Carlo Gilmar, a software engineer at Erlang Solutions and founder of Visual Partner, brings a unique flair to tech with his visual storytelling. He discusses how visual thinking enhances understanding of complex topics in software engineering and Git functionalities. Carlo emphasizes the merger of art and technology, revealing how visual notes can improve learning. He reflects on his experiences in the Elixir community and the importance of collaboration and effective communication. Personal growth through feedback and community engagement rounds off this enlightening dialogue.
Carlo Gilmar emphasizes the integration of visual storytelling in tech presentations, enhancing communication and aiding personal learning processes.
He advocates for open communication and genuine relationships within software development teams to foster collaborative learning and growth.
Deep dives
Carlo's Journey into Software Engineering
Carlo's path to becoming a software engineer began with a challenging educational experience in informatics engineering in Mexico City. Facing difficulties at a university that did not provide strong guidance, he turned to local meetups to connect with professionals who shared insights about the software development field. Through these connections, Carlo secured his first job as a junior developer, where he was introduced to technologies such as Git and Groovy. His interest in Elixir sparked when his company shifted to the language, partly due to their mindset of exploring non-traditional technologies, leading to his active participation in the Elixir community.
The Art of Visual Storytelling
Carlo has successfully combined his passion for visual art with software development through his project, Visual Partnership. He creates graphic recordings during tech conferences, transforming complex ideas into engaging visuals. This merging of visual thinking and technology not only enhances communication but also aids in his own learning process. Carlo emphasizes the importance of practice and active listening in developing the skill of drawing understanding in real time, refining his technique over years of experience.
Building an Elixir and Erlang Learning Community
Carlo's goal is to foster a better understanding of Elixir and Erlang within the developer community, particularly among Spanish speakers. He aims to create educational content that explains Elixir basics while bridging the gap to Erlang's underlying principles. Through his workshops and graphic illustrations, he seeks to simplify complex topics and encourage a deeper engagement with both languages. Carlo recognizes the challenges new developers face when transitioning to functional programming, and he wants to share strategies to make this process more accessible.
The Importance of Sincerity and Collaboration
Carlo stresses the value of sincerity and open communication in software development teams. He encourages engineers to build genuine relationships with colleagues, recognizing both strengths and areas for improvement. By creating an environment where asking questions and discussing challenges is welcomed, teams can grow and learn from each other's experiences. Additionally, Carlo highlights the power of drawing and visual aids in enhancing understanding, proposing methods like commit-driven development to reinforce learning and team dynamics.
In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, join me as I chat with Carlo Gilmar, a software engineer at Erlang Solutions and founder of Visual Partner. Carlo combines his expertise in software engineering with visual storytelling, transforming technical presentations into insightful visual summaries.
We'll discuss his unique approach, insights into Erlang, and the intersection of art and technology.