Java Standard Library Development

In 2005 Intel was about to launch a Software Development Center in Córdoba, Argentina. That year the company was also involved – among other world class companies – in an Open Source Java implementation. The project was incubated by the Apache Software Foundation and its final name was Apache Harmony. Due to some license issues it required to be implemented from scratch and code donations from big companies were considered as a key factor for the project success.

It seemed like a great opportunity for Intel to begin interacting with the local technology community and they assigned three Java packages to be developed by ITC. ITC's goal was to build teams by hiring advanced students of IT careers as intern developers.

At that time I was taking the Operating Systems laboratory with an awesome young teacher. It turned out he was a close friend of some of the future team leaders of the coming ITC Java development project. Since he knew I was into the Java development he suggested me to apply.

I was incredibly glad that he was considering me as a suitable candidate. At the same time, I couldn't help feeling a bit scared. I had never worked on a real development project before. It was going to be a full-time project and I had at least 2 more years ahead in order to earn the Engineer degree. This kind of projects wasn't something you could easily find so I decided to apply. After passing a test project implementation and an interview with the team leaders I got in!

I was assigned to the java.math implementation team. It was an amazing year with plenty of learning about many topics: team work, CS concepts, project management, Open Source community dynamics and mainly fellowship. It was such a great experience overall.

From right to left: Miguel Vasquez, Matthías Gallé and Me

Once the ITC project was over I decided to focus on graduating from University. I'd spend 2007 wrapping up both the Systems Analyst and Systems Engineering last exams and final projects to finally graduate.

A year of uncertainties

On February 2007 something that I could've never imagined happened. On a Saturday afternoon, I got a phone call from my father. It wasn't a common thing that he'd call me – usually it'd be my mother who called, I'd talk to her for a while and then just had a few words with my father and that was it. Saturday afternoon wasn't the day we used to talk either. Sunday night was the expected time.

"He might need some help with his computer" I thought. But unfortunately as soon as I said "hello" I listened to my father saying the words I wish I had never heard: my brother had died in a car accident.

2007 was the most challenging year of my life. My family was in Salta and I was still in Córdoba and for some time I didn't really know what to do. Plenty of thoughts and feelings mixed up with the goals I had. I spent that year coming and going between the two cities: I tried to be there with my family supporting and being supported by them while making as much progress as I could to get through the final steps at Uni.

During that year I went through a selection process and got an offer to join the Gameloft development studio. The company was just arriving at Córdoba and being one of the first developers seemed like a big opportunity. I felt it would require just too much time and energy. I wasn't sure I could handle it so I sticked with my decision: first graduate from university and then start looking for a new job once I was done. Looking back I can tell that it was the best call. It was a really hard decision to dismiss it, though.

Java Enterprise Development

I finally graduated in early 2008 and started working almost right away as Java Enterprise developer.

After spending about 6 months working for a local company I got an offer from Globant. They were about to open new offices in Córdoba. My perception of the company was that it could be the ideal place to work and grow: they had an image of having top talented resources, open source community, high quality projects, lots of benefits – fruits, PS3, travels, etc. It seemed like another great opportunity to keep growing and I didn't want to let it go just like that this time. I started working Globant in September 2008 but after only 10 monthsI felt it that the reality was a bit off of what I expected. Maybe it just wasn’t the right timing, don’t know for sure.

I can say that it was a good move but not for the reasons that I was thinking it would be. The best part was the cool the people one gets to know in companies like that. From day 1 y was assigned to a team with Fede and Agus. The three of us shared a lot in common so we immediately became friends. They were going to be a key part of my professional life the following years.

A bright new future in technology was here

I was starting to lose motivation. Working for companies wasn't what I expected it would be. But about the time I was starting at Globant something amazing had happened to me: I held in my hands for the first time a brand new device that was launched recently.

It was changing the industry forever and It would open up a big opportunity for developers. I was so excited about it!