Introducing Our Team – Meet Tiago Borba

Meet Tiago Borba, our newest Android Developer at Exaud. 
See how he became a developer and what would he choose if he could only eat one food for the rest of his life.

For how long have you been a developer? Tell us a bit about your journey.

I believe my first “official” line of code was written around the age of 16, for secondary school work (I took computer-related classes). One or two years before that I might’ve had some form of algorithm-based contact on Excel spreadsheets. I only later learnt those also qualified as coding. Professionally, I’ve been a (mostly) mobile developer since 2011, so that’s 8 years.

You are an Android Developer, what made you chose it?

As soon as I first got contact with commercially-available, developer-accessible mobile platforms from Nokia and co. using J2ME, I felt there were strong computing use cases on-the-move, both for entertainment and everyday work/life task assistance. Back then of course, nobody could grasp the amount of processing, sensing and interactions some later smart(er)phones would allow, let alone the ubiquity of high-speed internet, but early GPS, games and interactive communication apps were already there, making clear that it was a matter of time before mobile computing became an essential part of society.
Then, of course, came the iPhone and Android onslaughts. I was lucky enough to be offered a research grant related to Android around the “explosion”, where I got to proven experience in mobile development, just before finishing higher education. 

Besides work, what do you do in your free time?

These last years I really try to spend as much time as possible with my (now) 7 year old sis, with whom I’ve been easing into video games as far back as when she was 3 (Nintendo really shines for age-suited games btw, and I can relate to why Robin Williams named his daughter Zelda!). I try to be with friends and ride my bike as often as possible, but life is catching up on both those fronts. I love to cook, especially for family and friends, and while I’m not the best cook around, everybody repeats ’till there’s no leftovers (!!!).

I also like to participate in online debate. I’m a latecomer to the Reddit party but it’s a different platform that allows plausible, constructive discussion (and help forums!), no matter the topic. Even as far back as usenet and IRC, I’ve never seen other chat/forum platforms where balance and democracy is a first-class citizen, and I think Reddit has the potential to change that.

Fun Facts

What was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now?
Bell-bottom men’s jeans got a second-wind back in my teens (not as pronounced as in the 60-70’s obviously). I really loved the airy feel of wearing them. Now I look at photos from back then and I hope they never, ever come back in fashion.

What fictional place would you most like to go?
Middle-earth (either books or film version) does sound like a place I’d love to be around. But I’d have to have the magical powers to go along. I wouldn’t see much of it otherwise!

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I just can’t choose because I don’t think I could deal with eating the same over and over without starting to hate it! But if I was to name my favorite right now, I’d have to say Antonio Mezzero’s (previously Pulcinella) pizzas. The round cheesy bread plate is not my very favorite dish (that would be naturally grilled salmon with potatoes), but the Matosinhos’ Michelin Guide-laureate pizzeria has a way to combine the best, freshest ingredients into what I consider the best food I have tasted, and my favorite meal so far, especially the Al Tartufo and Peperoncina.

Working at Exaud is more than just a job. Want to come along for the ride? We’re always looking for great people to join us. Check our current openings here and meet other members of Exaud’s team.