Roberto is available for hire
Hire RobertoRoberto Langarica
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Toptal Member Since
April 27, 2021
Roberto is a full-stack web developer who excels in video game design and development. He has a solid track record with startups, taking them from idea to MVP and completed product. He consults for companies and enjoys being involved from start to finish. He has built and led teams, implemented a serialization strategy that resulted in nearly instant initialization for a dictionary, and delivered the first MVP with UC Berkeley. Roberto is an easygoing person who enjoys meaningful projects.
Portfolio
Cuatromedios
JavaScript, Node.js, Vue, PostgreSQL, Agile Software Development, AWS Lambda
Villavanilla S de RL
Unity, JavaScript, C#, Git, HTML5, CSS, DigitalOcean, Agile Software Development
Villavanilla S de RL
C#, JavaScript, AS3, Git, Subversion (SVN), HTML5, CSS, DigitalOcean, Unity...
Experience
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Visual Studio Code (VS Code), MacOS, Vue, PostgreSQL, GitHub
The most amazing...
...MVP I delivered was with UC Berkeley for a digital reward and engagement platform for financial institutions.
Work Experience
Software Development Specialist
2013 - PRESENT
Cuatromedios
- Developed a back end (Node.js and Lambda) for a startup. Guided them in the definition of their MVP, resulting in them continuing to send work to the company one year later.
- Designed and developed a gamified app for ITESM university. It was for learning chemistry that I implemented with dynamic and configurable activities, allowing teachers to add more content without republishing the app.
- Acted as the lead programmer for a web educational project for elementary students. I implemented the core component system, the communication layer, and oversaw and managed the seven-member front-end development team.
- Reviewed the project's code, and assisted the development team in making better decisions. I mentor juniors and shared new knowledge with teammates. (Currently pushing for Docker and functional programming).
Technologies: JavaScript, Node.js, Vue, PostgreSQL, Agile Software Development, AWS Lambda
CEO
2013 - 2021
Villavanilla S de RL
- Grew the team from five to 25+ people by between 20162017, working on projects ranging from education to fintech to games. I was the architect for each project and the lead programmer for a few.
- Positioned the studio as a provider for all major local universities (UDG, ITESM at a multi-state level, ITESO and UP). I personally became a mentor for the incubator/acceleration programs at ITESM and UP.
- Became the sponsor (for one year) for the local "Unity user group" to share knowledge with our community. I also encouraged the team to be more active in local events.
- Expanded studio reach by participating in startups: GamersMutual (fintech+ and gamification), Jappico (health and gamification), Shopika (eCommerce and gamification), Flourish (fintech and gamification) and Curiosamente (gaming and technology).
Technologies: Unity, JavaScript, C#, Git, HTML5, CSS, DigitalOcean, Agile Software Development
CTO
2011 - 2013
Villavanilla S de RL
- Implemented a framework for screen management and resource management that helped us ship mobile apps. The tool allowed our artists to build on top of Flash and the result was a mobile app since all the heavy lifting was made with the framework.
- Rewrote the low-level data types for a GPU communication framework (Starling) and changed it for a bit manipulation strategy (for screen buffers and textures) giving us between 30-40% better rendering performance and 40% less memory footprint.
- Implemented a "trie" data structure for a "words game" and a serialization strategy that resulted in constant searching times (very important for mobile performance) and nearly instant initialization for a dictionary that included thousands of words.
- Implemented Agile methodology within the developer team.
Technologies: C#, JavaScript, AS3, Git, Subversion (SVN), HTML5, CSS, DigitalOcean, Unity, Adobe Flash, Agile Software Development
Senior Programmer/Technical Lead
2010 - 2013
Aqua Interactive
- Designed and implemented a component system for an educational platform. It led to faster development for the front end since it standardized many of the decisions allowing for more jr programmers to be part of the production line.
