Front-end Developer

We caught up with Marika Fabiani, who has been a member of our Front-end engineering team for almost two years, and asked her to share some insights with us. Let’s take a closer look at her role!

Can you explain your position and skills required to excel?

I’m a Front-end developer, which means I’m responsible for designing and implementing the visual elements of a page, such as the layout, buttons, menus, forms and other features that users will see and interact with. As well as knowledge of the main programming languages and frameworks such as React, Vue and Angular, if you want to play this role you need to have some basic soft skills.

The main ones are: problem solving, creativity and teamwork.

The first two are a must for any developer: during our daily work we often encounter problems that require ad hoc analysis, and you need to face them with creativity and mental flexibility to find the solutions that better suit the situation. The third skill is essential in any job, but especially in team-based jobs like mine.

How is your relationship with colleagues?

I’m a remote worker and I only meet my Front-end team colleagues in virtual meetings. Sometimes I wish I could spend time with them in person, but I know they are always available to help and support me.

I also collaborate with members of other teams who I work closely with on a day-to-day basis; I’m currently working with a colleague from the Back-End team and even though we don’t work together physically, we are in constant contact.

What is the most significant achievement in your career?

My greatest job satisfaction was being able to successfully complete a project for which I was responsible, even though I did not know the library.

What do you like most about your job?

The most exciting part of my job is writing code and seeing my ideas come to life.

What’s your favorite way to relax and unwind after a busy week?

I like walking my dog along a river near my house and going to the mountains in the woods.

What’s your go-to song for boosting productivity?

My favourite song to boost productivity is “A Sky Full Of Stars” by Coldplay.

Who is a source of inspiration or guidance for you?

The person who inspires me the most is my team leader, Daniele Chiarello. He has always been very helpful in finding a way to deal with my difficult moments at work. He embodies the role that I currently see myself playing in my future.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow a career path similar to yours?

To pursue a career like mine, curiosity and perseverance are a must; you need to keep up to date with training and initiatives such as bootcamps and workshops. It is also important to be able to compare yourself with more experienced people and not to give up when the going gets tough.


Thanks to Marika Fabiani, Front-end Developer at Bitrock, for this interview.

Ready for the next episode in our journey to discover our team’s key roles? Continue reading our Blog and be sure to follow us on our official Social Media channels!

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Mobile Developer

Let’s talk about what it means to be a mobile developer at Bitrock with Fabio Cirruto. In this interview, Fabio will give us some interesting insights of his role.

Can you explain your position and skills required to excel?

Essentially, I design, develop and maintain mobile applications for our customers. Throughout my career, I have realised that making mistakes is a necessary part of the process; the only way to improve and find a solution that better meets the customer’s needs is to try and try again, without giving up when the going gets tough. Another key skill that anyone who wants to be a mobile developer needs to have is a creative problem-solving mindset that allows you to find the best way to achieve your goal.

How is your relationship with colleagues?

I work remotely, so I haven’t had many opportunities to spend time with my colleagues outside of work. However, I have had several opportunities to meet other Bitrockers over the past few months, such as the Group Convention and the Christmas party. Apart from these company events, I really appreciate the weekly virtual coffee break organised by my team, during which we can chat and we get to know each other better.

What is the most significant achievement in your career?

I’m now working on a project with a new client, and thanks to me (and my small talk) a new opportunity to work together has arisen and a new project is about to start!

What do you like most about your job?

I get bored easily and I need a constant challenge. The most satisfying aspect of my job is the possibility of constant change and the opportunity to learn and try new projects.

What’s your favorite way to relax and unwind after a busy week?

One of the challenges of my job is its sedentary nature, so after a week of developing and sitting in front of the PC the best way to relax, unplug and maintain well-being keep is physical activity. Especially at weekends, I try to combine this with another passion: travelling. In spring and autumn I like to climb the rocks of Lecco, in winter I like to ski the slopes of Northern Italy and in summer I like to try (and fail) some tricks on a wakeboard.

What’s your go-to song for boosting productivity?

This is a challenging question as I listen to every genre of music imaginable, from legendary rock bands to new generation trap, from hardcore rap to pop love songs and even cartoon theme songs. But to give you an answer, the song that stimulates and inspires me more than any other is “No Man No Cry” by Jimmy Sax. This song plays in my head and in my headphones every time I find the perfect solution and need to turn it into code!

Who is a source of inspiration or guidance for you?

Even though I’m growing up, I’m still basically Fabiolino with a nerdy heart and Master Yoda for inspiration, because after all… it’s really true: “NO! Try not! DO or DO NOT, There is no try“.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow a career path similar to yours?

After graduating, I had the choice of joining a large company, where I would probably have little autonomy and freedom, or joining a startup, where I would have the opportunity to grow and learn by making mistakes. Guess what I chose!

The main advice I would give to anyone who wants to do what I do is to look for a job in a corporate environment that leaves room for people and guarantees opportunities to learn and grow professionally, like Bitrock does.


Thanks to Fabio Cirruto, Mobile Developer at Bitrock, for this interview.

Ready for the next episode in our journey to discover our team’s key roles? Continue reading our Blog and be sure to follow us on our official Social Media channels!

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Mobile Developer

Today we’re going to discover Marco Righi’s journey at Bitrock. After more than a decade of working with Java, he decided to make a change and became a Senior Scala Developer at Bitrock. This move has not only changed his career, but has also taught him some valuable lessons. He is now going to share some of them with us.

Can you explain your position and skills required to excel?

As a Senior Scala Developer, my job revolves around designing and building robust back-end systems using Scala. This means diving deep into functional programming, asynchronous programming and mastering Scala-specific libraries like Cats and Zio. On top of that, I get to solve complex coding puzzles, fine-tune code for efficiency, and ensure that our systems can scale smoothly.

