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Firtina Ozbalikci
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
London, United Kingdom
Toptal member since June 14, 2022
Bio
Firtina is a full-stack software engineer and game developer. He has been coding since 1999, when he was only ten, and he is proficient in many languages and AWS solutions; he enjoys contributing to open source projects. Firtina has extensive experience setting up projects from scratch to deployment, maintaining them, and advising early-stage startups and game studios.
Portfolio
Greybox
3D, TypeScript, React, Cloudflare, Cloud, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)...
Direct-to-consumer Metal Garage and Carport Retailer (USA)
React, Three.js, JavaScript, Front-end Development, TypeScript, jQuery, WebGL...
Sealth AI Customer Support Platform
React, Node.js, Chatbots, AI Chatbots, Remix, Tailwind CSS
Experience
- JavaScript - 15 years
- C# - 13 years
- Unity - 13 years
- Three.js - 10 years
- TypeScript - 10 years
- Node.js - 10 years
- React - 8 years
- C++ - 5 years
Preferred Environment
Windows, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Games, WebGL, Vite
The most amazing...
...things I have created are open source libraries that many thousands of people have used. One of them is the react-three-renderer.
Work Experience
CTO
2024 - 2025
Greybox
- Architected the whole platform for a real-time collaborative 3D scene creation tool and whiteboard to result in thousands of users using it to create 3D scenes of many kinds.
- Implemented real-time collaboration using websockets and Cloudflare Durable Objects.
- Hired freelancers, volunteers, and interns and worked closely with them to help them produce useful work.
- Heavily involved with business and investment conversations.
- Spoke with hundreds of customers to identify their needs and requirements and to improve the product and what we offer.
Technologies: 3D, TypeScript, React, Cloudflare, Cloud, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), WebSockets, Workers, Service Workers, HTML5 Web Workers, Three.js, PostgreSQL, Supabase, AI Chatbots, Anthropic, OpenAI, Claude, 3D Modeling, SQLite, Figma, Figma to React
Front-end/Three.js Developer
2024 - 2025
Direct-to-consumer Metal Garage and Carport Retailer (USA)
- Created a solution to automatically capture screenshots of the customer's 3D WebGL product on the server side, using Puppeteer and VMs deployed on GCP.
- Added functionality to a 3D carport configurator to enhance the user experience and enable users to customize it further.
- Used Jira and Slack to coordinate with the team regarding tasks and responsibilities.
- Worked closely with the designers and the other team members to ensure the functionalities were of good quality.
Technologies: React, Three.js, JavaScript, Front-end Development, TypeScript, jQuery, WebGL, Node.js, GCP Network, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), React Three Fiber (R3F), Puppeteer, 3D, WebSockets
Full-stack React Developer
2024 - 2024
Sealth AI Customer Support Platform
- Delivered a comprehensive CRM project created from scratch seamlessly to the client's internal teams, ensuring full operational handover and functionality.
- Leveraged advanced large language models to suggest chat options and effectively manage customer responses, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.
- Employed React, Tailwind CSS, and Remix for dynamic front-end development, coupled with MongoDB for scalable back-end solutions.
- Contributed to crucial stakeholder presentations by integrating our CRM solutions into impactful, high-stakes demo sessions.
- Achieved quick iterations and feature enhancements by responding to and implementing the founder's feedback immediately.
- Designed and implemented a robust, password-protected admin interface to safeguard sensitive CRM operations and data.
- Built and optimized the underlying database structure using MongoDB, ensuring efficient data storage and retrieval processes.
- Coordinated project tasks and team communications effectively using Google Docs, Slack, Gmail, and Google Meet for streamlined collaboration.
- Implemented and managed continuous integration and deployment processes, leveraging Fly.io for efficient and reliable hosting solutions.
- Adhered to industry best practices and compliance standards throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring a high-quality, secure product.
Technologies: React, Node.js, Chatbots, AI Chatbots, Remix, Tailwind CSS
Three.js Developer
2023 - 2024
Leading global fitness and strength conditioning equipment manufacturer
- Developed a 3D product configurator from scratch, using Three.js and Vue with TypeScript.
