Klajd (Clyde) Deda
Senior Software Engineer
Wilmington, NC | +1 (910) 398-0298 | kdeda@id-design.com
 
OVERVIEW
30+ years software engineering full-stack, mobile, desktop, and web applications.
Delivered to production various solutions written in Swift, Objective-C and Java, with cloud services completely from scratch.
Deep understanding of Functional Reactive Programming patterns used in SwiftUI/TypeScript as well as older OOP patterns used by Apple's AppKit, UIKit, or Java's J2EE.
Capable of working independently and in small teams and proud of shipping software that works.
 
TECHNICAL SKILLS SUMMARY
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Backblaze - SanMatteo, CA
November 2021 - Present
Sr. Software Engineer
Backblaze is a Cloud Storage company that provides unlimited computer backup.
  • Leading the architecture and implementation of Backblaze Settings app for macOS. This is a native mac desktop application that configures the background backup daemons. It has a windows counterpart managed by other developers. A large part of the business logic uses/leverages existing shared code written in C++.
  • This app was written from scratch to replace the existing legacy app and leverage new techs as well as my experience on writing mac apps from scratch.
  • Worked closely with existing developers to get a consensus and do this.
  • Implemented large parts of the app using some excellent third party Swift libraries from pointfree.co and others.
  • Mentoring other developers on best practices on Swift and SwiftUI and integration with C++.
  • Leading the architecture and implementation of Backblaze Restore app for macOS. This is another native mac desktop application that allows customers to restore files previously backed up straight into their macs with just a few clicks. It has a windows counterpart managed by other developers.
  • Wrote multiple automation tests using the TestStore from pointfree.co
  • Contributor and Mentor to the Backblaze iOS mobile app. This is a companion iOS app that allows users to copy and retreive files using B1 and B2 APis. These are private and public APis to the Backblaze Cloud Storage.
  • Participating in fixes to legacy Objective-C/C++ code as needed.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Swift, Objective-C, C++, TCA PointFree, CharlesProxy, Visual Studio.
AboutObjects - Reston, VA
October 2019 - October 2021
Sr. Software Engineer
iOS Consultant at Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Participating in the design and implementation of parts of the Marriott Bonvoy iOS application. The Marriott Bonvoy application is a vast and complex iOS application mostly written in Objective-C. It handles millions of users monthly and generates billions in revenue yearly. It communicates with dozens of servers using the REST API.
  • I was responsible for implementing various parts of the Trips lane, mainly the Current, Past and Canceled flow.
  • I was always eager to Mentor younger and older engineers into the craft of Swift and FRP programming.
  • Was able to get consensus and implement big chunks of functionality in modern Swift.
  • Made a few demos in order to introduce the team into the modern world of FRP (Functional Reactive Programming) and Value Type Programming.
  • Presented a demo implemented using pointfree.co of a small subset of the Trips lane using live fetching of data from Marriott servers.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Swift, Objective-C, C++, CoreData, ADA, iOS Accessibility, CharlesProxy, GraphQL.
InsiderSoftware - San Jose, CA
October 2004 - June 2020
Software Architect
Reponsible for all internal software development with small exceptions to the php web store and the windows client.
  • InsiderSoftware is a font management and compliance company.
  • Architected and implemented the 2 key applications for this company, FontAgent and FontAgent Server
  • FontAgent is a native mac desktop font management software. It allows users to standardize, share and sync fonts across workgroups, creative teams or personal Macs. It integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud and a plethora of other macOS software for auto-activation of fonts. It has a windows counterpart, writen by another developer.
  • FontAgent Server is a multi-tenant J2EE web application, architected and implemented using Vaadin, Apache Cayenne and MySQL. It provides support for the mac and windows clients using the Services Oriented Architecture. A cloud version of this software runs on dedicated hardware managed by InsiderSoftware or it can be deployed on-premises to those that wish for more fine grained control.
  • The cloud version of the FontAgent Server allows the company to manage thousands of users and millions of fonts on a very small and efficient server hardware footprint. This allowed to company to save millions over the cost of deploying run of the mill web applications on Amazon AWS.
  • The cloud software helped transform the company from a small Independent Software Developer of just a mac font manager into a proper Centralized font control and compliance company.
  • A large portion of my job entailed profiling and optimizing the software stack so we could support thousands of tenants, with thousands of users each.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Swift, Objective-C, C++, C#, Eclipse, Java, Apache Cayenne, Apache Maven, MySQL, Vaadin, J2EE, Sqlite, H2 database, Ubuntu, VMWare ESXi, MySQL replication, Data Synchronization.
WhatSizeMac - Wilmington, NC
November 2007 - Present
