Trajectory and Vision on the Digital Future according to Leonardo

Following other previous initiatives, today we spoke with Leonardo, software developer at BYDAS, who shares a bit about his journey from law student to discovering his true passion for programming. Originally from Brazil, he reveals the difficulties and challenges he faced when adapting to life and work in Portugal, also highlighting the impact of the pandemic and the changes that marked his transition into the tech field. He also talks about the challenging projects he has encountered at BYDAS and his vision of the future of digital agencies, especially with the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

Leonardo also reflects on the role BYDAS can play in this future, addressing the importance of personalised and strategic development in the face of growing automation. With a vision focused on innovation and balancing the use of new technologies, he shares valuable learnings from his experience in developing technological solutions, highlighting the importance of constant updates and specialisation to stay competitive in the digital market.

Tell us a little about your journey to BYDAS.

I was studying Law at the University of Coimbra, but I couldn't adapt due to the pandemic, so I transferred to Brazil. Halfway through the course, for personal reasons, I left the university and moved to Portugal. Here, I met many programmers who recommended the field. I had the opportunity to attend a software development bootcamp in England; I spent months studying and practising, and after the course, I entered the job market with BYDAS.

As a native of Brazil, how has your adaptation to living and working in Portugal been?

I've lived here for three years. The first year was the hardest, as I was no longer in university and had to look for jobs in areas I didn't master. I’m lucky to have my family with me; without them, it would have been very hard to live alone. Over time, I found something I truly enjoy, and today I feel fulfilled and fully adapted to the country.

What led you to choose programming as a career?

I had some prior experience with programming when I did dropshipping on Shopify; that’s when I became curious about how those codes worked. Since I was a child, I’ve had a lot of interaction with video games and computers, trying to understand hardware and software. In high school, I was more focused on Law, but now I plan to study Computer Engineering to obtain a degree in the field.

What differences do you feel between the Brazilian and Portuguese digital markets?

The size. The Brazilian digital market is one of the largest in the world. Therefore, there is a lot of competitiveness and a consumer volume on an extremely larger scale than in Portugal.

Was there anything that surprised you about the European work culture or the way projects are approached?

Regarding the hiring process, I’ve noticed that in Brazil, there is a lot of bureaucracy and many stages in an application, whereas here in Portugal, it seems to be more direct.

What do you enjoy most about living in Portugal, and is there anything from Brazil that you miss the most?

Safety is, without a doubt, the most important thing. There's also the ease of visiting more places in less time and, of course, the food. From Brazil, I miss the beach, the warmth, the food, and, most of all, my family and friends.

How has your integration into the BYDAS team been? Is there any curious story about that process?

Initially, it was a bit difficult because I didn't have much experience with Liquid and PHP, plus the team’s working method. A funny story was the first time I worked via FTP here; it was amusing because for everyone else, it was very common, but I still hadn't had that practical experience.

What was the most challenging project you had at BYDAS, and what did you learn from it?

Definitely AlgaID, as I had never trained a neural network model or worked with Python at that level. It required a lot of dedication to understand training a CNN model, its inference, cloud architecture, collecting so many algae images, machine learning, and managing datasets. Additionally, React Native: I developed apps without ever having done it before, relying only on my knowledge of React and JavaScript. I learned about mobile structure, publishing errors, and the production pipeline with Expo. It was a project done with great effort and already shows excellent results. And of course, now I understand everything about algae 😅.

What do you think are the biggest challenges that agencies face today in the web development area?

With the increase in investments in AI platforms like Lovable, the trend is that agencies will face more difficulty securing simple projects since the consumer will be able to do them alone. The difference for an agency should be the technical customisation and strategy that an ordinary person, using only AI, won’t be able to maintain without assistance.

The digital world evolves at a very fast pace. How do you stay updated?

I follow a lot of social media, YouTube, and news from the tools I work with. I use AI a lot to stay updated on technology versions and their differences. I don't try to learn about everything, but rather have a deep understanding of what I actually use in my day-to-day work. I try not to get caught up in hype bubbles and understand that there’s a lot of sensationalism on the internet.

What technological trends do you think will shape the future of digital agencies (AI, automation, personalisation…)?

As we see today, AI is the central topic. Many agencies are positioning themselves in this market with services like GEO. I believe AI and automation are strong trends, but they also form a bubble; it could burst and benefit the companies that know how to apply the technology with balance, without diving in recklessly.

What role do you think BYDAS can play in this future? And how do you think you can help the agency transition to a new generation of methods and processes?

Becoming a leader in application development in Portugal, a market not as explored compared to web development, but one that has a lot of demand. I hope to help with my experience and desire to grow, creating an efficient structure for the agency to evolve.

How do you manage daily chaos, in an agency context, while maintaining the serenity and concentration needed to develop your code?

I like to listen to music; it helps me concentrate when I need more focus.

What advice would you give to young developers, especially those who want to work outside their home country?

I would advise them to specialise in something that has a market in the country and do what they enjoy, as that is essential for maintaining efficiency. It's necessary to practice a lot and keep learning even after entering the market because there’s always a chance of moving into another area of programming.

If you could sum up your view on digital development in one sentence, what would it be?

It's only by making mistakes that we get it right.

What was the biggest "mess-up" you made with code?

It was one of the first times I used the Shopify Checkout UI Extensions. I did a deploy just as I was leaving work, and the code prevented customers from proceeding with their purchase. I was focused for 40 minutes until I fixed it. After that day, I dedicated myself to learning 100% of the Shopify apps structure, and today I master the process.

Do you feel the weight of responsibility knowing that some lines of code can help a client sell more?

Honestly, I don’t feel that weight. I handle it calmly because I trust what I'm doing. The problem is only when I'm under pressure to fix something urgently; at those moments, I get nervous because I want to solve it as quickly as possible to avoid harming the client.

Outside of work, what do you like to do to relax or inspire yourself?

Playing chess, video games, spending time with my family, and listening to music. These are my ways to relax, and I spend most of my time outside work this way.

If you had to choose one word to describe your experience in Portugal, what would it be and why?

Change. It’s self-explanatory, but in fact, my life has completely changed: from what I do and where I live to who I relate to and what I eat. I’m very grateful for that.

Thanks, Leo.