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Gustavo Scanferla
Verified Expert in Engineering
Ruby on Rails (RoR) Developer
Rio de Janeiro - State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Toptal member since April 3, 2015
Bio
Gustavo is a startup founder and Ruby on Rails expert with over 17 years of experience building and scaling Rails apps. He single-handedly created a video collaboration service used in more than 152 countries—years before Zoom or Google Hangouts existed.
Portfolio
tidro
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ruby, Ruby on Rails API, Sidekiq, OpenAI, Redis...
Gartner Digital Markets
Ruby on Rails (RoR), Amazon Cognito, Docker, Sidekiq, Redis, Rollbar...
Spin
Ruby on Rails API, Ruby on Rails (RoR), API Integration, PostgreSQL, Redis...
Experience
- Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 19 years
- JavaScript - 19 years
- Ruby - 17 years
- Ruby on Rails API - 16 years
- UX Design - 12 years
- WebSockets - 7 years
- Ionic - 7 years
- Angular - 7 years
Preferred Environment
Git, OS X, Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
The most amazing...
...project I've launched is Pligus, a video collaboration service similar to Google Hangouts, years before Google did it. I built it entirely from end to end.
Work Experience
Founder and Full-stack Developer
2023 - PRESENT
tidro
- Developed an AI-powered personal assistant that manages tasks and projects, functioning as an "Artificial Employee" for teams and companies.
- Implemented features that allow the assistant to set priorities and distribute tasks, ensuring that team members are aligned on objectives and deadlines.
- Designed the assistant to generate tangible work outputs such as reports, presentations, and strategic plans, contributing directly to the success of projects.
- Worked on integrating the assistant with communication tools (WhatsApp, Slack), project management platforms (Trello, Monday.com), collaboration tools (Microsoft Teams), CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), and data lakes.
- Worked on new features for the assistant, including real-time voice interaction and the ability to independently create websites, apps, and systems with minimal human supervision.
Technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ruby, Ruby on Rails API, Sidekiq, OpenAI, Redis, React, Cursor AI, Stripe, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Engineer
2022 - 2023
Gartner Digital Markets
- Spearheaded the development of a novel authorization and authentication layer for the vendor portal, leveraging the capabilities of Amazon Cognito.
- Executed a comprehensive refactoring of the entire vendor portal to accommodate multi-user access to a single account, capitalizing on the functionalities of the newly implemented authentication layer.
- Contributed to the integration and synchronization of data across various services utilizing Kafka. Additionally, designed and implemented background jobs to ensure seamless interaction between diverse APIs.
- Helped create report generation mechanisms, leveraging background jobs to ensure efficient and reliable data processing.
- Modernized API endpoints by refactoring them into a new version tailored to support the updated front end.
- Contributed significantly to the execution of critical data migration processes, ensuring integrity and zero downtime.
- Played a key role in transforming the monolithic architecture of the main application into a more efficient and scalable microservices model.
- Actively contributed to developing and managing Kafka consumers, specifically designed to handle mission-critical data streams.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), Amazon Cognito, Docker, Sidekiq, Redis, Rollbar, API Integration, PostgreSQL, Apache Kafka, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Engineer
2021 - 2021
Spin
- Engaged as a Ruby on Rails Engineer, integrating Spin with other services.
- Collaborated with the Mobility as a Service team, integrating Spin with other systems through MDS (Mobility Data Specification) and other partner APIs.
- Conducted work on the "Payments" team on payments reporting integration between different systems, code refactoring, and security-related integrations.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails API, Ruby on Rails (RoR), API Integration, PostgreSQL, Redis, Elasticsearch, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Developer
2020 - 2021
TruckQ
- Developed a Ruby on Rails API for a time-sensitive project that provided a truck queue management system for plants or the supplier of materials. Completed the project on time.
- Built a mobile app system where truck drivers can know the estimated wait times at participating plants near them and check-in to save their place in the line.
- Constructed a management system where plant managers could set queue priorities, update truck statuses, send status updates to truck drivers through SMS messages, and feature user roles management and plant set up.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails API, API Integration, PostgreSQL, Redis, Grape, Twilio, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Co-founder and Full-stack Developer
2020 - 2020
Salve Local
- Created Salve Local during the COVID-19 pandemic to support businesses that were closed during the lockdown by enabling them to sell vouchers for future purchases.
- Contributed to the platform, which allowed customers to provide immediate financial support to local establishments, helping them sustain operations during a critical time.
- Worked on this project, which gained significant attention from major media outlets, including Globo News, highlighting its impact and importance in supporting local businesses.
- Developed the platform using Ruby on Rails and integrated it with various payment systems to ensure seamless transactions for customers and businesses.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails API, Payment APIs, PostgreSQL, JavaScript, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Back-end Engineer
2020 - 2020
Casper
- Handled customizing Solidus to fit Casper’s large-scale needs.
- Owned the bugs' fixing process that directly affected sales on production.
- Created the test tools to be used by the sales team.
- Developed new features for their logistics and inventory management solution.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ruby on Rails (RoR), Solidus, API Integration, PostgreSQL, Redis, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Developer
2019 - 2019
Clark
- Fixed breaches that could be exploited by malicious users with Ruby on. Rails security.
- Developed the architecture team, designing improvements for our codebase.