Founder
WhatSizeMac is an independent software developer for macOS that develops WhatSize with almost a million unique free users and a few hundred thousand paying customers.
  • WhatSize, currently at version 7, allows its user to view and manage disk usage and speed up their Mac. Version 1 was initially implemented in 2002 using straight Objective-C, later I tried several implementations in C++ and Objective-C++ to squeeze some more performance out of the application and provide more functionality.
  • The application provides support for file duplication, file removal and/or replacement with hard links, lipo-suction or removal of unused binaries from applications compiled for multiple CPUs. Most of native software build for Apple macs as of 2024 includes Intel and ARM versions in its binaries.
  • The app was offered on the Mac App Store for a few years but was removed due to constraints and limitations imposed by MAS.
  • Version 8 scheduled for release in 2024 has been redesigned completely to use Swift, SwiftUI, FRP and Value Type programming.
  • Spent a great amount of time using Xcode Instruments to find and eradicate thread synchronization and performance issues to make this application extremely performant. All computations are done in background threads and only User Interface animations are done on the main thread.
  • Designed and implemented the J2EE support backend for this client using Vaadin, Apache Cayenne and MySQL, integrated FastSpring payment system for paying customers.
  • Maintained the web site and customer support using PHP, Apache Web Server as well as the J2EE Vaadin web application.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Swift, Objective-C, Eclipse, Java, Apache Cayenne, Apache Maven, MySQL, MySQL replication, Sqlite, J2EE, Vaadin, Ubuntu, FastSpring, Integrating Email Server with J2EE.
State of Maine - Augusta, ME
2007 - 2008
Sr. Software Engineer
MacOS Consultant to help build a suite of mac desktop software for the Maine Judicial Branch.
  • Participated in the design and implementation of Client/Server applications for the Maine Judicial Branch. The Client software was written in Cocoa/Objective-C for the Mac OSX Tiger/Leopard platform. Client/Server interactions were done using standard SOAP/WebServices, APIS. The Server was written as a Java/WebObjects/WebServices application and relied on a multitude of Oracle database Stored Procedures. Mentoring in Cocoa/Objective-C as well as the Java/WebObjects.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Objective-C, WebObjects (Java)
Fannie Mae - Herndon, VA
2005 - 2007
Sr. Software Engineer
Sr. WebObjects Consultant to help maintain a suite of custom web applications written in the mid 90s.
  • Maintained and enhanced several web based financial applications written in WebLogic, WebObjects, Objective-C and Java. MCODES (WebObjects), DealManagement, UserServices, ACheck, etc. These are J2EE applications pulling data fom Oracle 8i, 9i databases. These applications allow Mortgage Lenders to interact with FannieMae business users. Most of the business logic is related to the purchasing or re-financing of multi family properties. I would gather requirements from the Fannie Mae business users, create use cases, design diagrams and write code to implement these requirements. I was mentoring junior developers in the J2EE platform, JSP pages and tag libraries.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Java, WebObjects (Java), WebLogic, Apache Cayenne ORM, Tapestry
AOL (America OnLine) - Leesburg, VA
2004 - 2005
Sr. Software Engineer
Sr. macOS Consultant to port AOL's software on macs.
  • Part of AOL's Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) team to Design and implement a common authentication service using industry standards. Cross platform solution for Windows and Mac using the COM model. I was responsible for the mac implementation of the authentication service layer. Created a Mac System Preference Pane to modify user's settings.
  • Technologies used:  XCode, Objective-C, C++.
THE EARLY DAYS
FleetBank (now Bank of America) - Waltham, MA
2002 - 2004
BuildAWill (Startup, now defunct) - Washington, DC
2001 - 2002
Apple Inc. - Cupertino, CA
2001 - 3 months
SeaFax Inc. (Startup) - Portland, ME
2000 - 9 months
WorldCom (now defunct) - Tulsa, OK
1998 - 2000
Fannie Mae - Washington, DC
1997 - 1998
WorldCom (now defunct) - Tulsa, OK
1995 - 1997
Software Engineer
  • The period up to 1999 was a period of oportunities for software engineers. The years 2000 through 2004 not so much, due to the dot com bust. It explains my many moves. A lot of the startups did not make it, and some of the giants like Apple almost went out.
  • Most of my work during these 9 years was involved writing NeXTSTEP software in Objective-C/C++ and eventually after year 2000 was forced converted to Java. Keep in mind Java in 2001 was not very polished and slow as molases.
  • In 1996 NeXT released EOF and WebObjects. EOF was en excellent ORM (Object Relational Mapping) and WebObjects was one of the first IDE and ToolKit to create dynamic full stack web application, today known as J2EE.

EDUCATION
1991 - 1994 - Polytech Lille (School of Engineering) (France)
Master's Degree in Computer Science, Micro-Electronics and Robotics.
1989 - 1991 - Lille University of Sciences and Technologies (France)
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
1986 - 1989 - University of Tirana (Albania)
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
References available upon request
Last modified February, 2024