- Utilized a monorepo architecture to separate dependencies and packages.
- Updated the client regularly with video progress reports.
- Used Jira, Google Chat, and Meet to manage the tasks.
- Produced Blender scripts with Python to be able to process models and export them.
- Created an advanced functionality for the product configurator. A slot-based system can connect an infinite number of models with each other and have any number of objects within the scene.
- Made all of these viewable in a room using XR-enabled devices (Android and iOS and Meta Quest), WebXR, and USDZ.
Technologies: Three.js, JavaScript, Vue, 3D, TypeScript, WebGL, WebXR, Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), Meta Quest, Blender, Blender Scripting API, Python, Optimization, Performance, Webpack
Software Engineer
2023 - 2023
Stealth AI Company
- Developed a web app allowing users to annotate visual content such as images, videos, slices from MRI scans, etc. These annotations produce enriched metadata, for example, for AI training and categorization.
- Worked closely with the client to ensure that the code was of good quality and the functionality was user-friendly and useful.
- Made sure the code was extendable and easily understood. This was a requirement from the client.
- Completed the whole project within two weeks to produce functioning and high qualit code.
Technologies: JavaScript, TypeScript, Canvas 2D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), MVC Design, Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, OpenGL, Node.js, WebGL, React, HTML Canvas, HTML5 Canvas, ECMAScript (ES6)
Senior Creative Technologist
2023 - 2023
Jugo
- Implemented an innovative context menu for the company's video conferencing software, enhancing user interactivity and overall user experience.
- Enhanced the user status display across Three.js, WebGL, React, and HTML platforms, contributing to an improved user interface and receiving constructive feedback from stakeholders.
- Actively engaged with stakeholders, designers, and team members, providing valuable feedback on technical decisions, UI/UX, and general company operations, driving the project toward success.
- Assumed responsibility for the comprehensive testing of every feature I developed, utilizing Jest for unit testing and Playwright for integration testing, significantly improving software quality and reliability.
- Traced and rectified software bugs, boosting the system's performance and stability while enhancing user satisfaction and experience.
- Participated in collaborative problem-solving and sophisticated design and requirements reviews for React, TypeScript, and a custom WebGL-based online meetings page.
Technologies: TypeScript, Amazon Chime, React, Three.js, Storybook, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Canvas, Canvas 2D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, HTML Canvas, HTML5 Canvas, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Optimization, Performance, Streaming, Webpack
Software Developer
2023 - 2023
MatchBuilt LLC
- Developed a chatbot using TypeScript that allowed the client's users to benefit from a streamlined resume-building process, resulting in positive feedback from the client and increased ease in creating powerful bullet points.
- Maintained open communication with the client throughout the development process of a chatbot, creating a functional prototype and iterating on the development in an agile manner based on feedback from the client.
- Ensured that the interface of the chatbot matched the client's website, iterating on design with the client's feedback to ensure their satisfaction with the final product.
- Developed and implemented additional prompts and personalities tailored to different end-users of the client's website using the client's product, resulting in a more personalized and engaging user experience.
- Utilized the client's product to generate this comprehensive list of bullet points, showcasing my ability to effectively utilize the tool for various purposes.
Technologies: ChatGPT, JavaScript, TypeScript, Heroku, CI/CD Pipelines, Monorepos, OpenAI GPT-3 API, WebGL, OpenAI GPT-4 API, Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web, Web UI, Web UX, Chatbots, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Vite, AI Chatbots
Three.js Developer
2022 - 2023
Synthesis AI, Inc
- Developed an app using React and Three.js that helps users customize scenes in a virtual environment and allows them to draw regions and generate objects within a scene.
- Worked with engineers, QAs, project managers, and other team members to ensure the functionality and performance were desirable and fruitful.
- Used Jira, Git, TypeScript, and Slack for contributions and communication.