How is your relationship with colleagues?

One of the best parts of my Bitrock journey has been the fantastic team I work with. We come from different backgrounds and that diversity makes us stronger. We tackle tough coding challenges together, brainstorm creative solutions and cheer each other on for every little victory. Bitrock’s inclusive culture has made this journey all the more enjoyable.

What is the most significant achievement in your career?

The highlight of my time at Bitrock has to be my successful transition from being an experienced Java developer to mastering Scala. It wasn’t without its challenges, but it taught me the power of dedication and a love of learning. Embracing Scala opened up new possibilities and broadened my horizons in functional programming. This journey reminded me that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to amazing discoveries.

What do you like most about your job?

What really excites me about my role as a Senior Scala Developer is the daily intellectual challenge. I thrive on solving complex problems, creating elegant solutions, and seeing my code come to life in real systems. Also, the satisfaction of knowing that our software is having a positive impact on customers and end users is incredibly rewarding. Bitrock’s commitment to innovation and staying on the cutting edge of technology ensures that every day brings new and exciting opportunities for growth.

What’s your favorite way to relax and unwind after a busy week?

My favorite way to unwind after a busy week is to exercise. Exercise not only maintains physical health, but also acts as a powerful stress reliever by releasing endorphins. This mental break improves clarity, reduces anxiety and provides a sense of accomplishment, leaving me refreshed and ready for the next week.

What’s your go-to song for boosting productivity?

My go-to song for boosting productivity is usually in the realm of post-hardcore, metalcore, hard rock, pop punk or rap metal. I find the fusion of powerful sounds and crossover genres invigorating, providing the high-energy motivation I need to stay focused and productive. It’s amazing how the intense beats and powerful vocals create an atmosphere that fuels my drive and concentration during work or tasks.

Who is a source of inspiration or guidance for you?

My colleagues are a tremendous source of inspiration and guidance. Working closely with them, I witness their dedication, creativity and teamwork on a daily basis. Their collective knowledge and experience not only motivates me to excel in my work, but also provides valuable insight and support when faced with challenges. The collaborative environment we share fosters continuous learning, making my colleagues an integral part of my professional growth and inspiration.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow a career path similar to yours?

For those just starting out in the world of software development, here’s some friendly advice.
Keep learning: stay curious and committed to learning, explore new programming languages and frameworks, and keep expanding your knowledge. Build a strong foundation by practising coding regularly and investing time in understanding algorithms and data structures. Finally, collaboration and communication are essential skills that can guarantee a successful project outcome.

In conclusion, my journey from Java to Scala at Bitrock has shown that adaptability, dedication and a love of learning can take you far. It reinforces the importance of continuous learning, building a strong foundation and working collaboratively for a successful career in software development.


Thanks to Marco Righi, Scala Developer at Bitrock, for this interview.

Ready for the next episode in our journey to discover our team’s key roles? Continue reading our Blog and be sure to follow us on our official Social Media channels!

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Confluent Developer Training

Confluent Developer Training

Building Kafka Solutions

In this three-day hands-on course you will learn how to build an application that can publish data to, and subscribe to data from, an Apache Kafka cluster.

You will learn the role of Kafka in the modern data distribution pipeline, discuss core Kafka architectural concepts and components, and review the Kafka developer APIs. As well as core Kafka, Kafka Connect, and Kafka Streams, the course also covers other components in the broader Confluent Platform, such as the Schema Registry and the REST Proxy.

Hands-On Training

Throughout the course, hands-on exercises reinforce the topics being discussed. Exercises include:

  • Using Kafka’s command-line tools
  • Writing Consumers and Producers
  • Writing a multi-threaded Consumer
  • Using the REST Proxy
  • Storing Avro data in Kafka with the Schema Registry
  • Ingesting data with Kafka Connect

This course is designed for application developers, ETL (extract, transform, and load) developers, and data scientists who need to interact with Kafka clusters as a source of, or destination for, data.

Course Prerequisites

Attendees should be familiar with developing in Java (preferred) or Python. No prior knowledge of Kafka is required.



Course Contents


The Motivation for Apache Kafka

  • Systems Complexity

  • Real-Time Processing is Becoming Prevalent

  • Kafka: A Stream Data Platform

    Kafka Fundamentals

  • An Overview of Kafka

  • Kafka Producers

  • Kafka Brokers

  • Kafka Consumers

  • Kafka’s Use of ZooKeeper

  • Kafka Efficiency

    Kafka’s Architecture

  • Kafka’s Log Files

  • Replicas for Reliability

  • Kafka’s Write Path

  • Kafka’s Read Path

  • Partitions and Consumer Groups for Scalability

    Developing With Kafka

  • Using Maven for Project Management

  • Programmatically Accessing Kafka* Writing a Producer in Java

  • Using the REST API to Write a Producer

  • Writing a Consumer in Java

  • Using the REST API to Write a Consumer

    More Advanced Kafka Development

  • Creating a Multi-Threaded Consumer

  • Specifying Offsets

  • Consumer Rebalancing

  • Manually Committing Offsets

  • Partitioning Data

  • Message Durability

    Schema Management in Kafka

  • An Introduction to Avro

  • Avro Schemas

  • Using the Schema Registry

    Kafka Connect for Data Movement

  • The Motivation for Kafka Connect

  • Kafka Connect Basics

  • Modes of Working: Standalone and Distributed

  • Configuring Distributed Mode

  • Tracking Offsets

  • Connector Configuration

  • Comparing Kafka Connect with Other Options

    Basic Kafka Installation and Administration

  • Kafka Installation

  • Hardware Considerations

  • Administering Kafka

    Kafka Streams

  • The Motivation for Kafka Streams

  • Kafka Streams Fundamentals

  • Investigating a Kafka Streams Application

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