Introducing Matteo Nardi Rust System Developer at Exein

From Pascal to Rust: A Journey of Passion and Discovery in the World of Programming.

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on Pascal in my high school math class.

At first, I didn't understand much about it. But after a while I started to realize the power of programming and how much fun it could be. In some way, it reminded me of when I was a kid and built things with Lego. Programming is harder, but much more rewarding.

I started learning as an autodidact the C language during high school, then came C++, C# then Python. I became more and more passionate in the open-source community especially in desktop environments like GNOME and KDE.

This passion for Linux systems would later on bring me closer to Exein, but we'll come back to that in a while.

Probably the game-changing moment as a young programmer has been the Olympiad in Informatics I did during high school. Such an incredible opportunity to meet so many like-minded individuals. I felt like I was part of a real community, a tribe of other kids who were just as passionate as I was about programming. It was truly an amazing experience that left a lasting impact on me. :)

I grew up and started working as a web developer for my university in Bologna. It was a good job but, as I said, I loved Linux and really wanted to see the real-world impact of my code. So I made the decision to transition from a job in web frontend development to pursuing a career as an embedded developer.

Obviously what drew me to Exein was the opportunity to work closely with Linux and the operating system's more complex aspects.

Whereas in other companies I would end up studying things on the sidelong, maybe touching Linux only tangentially, casually. In Exein it's really my job. Additionally to that, I love that we're developing an open-source project, as it encourages participation and sharing in the programming community.

As a Rust System Engineer, my main responsibility is to develop software and write code for the eBPF part of our system. This involves a lot of problem-solving and troubleshooting. It means going through the Kernel source code or debugging for hours and hours.

I must admit it can be both frustrating and exhilarating.

But at the end of the day, it's incredibly rewarding to see our system running smoothly and efficiently.

applied for Exein mainly because I could use Rust.  I tend to switch coding languages as soon as I see that there are other coding languages that offer advantages and more possibilities than the one I'm using at that specific moment.. So, basically,  my interest in Rust grew out of my frustration with C++.

I believe C++ makes it hard to write error-free code. Rust, on the other hand, may be challenging to learn at first, but once you grasp it, it gives you the confidence and peace of mind to write secure code.

Summing up, a decade ago  I fell in love with programming languages and the endless possibilities they offer. I was also drawn to the power of Linux and its potential for innovation.

Today, I am privileged to be able to do what I love for a living and to share my passions with an incredible team of like-minded professionals.

I'm excited to see what the future holds and to continue exploring my passions with unbridled enthusiasm!