Technologies: Three.js, React, JavaScript, Integration, Software Architecture, Responsive, Front-end Development, WebGL, 3D, Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, CSS3, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Canvas, Canvas 2D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, TypeScript, HTML Canvas, HTML5 Canvas, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Optimization, Performance
Creative Technologist
2021 - 2023
Lyfta
- Converted a big Unity project into React/React Three Fiber. It has been deployed successfully, and customers are now happily using it and experiencing the speed benefits. The developers are happier working with JavaScript.
- Developed multiple products, such as a 360 scene editor and a 360 scene player.
- Created multiple AWS Lambda functions to process files and update state. These include video and image processing for compression and formatting.
- Resolved many issues in the existing products and features.
Technologies: JavaScript, C#, Unity, Three.js, HTML, Styled-components, ESLint, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS Lambda, Node.js, Async/Await, Webhooks, Unity3D, APIs, CSS, Next.js, TypeScript, REST APIs, Full-stack, Serverless, IntelliJ IDEA, Web Development, Git, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Software Development, Android, iOS, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Express.js, Docker, Architecture, Mobile, JSON, XML, Web Services, React Native, Integration, Testing, Heroku, Mobile Development, Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, Responsive, Front-end Development, Full-stack Development, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Games, WebGL, 3D, Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, CSS3, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Canvas, Canvas 2D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, HTML Canvas, HTML5 Canvas, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Vite, TanStack Router, Education Technology (Edtech), Optimization, Performance, Webpack
UI Engineer
2020 - 2021
Criterion Games
- Used C++ and proprietary languages to work on a game developed by Criterion Games.
- Worked close to the engine to enable functionality with other game systems.
- Collaborated with other engineers, technical artists, designers, and producers.
- Set up performance measurements and benchmarks for myself and others to assess how our contributions affected the game's performance.
Technologies: C++, Game Development, APIs, Git, Software Development, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Games, 3D, Front-end, CSS3, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, Optimization, Performance
Software Engineer
2020 - 2020
Playdeo
- Used C++, C# (Unity), and Java to develop a custom video player solution on the Android platform, with bespoke functionality and performance requirements.
- Integrated the Android functionality onto a new game that the company is developing. The game was initially developed for iOS.
- Worked with Google Play Services, Firebase, custom build systems, and so on. Enabled the developers to have the same experience they are used to with iOS.
Technologies: C++, C#, Java, Unity, Unity3D, Unity3D Native Plugin Interface, IntelliJ IDEA, Android, iOS, NDK, Android NDK, Google Play Console, Firebase, REST APIs, Full-stack, Google Cloud, Windows, Git, Jira, Software Development, User Interface (UI), Architecture, Mobile, JSON, XML, Web Services, Integration, Mobile Development, Software Architecture, Responsive, Games, 3D, Front-end, OpenGL, Mobile Game Development, Optimization, Performance, Streaming
Entrepreneur
2019 - 2020
Antler
- Participated with other entrepreneurs to form founding teams for companies.
- Took business administration, marketing, design, and prototyping classes.
- Brainstormed ideas and created a lot of prototypes and MVPs. Validated prototypes with customers and arranged interviews within various industries to discover potential needs and what may drive them to be customers.
- Advised the peer companies in getting their tech started and running.
Technologies: JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Android, Node.js, APIs, CSS, MongoDB, REST APIs, Full-stack, Web Development, IntelliJ IDEA, HTML, ESLint, Git, Amazon EC2, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Software Development, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), API Integration, Express.js, Architecture, Mobile, JSON, XML, Web Services, Testing, Software Architecture, Front-end Development, Full-stack Development, SQL, Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, CSS3, Web, Web UI, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Optimization, Performance, Webpack
Software Engineer
2017 - 2019
Improbable
- Integrated Improbable SDK into the Unity, Unreal engines, and AAA studios' in-house engine technologies and tools. Mainly used C#, C++, and Lua.
- Performed interviews for future employees, helped decide who to hire next, and mentored other developers about the industry.
- Decided on and contributed to design choices for the company's future tech aspects.
- Visited customers in various parts of the UK, Europe, and China, to see how they made their games and improve how Improbable's tech could aid them.
