Hello,
I’m Ricardo, a full-stack developer from Portugal who enjoys turning complex ideas into thoughtful, useful digital experiences. My education gave me the foundations; curiosity keeps taking me further.
Where it all began
Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed video games; that's where it all began. While playing, I would often catch myself thinking, 'How do they do this?' As I grew older, I realized that maybe I could create something similar myself. Once I arrived at university, I was introduced to the beauty of web development and its massive potential. Ever since then, my heart has been torn between the worlds of web and game development.
My Path
A dive into my journey and experiences.
This was my first year studying Comunicação e Multimédia at the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD). I learned the basics of web development, and it was what lit the spark for my curiosity and desire to dive deeper into this world. I remember my first project: a simple website about Linkin Park. Unfortunately, we didnt know what GitHub was yet, so I lost my first project forever.
In my second year of university, I was introduced to more advanced web development concepts, including databases and backend development. Everything wasnt just for show anymore; I was able to create a functional website where people could register, log in, and store their data in a database. The projects focused heavily on authentication, authorization, and CRUD operations.
During the final year of my course, I had two major milestones. The first was a collaborative project where we had to create an app, a short film, and the branding design. We built a mental health app where students could connect with university psychologists, chat with them, and book online or in-person appointments. It was a lot of fun trying out Flutter for the first time! The second milestone was my internship at Immera, which later turned into a summer job. I learned so much about real-world web development. I finally learned how to use Git and GitHub, and I was introduced to amazing tools like Tailwind CSS and Vue.js.
This year, I started my masters degree in Comunicação e Tecnologias Web at the University of Aveiro. I learned a lot about teamwork and project management, and on the technical side, I dove into React, Next.js, and APIs. AIDE is an app I helped develop and take great pride in. It is an app that supports caregivers looking after their loved ones. It tracks health metrics through smartwatches and other wearables. Integrating Health Connect was a challenge, but we managed to do it successfully. Not only that, but I also had my fair share of UI/UX design with Figma, which was something I really enjoyed doing.
I am excited to see what the future holds for me, but one thing is certain: I will keep learning and growing as a developer. While working on my personal projects, I will always be open to new opportunities and the challenges that arise. I am also heading into the final year of my masters degree, and I am ready for the demanding work my final project will require.