Last Updated on 1 June 2026 at 11:42
Memories…
Well … the machine bellow is the Commodore 64.
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Yesterday evening I remembered some good old times. Probably begin the 80s (~40 years ago). I went every week to a big department store (Maxi GB), where they had a new “computer” section. A bit hidden, in a dark corner where nobody went. Two-three computers were exposed, amongst this C64.
As a teenager, these boxes were like magic. You could load colour games on it, or program it yourself. There were a keyboard and joystick, and a colour TV. The price was out of reach for my teenager budget. So I went often to the store, took a computer magazine (I had no money to buy it) that included small, fully working programs, and I started to copy over the program from the printed magazine into the computer. BASIC was the programming language. There was no chair, so I did it standing. I must have spent hours in that store programming that C64, not really knowing what I was doing. The sales staff didn’t care about me. Probably they were happy to see someone in that dark corner, where some weird gadgets were sold way too expensive.
I was bitten by the “computer” virus forever.
Funny enough, I never owned a Commodore C64 myself.
Good old times indeed.
FinTech Wealth Management expert with 30 years of successful track record, from Unicible/BCV to Odyssey and Temenos, plus hundreds of important banks across EMEA, APAC, and NAM.
► Background — from C-language code to C-suite in 30 years
• WealthSuite Triple’A Temenos TAP Plus expert
• crisis & change management
• complex multi-level project – program – portfolio management
• process architecture & governance, process optimization, BPO
• financial services software engineering FS FinTech
Career start as an innovative software engineer in startups ► to strategic advisory & turnaround for Tier1 & Tier2 Banks at senior C-level.
• T-shaped mastery of the latest key technologies, business, and operational practices in retail banking, asset management, core banking, PMS.
• Keen focus on improving productivity, client retention, and revenues through expertise in Program Management, Process Governance, and Optimized Delivery, augmented by know-how in complex issue resolution and value-driven E2E end-to-end implementations.
Temenos Practitioner accredited across WealthSuite and FrontOffice domains (FO, PM, TTI). Certified modules include Scripts & Formats, Implementation Methodology (T3TIM), Channels PM, APA Attribution, Constraint Management, Order Management, Data Security, WealthSuite Portfolio Management, and T24 Triple’A Interface. The Practitioner status anchors Didier’s capacity to operate as a Transformation Director, bridging certified product mastery with execution governance and program recovery.
Disclaimer —
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author, Didier Debbaut, and do not represent the views, positions, or policies of Temenos AG, its affiliates, clients, or partners. All information is shared in good faith and in the spirit of professional exchange, as part of an open, constructive contribution to the FinTech and WealthTech community.
Any technical references, opinions, or analyses are based solely on publicly available information and the author’s independent field expertise. They are offered for general informational and educational purposes only.
No confidential, proprietary, or non-public information related to Temenos products, clients, or business operations is disclosed or implied.
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The debate between Agile and Waterfall is not a zero-sum game. Each methodology has its merits and drawbacks, and the choice between the two is often dictated by the specific requirements and constraints of a project or program. However, for projects that demand both structure and flexibility, a hybrid approach can offer a balanced solution.
In practice, it is not about choosing between Waterfall and Agile; it’s about knowing when to use each. Structure and flexibility are complementary and not mutually exclusive. So, the next time someone tries to sell you on the “one true methodology”, remember: the most innovative solutions often come from combining the best of multiple worlds. It’s not about only waterfall or agile, but a lot of other methodologies, too.
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