Technologies: JavaScript, Go, Lua, C#, C++, Unity, Unreal Engine, Async/Await, Game Development, Unity3D, APIs, Visual Studio, Git, Jira, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Software Development, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), API Integration, JSON, Web Services, Integration, Testing, Software Architecture, Games, 3D, Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, Asynchronous Programming
Software Engineer
2015 - 2017
Unity
- Improved the Unity engine's stability, which required a deep understanding of all parts of the product.
- Used software engineering and programming best practices for C++ and C# to ensure the company's high quality of code.
- Found the causes of the most challenging bugs and fixed them. The main areas of expertise were: core, physics, graphics, user experience, and code readability and maintainability.
Technologies: C#, C++, Unity, ASM, Unity3D Native Plugin Interface, Webhooks, Unity3D, APIs, Windows, Visual Studio, Git, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Software Development, Android, iOS, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Mobile, JSON, XML, Testing, Games, 3D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), 3D Graphics Engines, OpenGL, Asynchronous Programming, Performance, Optimization
Software Engineer
2014 - 2015
SmartFocus
- Created marketing games and 2D or 3D visualizations using Unity, C#, and D3.js.
- Evolved in the company and became a consultant for other developers in the company.
- Handled projects including an indoor positioning system using real-time sensor data through C++ and quick but functional prototypes of web applications using JavaScript ES6, mostly React on Node.js.
Technologies: JavaScript, React, Three.js, D3.js, Android, C++, Java, Unity, C#, Node.js, Webhooks, Unity3D, APIs, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, REST APIs, Full-stack, Web Development, IntelliJ IDEA, ESLint, Git, Software Development, iOS, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Express.js, Architecture, Mobile, JSON, XML, Web Services, Mobile Development, Software Architecture, Front-end Development, Full-stack Development, WebGL, 3D, Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, CSS3, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Canvas, Canvas 2D, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, HTML Canvas, HTML5 Canvas, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Optimization, Performance, Webpack
Software Engineer
2013 - 2014
Billforward
- Developed a couponing system for subscription billing, using PHP and Angular for the front end and Java for the back end. It was deployed to production and happily used by the customers.
- Collaborated closely with the company's key customers to implement custom billing solutions for them. Used their preferred language, from JavaScript to Ruby on Rails to PHP.
- Created a custom CMS solution for one of the customers. They transferred their old system to the one that we built.
- Created custom charting solutions using D3.js. Used real-time data from customers to represent their billing statistics and metrics.
- Set up AWS ECS deployments for the website of the company. It served all of the company's customers.
- Created REST APIs and documentation for these APIs. They are still live today.
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Node.js, Angular, AngularJS, Azure, Full-stack, Java, MySQL, Bower, RequireJS, D3.js, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Git, Jira, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, REST, APIs, REST APIs, IntelliJ IDEA, HTML, CSS, ESLint, Web Development, Software Development, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), API Integration, Express.js, Docker, Architecture, JSON, XML, Web Services, SOAP, Integration, Testing, Software Architecture, Technical Leadership, Responsive, Stripe, Front-end Development, Full-stack Development, Stripe API, SQL, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Front-end, Responsive Web Design (RWD), HTML5, CSS3, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Graphical User Interface (GUI), MVC Design, Computer Graphics, Asynchronous Programming, ECMAScript (ES6), Webpack
Experience
React Three Renderer
https://github.com/toxicFork/react-three-rendererAn open source Three.js renderer for React, which had thousands of users and 1,500 stars on GitHub. I developed and maintained it because I was not happy with the state of React 3D and wanted to contribute.
This project required me to understand how React works internally to create a copy of their original DOM renderer.
This project required me to understand how React works internally to create a copy of their original DOM renderer.
Unity Plane Clipping
https://github.com/toxicFork/Unity3D-Plane-ClippingShaders and scripts to enable people to cut off parts of objects in the Unity game engine. This allows for functionality like disappearing objects, portals, object slicing, etc.
