disney castle in less than 12 months! We visited Walt Disney World in September last year and experienced Disneyland Paris for the first time this January. Safe to say, we’re fully embracing the magic!

One of my bucket list goals is to visit all six Disney theme park castles in my lifetime, a dream I’m steadily working toward, one unforgettable trip at a time.

Beyond my Disney adventures, I’m also a big fan of a good cheese board, enjoy drinking quality beer, and occasionally dabble in homebrewing (with results that range from surprisingly delicious to… well, let’s just say, a “learning experience”).

Karl, on a mission in Walt Disney World in Florida to win the unofficial “Furthest t-shirt from CODECABIN” award!

Stay in touch!

I am an Umbraco MVP and Head of User Experience at Rock Solid Knowledge. I’d love to connect on the following social media platforms:

• Personal website

• Professionally on LinkedIn

• Coding on GitHub

• Umbraco-related posts and musings on Bluesky

• Food, drink, and Disney photos on Instagram

• Past tweets on X (no longer actively posting)

If you’d like to know more about CODECABIN, please reach out to me on social media or come chat to me if you see me at an in-person event.

Is there someone you'd like to nominate for a uProfile?

Do you know someone who deserves a spotlight on their Umbraco journey? To nominate a friend, peer, or colleague, reach out to Lucy Brailsford in the DevRel Team at community@umbraco.com and explain why!