- Designed a tool that allowed our salesmen to build web-based training courses. The tool managed all the assets, memory, user interaction, data gathering, and back-end communication. I wrote a library of UI components for the project.
- Promoted a better communication culture between developers and non-tech people. The developer team was in a different city and that resulted in a very divided team. By helping to reduce that division I became one of the team leads.
Technologies: JavaScript, PHP, AS3, HTML5, Subversion (SVN), Git
Full-stack Developer/CTO
2007 - 2010
Clasemovil
- Standardized the different types of "interactive activities" in a way that allowed the implementation of a production line. I wrote all the automatization tools used by the designers in this process.
- Wrote the UI library for the student's and professor's platform, including the strategy for dynamic configuration and dynamic loading of all assets (the web back in those days wasn't as dynamic as it is today).
- Oversaw the student's back-end implementation (and implemented a portion myself). We were able to launch in a couple of schools, resulting in 200-300 monthly active users.
- Brought the game design culture to the company by helping with mini-games design and by mentoring the pedagogic team. We started using gamification in the rest of the platform but the term gamification wasn't a "thing" yet.
- Built the prototypes that granted us (along with a lot of work from the company) a place in TechCrunch50 2009. I was part of the representing team at the event along with the CEO and CDO.
Technologies: AS3, JavaScript, PHP, Flash, Subversion (SVN), Game Design, Gamification, Strategic Planning
Experience
Flourish
Flourish is a digital reward and engagement platform for financial institutions. I assisted Flourish at a very early stage as a consultant for games, technology, and gamification. I implemented the first MVP and helped them through their first acceleration program with UC Berkeley. I continue as a product and technology consultant to this day.
Plaata
https://www.plaata.com/money-transfer/Plaata is a New York financial education startup. I assisted with the infrastructure definition for their MVP and implemented the back end that controls the configuration of some of their internal tools using AWS Lambda. I also implemented (front and back) the calculators and the money transfer comparison tool.
Jappico
https://es-la.facebook.com/JappicoApp/Jappico was a project aimed to prevent depression using gamification. We designed an MVP with the help of psychologists. I was in charge of all the technical aspects (planning, team management, infrastructure, programming) and oversaw and actively participated in the gamification process.
Organic Chemistry Nomenclature
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cuatromedios.nomenclatura&hl=es_COAn app containing activities enabling college students to rehearse organic chemistry nomenclature. I programmed the front end in a dynamic way, allowing the back end to configure all the content. I was also in charge of the gamified elements of the activities. The app was in constant use for almost two years until the school owning the project changed administration.
Shopika
An eCommerce platform with a reward system based on games and gamification. I guided the porject from the very early stages and through to an investment round as a technical consultor. I became the "technical" board member and was in charge of all the gaming and gamification elements. Although I wasn't a co-founder, I ended becoming a partner.
Skills
Languages
JavaScript, C#, HTML5, CSS, AS3, PHP
Libraries/APIs
Vue, Node.js
Frameworks
NestJS, AdonisJS, Quasar, Unity, NativeScript
Other
Ideation, Vue 3, Data Modeling, Game Development, Mobile Game Development, Game Design, Software Architecture, Planning, Programming, Mobile Apps, Team Management, IT Administration, Strategic Planning, Game Engine Programming, Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Software Engineering, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Electronics, Algorithms, Networks, Robotics
Tools
Slack, Git, Subversion (SVN), Adobe Flash, Flash, GitHub
Paradigms
Gamification, Agile Software Development
Platforms
Visual Studio Code (VS Code), MacOS, DigitalOcean, AWS Lambda
Storage
PostgreSQL
Industry Expertise
Project Management
Education
2015 - 2016
Certificate in Business Administration
Universidad Panamericana - Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
2011 - 2014
Engineer's Degree in Computer Graphics
Universidad de Artes Digitales - Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
2004 - 2008
Associate's Degree in Computer Science and Electronics
Centro de Enseñanza Técnica Industrial - Zapopan, Jalisco, México
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