I wrote a tutorial to accompany the project: www.toxicfork.com/194/per-object-clipping-planes-shader-in-unity3d-5
I wrote a tutorial to accompany the project: www.toxicfork.com/194/per-object-clipping-planes-shader-in-unity3d-5
Unity 2D Joint Editors
https://github.com/toxicFork/Unity-2D-Joint-EditorsAn extension for the Unity game engine: it improves the user interface of the game engine and makes it easier to use. The extension allows the user to visually control many aspects of 2D objects in the scene. I wrote a blog post to explain what was done and why: www.toxicfork.com/225/unity3d-extensions-and-developer-experience#more-225
Unity Texture Atlas Slicer
https://github.com/toxicFork/Unity3D-TextureAtlasSlicerA Unity extension to allow creating and importing of 2D sprites more easily. It extends the user interface and allows for configuration. I made a blog post to explain how it was built and why: www.toxicfork.com/154/importing-xml-spritesheet-into-unity3d#more-154.
GPT-Shell/Erin
https://github.com/firtoz/GPT-ShellA GPT-3 and ChatGPT-based AI chatbot for Discord.
Open-source. Built using TypeScript, Node.js, MongoDB, Weaviate, Pinecone, Google Vision, and other AI technologies.
The project is active and allows many conversations from Discord users.
I have built a custom permanent memory system using vector embeddings and finding the most relevant messages for the user's input.
This project taught me how to craft effective prompts for GPT and other LLMs.
Another site for the project: www.erin.ac/?ref=toptal
Open-source. Built using TypeScript, Node.js, MongoDB, Weaviate, Pinecone, Google Vision, and other AI technologies.
The project is active and allows many conversations from Discord users.
I have built a custom permanent memory system using vector embeddings and finding the most relevant messages for the user's input.
This project taught me how to craft effective prompts for GPT and other LLMs.
Another site for the project: www.erin.ac/?ref=toptal
Education
2007 - 2013
Honors Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
University of Bath - Bath, United Kingdom
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Three.js, Node.js, React, REST APIs, WebGL, HTML5 Canvas, Stripe, Stripe API, D3.js, NDK, RequireJS, OpenGL, Vue, WebXR, Blender Scripting API, jQuery, Puppeteer, HTML5 Web Workers
Tools
IntelliJ IDEA, ChatGPT, Canvas 2D, Visual Studio, Canvas, Android NDK, Bower, Git, Jira, TanStack Router, Blender, Webpack, GCP Network, Claude, Figma
Languages
C++, HTML, JavaScript, C#, TypeScript, HTML5, C, Java, CSS, XML, SQL, CSS3, ECMAScript (ES6), Python, PHP, Go, Lua
Frameworks
Unity, Unity3D, Next.js, Express.js, React Native, ASM, Unreal Engine, Angular, AngularJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Tailwind CSS, Remix
Paradigms
Parallel Programming, Asynchronous Programming, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), Testing, Mobile Development, Responsive, Responsive Web Design (RWD), MVC Design, REST
Platforms
Android, Web, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS Lambda, iOS, Mobile, Windows, Firebase, Azure, Amazon EC2, Docker, Heroku, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Storage
JSON, MongoDB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Google Cloud, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
Other
Software Development, Async/Await, Game Development, Webhooks, APIs, Full-stack, Web Development, API Integration, Web Services, Integration, Chatbots, Software Architecture, Front-end Development, Full-stack Development, Games, OpenAI GPT-3 API, 3D, OpenAI GPT-4 API, Front-end, Web UI, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Computer Graphics, 3D Graphics Engines, HTML Canvas, AI Chatbots, Architecture, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Vite, Optimization, Performance, Streaming, Styled-components, ESLint, Unity3D Native Plugin Interface, Google Play Console, Serverless, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), SOAP, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Search, Large Language Models (LLMs), Technical Leadership, CI/CD Pipelines, Monorepos, Amazon Chime, Storybook, Web UX, Mobile Game Development, Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), Meta Quest, Education Technology (Edtech), React Three Fiber (R3F), WebSockets, Cloudflare, Cloud, Workers, Service Workers, Supabase, Anthropic, 3D Modeling, Figma to React
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