#165 From hating coding to programming satellites at age 37 with Francesco Ciulla
Mar 21, 2025
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Francesco Ciulla, a software engineer who helped code for the Copernicus satellite program at the European Space Agency, shares his inspiring journey from volleyball coaching to tech. He dives into the significance of Rust programming, addressing its safety features and his experience creating tutorials. Francesco discusses overcoming introversion while sharing knowledge through talks and social media. He reflects on the challenges of starting small and building community in tech, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and continuous learning.
Francesco's career transition from a volleyball coach to a software engineer highlights the power of determination and a passion for learning in unexpected paths.
The rising popularity of Rust among developers is attributed to its safety features and robust memory management, making it a valuable skill in the tech industry.
Introverts can leverage their unique skills to create authentic content on social media, connecting meaningfully with others in the tech community.
Deep dives
Embracing Introversion
Introverts possess unique skills that can enhance their social media presence, and they should not perceive their introversion as a limitation. Accepting their natural tendencies allows introverts to engage authentically, using their introspective nature to create meaningful content. By understanding that being introverted does not equate to being shy, introverts can confidently share their expertise while connecting with like-minded individuals. Ultimately, recognizing introversion as a strength can lead to successful participation in online spaces.
The Value of Rust
Rust is acclaimed for its high performance and memory management capabilities, making it a valuable language in software development. With a robust compiler that guides developers, Rust helps prevent common programming errors that can lead to significant problems in code. It is increasingly becoming a preferred choice over older languages like C++ due to its safety features and ability to address certain legacy issues. As developers notice the advantages of Rust, its popularity continues to rise, making it a relevant skill in today's programming landscape.
The Journey to Software Engineering
Francesco Ciola's path to becoming a software engineer began unexpectedly in his teenage years, originating from a passion for coding sparked by early experiences with computers. Transitioning from a long career as a volleyball coach, he discovered software as a rewarding challenge, allowing him to combine his love for teaching with technology. His dedication led to immersive learning experiences, such as game development, where he honed his skills in C# by creating fun projects. Ultimately, this journey culminated in an opportunity to work with the European Space Agency, demonstrating that determination and a willingness to learn can lead to unexpected success.
Utilizing Social Media Effectively
Social media offers a powerful platform for developers to showcase their knowledge and connect with the wider tech community. By sharing their learning journey and accomplishments, users can cultivate genuine relationships with others in their field, fostering a network of support and opportunities. Focusing on one platform and dedicating consistent time to it can lead to better outputs and prevent burnout from trying to maintain multiple channels. Ultimately, sharing experiences, even small achievements, can significantly impact career growth in tech.
Finding Balance in Learning and Networking
For aspiring developers, balance between skill acquisition, networking, and practical experience is crucial for career progression in technology. Gaining certifications should be a natural outcome of acquiring knowledge, not merely a goal in itself; this mindset fosters deeper understanding and retention of concepts. By emphasizing the importance of project-oriented learning and practical application, developers can stand out in the competitive job market. Cultivating connections and leveraging social media can open doors to new opportunities, creating an ecosystem of collaboration rather than competition.
On this week's episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews Francesco Ciulla. He's a software engineer who has worked with the European Space Agency on code that powers the Copernicus satellite program. More recently he's published courses on learning Docker and the Rust programming language.
We talk about: - How Francesco worked as a volleyball coach until we was 32, before getting serious about coding - Francesco's work on coding satellites - How he's given dozens of talks about emerging tools at major tech conferences - How he creates tech tutorials even though he's a proud introvert who has to put himself out there
Support for this podcast comes from a grant from Wix Studio. Wix Studio provides developers tools to rapidly build websites with everything out-of-the-box, then extend, replace, and break boundaries with code. Learn more at https://wixstudio.com.
Support also comes from the 11,384 kind folks who support freeCodeCamp through a monthly donation. You can join these chill human beings and help our mission by going to https://www.freecodecamp.org/donate
Links we talk about during our conversation:
- Francesco's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@francescociulla - Francesco's upcoming book on Rust: https://mybook.to/YJI6DI - Francesco's personal website and all his links: https://www.francescociulla.com
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