- Handled the code refactoring and dependency upgrades.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, API Integration, PostgreSQL, Redis, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Developer
2018 - 2019
Linux Academy
- Developed and maintained some Ruby on Rails microservices, including payments/subscription integration, file management, and the notifications system (Apple, Android, and email).
Technologies: RSpec, Ruby on Rails API, API Integration, PostgreSQL, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Angular and Ionic Developer
2015 - 2016
Meta Search
- Built the company's browser (Angular) and mobile (Ionic) apps.
- Also built the custom UI/UX.
Technologies: Ionic, AngularJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Angular, API Integration, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails Developer
2015 - 2015
Amazing.com
- Customized and created plugins for the company's Discourse implementation.
Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, API Integration, PostgreSQL, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Ruby on Rails and Ionic Developer
2015 - 2015
Nugg
- Worked as the main Ruby on Rails developer and only Ionic developer for their MVP. Nugg is now California's largest cannabis marketplace, according to Business Insider.
Technologies: Ionic, AngularJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, API Integration, PostgreSQL, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
Founder and Full-stack Developer
2014 - 2015
Tidro
- Founded Tidro.
- Created a system that extracted due dates, task members (owner, observer, worker) and replies just from email content using a customized natural language processor.
- Developed a service that automatically created and organized multiple projects (and tasks within those projects) just from email content as well.
- Created a mechanism where you could mark the task as complete, change due dates, unsubscribe from reminders, etc from your email message itself, with a single click. There was no need for any plugin or add-on.
- Developed a processing system where you just had to include Tidro’s dynamic email address (e.g., anyawesomeproject@tidro.com) and Tidro would do everything described above.
- Worked with NLP, background jobs, email deliverability, and SMS sending.
Technologies: SMS, Email, AngularJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, API Integration, PostgreSQL, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
CTO and Full-stack Developer
2013 - 2015
MemOn
- Helped understand customer needs and identify project requirements.
- Improved my ability with background jobs, email deliverability, and sending SMS.
Technologies: SMS, Email, Ruby on Rails (RoR), AngularJS, API Integration, PostgreSQL, Twilio, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
User Interface Engineer
2012 - 2013
Sieve
- Made the user’s experience and interaction work perfectly, as fast and efficiently as possible.
Technologies: Backbone.js, JavaScript, API Integration, CSS, HTML
Founder and CEO
2007 - 2012
Pligus
- Built everything from the front-end to the back-end and everything in between at the age of 17.
- Developed a real-time communication and collaboration service where any team could work together as if they were in the same room. It was a production ready (with paying customers) video conference (for up to 15 participants!) with collaborative text editing, screen-sharing, and instant messages.
- Observed and received feedback from about 20,000 users from more than 110 countries. To transform the initial idea into a commercial product, I had to proficiently code in several different languages. as well as use my business and user experience skills.
Technologies: Video Livestreaming, Flash ActionScript, Redis, WebSockets, Node.js, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails (RoR), API Integration, PostgreSQL, MySQL, APIs, CSS, HTML, REST APIs
User Experience Designer
2009 - 2010
Globo.com
- Worked in an Agile environment with the home team.
- Helped them set design standards for the whole Globo.com site and also design the new Globo.com home (launched in 2010).
- Contributed to the UX research team to create and run usability tests in the usability lab.
- Designed and developed “estag.com,” an internship program site still being used to acquire great talent for Globo.com.
- Created design prototypes which helped co-workers to understand and test new concepts.
Technologies: JavaScript, UX Design, CSS, HTML
Experience
Interactive Video
In 2008, I made an interactive video in which you could build a list of ingredients for a juice by selecting them right inside the video.
Because the video was "edited" in real time, the chef could make a juice with just the ingredients you selected (your custom recipe).
The whole experience was pretty smooth: it even had background music in sync and correct ingredient order. As people said, the video was "at the same time real and magic."
This interactive video helped me land my first job at an advertising agency.
Because the video was "edited" in real time, the chef could make a juice with just the ingredients you selected (your custom recipe).
The whole experience was pretty smooth: it even had background music in sync and correct ingredient order. As people said, the video was "at the same time real and magic."
This interactive video helped me land my first job at an advertising agency.
Education
2007 - 2012
Bachelor's Degree in Advertising
UFF (Universidade Federal Fluminense) - Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Skills
Libraries/APIs
jQuery, Ruby on Rails API, Facebook API, Stripe, REST APIs, Pusher, React, Backbone.js, Node.js, Sidekiq, Rollbar
Tools
GitHub, Git, Trello, Adobe Photoshop, Sublime Text 3, Wowza, RSpec, Sublime Text, Amazon Cognito
Languages
HTML5, Ruby, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Flash ActionScript
Frameworks
Ionic, AngularJS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Bootstrap 3, Angular, Protractor, Grape
Paradigms
UX Design, UI Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Scrum, Agile Software Development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Behavior-driven Development (BDD), Test-driven Development (TDD)
Platforms
Solidus, Heroku, WordPress, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apache Kafka, Twilio, OS X, Meteor, Docker, Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
Storage
PostgreSQL, Redis, MySQL, Elasticsearch
Other
Video Streaming, Audio Editing, Interaction Design (IxD), Video Editing, Freelancing, API Integration, Architecture, Cursor AI, APIs, Google Material Design, SMS, HTML Email, Digital Marketing, WebSockets, Video Livestreaming, Email, Artificial Intelligence (AI), OpenAI, Payment APIs
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