Lecture highlights strategic software decisions

This Monday’s “Database” class had a special format at IMPA Tech. Professor Rodrigo Ribeiro, responsible for the subject, invited developer Luis Fernando Viégas, founding partner of the multimarket software house Inc. Digital The students were invited to a lecture on software projects and data architecture. The activity brought together students from the Data Science and Computer Science emphases.

With extensive experience in programming and systems development, Viégas presented real cases he had experienced during his professional career. When introducing the guest, Ribeiro highlighted the relevance of the topic for the students’ education. “He’s one of the best programmers I know and has a deep understanding of the importance of data architecture. Luis knows very well the problems and advantages that a poorly or well-designed database can generate. Take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.

The main objective of the talk was to demonstrate, in practice, the impact of decisions related to modeling and managing databases. According to Ribeiro, although the storage and organization of information are central stages in software projects, they are still often underestimated by novice developers. This is precisely one of the focuses of the course, which seeks to train students to build robust and scalable systems.

Inc. Digital develops software for different sectors and its portfolio includes projects for public and private companies and institutions such as TIM, Jeep, Vale, Citroën, MRV and the Minas Gerais State Government. This experience in large-scale projects served as the basis for the examples presented during the class.

During the lecture, Viégas shared concrete situations involving critical decisions made at data level, not always associated with success stories. “It’s important for students to have contact with real problems in the job market. That’s why I tried to bring in situations that are part of everyday life and show that systems are always in operation. Often, we need to correct routes while everything is already happening,” he explained.

Another point addressed was the ageing of systems and the importance of making well-founded choices at the design stage, in order to avoid early obsolescence or frequent maintenance cycles. Using practical examples, the speaker highlighted how seemingly small technical decisions can have significant impacts over time.

Viégas also stressed the value of the exchange between academia and the job market. For him, this approach helps to align academic training with professional demands. “Outside the university, problems don’t appear organized as exercises, with a statement, development and conclusion. The situations are already underway, and the professional needs to analyze the context and make decisions in real time,” he noted.

Student Bianca Zavadisk evaluated the activity as enriching in terms of understanding the role of databases in real projects. “The lecture brought up challenges that often go unnoticed in theory and reinforced the importance of the relationship with the client. It became clear that small technical decisions can directly impact the perception of the product and business relationships. What’s more, talking to established professionals helps us to understand not only the technical skills that are most in demand, but also the soft skills and market dynamics that aren’t in the books,” she said.

The activity also marked Viégas’ first visit to IMPA Tech. Commenting on the proposal for the bachelor’s degree, the developer highlighted the differential of the training offered by the institution. “The theoretical basis in basic mathematics is indispensable. This has enormous value for the market, because logical thinking is born from this. The emphases allow students to delve deeper into the area in which they wish to work from an early age, which means that they come out much better prepared than a generalist professional,” he concluded.