ABOUT
Sonny Alves Dias
I'm Sonny, a French software engineer based in Shanghai.
I'm CTO at EXP., where we build EXP.OS: software for bookings, loyalty, connected spaces and location-based games. Before that, I was CTO of Pixelmatic, a game studio in Shanghai, for ten years.
I care more about what software changes for the people using it than about the code itself. I also write things down, and I try to change my mind when I find better reasons.
Work.
- 2026–now
CTO
I lead the engineering team behind the EXP.OS ecosystem (CORE, XEN, REM, ARTEFACTS), guide architecture and development practices, and oversee software quality.
Working on
CORE
Bookings & resources
Booking and resource management for spaces, people, equipment and time. Built for experience businesses such as hotels, yoga studios, salons, coaching and venues, with a simple CRM, flexible pricing, online payment and real-time dashboards.
Image: illustration, not a screenshot XEN
Loyalty & membership
Loyalty points and membership rewards, integrated with CORE. A business issues its own points, gives them a fixed value and an expiration date, and controls how they are redeemed.
Image: illustration, not a screenshot REM
IoT & access control
Connected devices and time-based access to physical spaces, controlled through a browser. REM stands for Responsive Environmental Modulator: a brand-agnostic hub for smart devices. Door codes can be updated or voided remotely, and guests need no app.
Image: illustration, not a screenshot ARTEFACTS
Games & storytelling
A no-code composer for location-based games and interactive stories in the real world. Creators combine images, video, audio and quizzes into games played on location, with friends, family or colleagues.
Image: illustration, not a screenshot
- 2023–now
Senior software engineer, contract (alongside EXP.)
Client projects
Hands-on work embedded in client teams: features for a game-agnostic backend platform, a secrets management pipeline, an observability stack for a Kubernetes cluster, and a booking management system with Google Calendar integration.
Go, TypeScript, Python, Kubernetes, Terraform, Azure, OpenTelemetry, Grafana
Worked on
Game backend platform
Contract work 2023
A game backend used by multiple AA games.
My part I worked on inventory, asynchronous messaging and the observability stack.
- 2014–2024
CTO
Pixelmatic · Shanghai
Led the development of Infinite Fleet, a 3D sci-fi MMO action-strategy game, with a team of up to 30 engineers. Managed backend development and DevOps for Vainglory, a MOBA that peaked at more than 100,000 concurrent players. Directed additional content for a Warhammer 40,000 mobile game, and led the development and release of the mobile game Gem Wizard.
C#, Unity, TypeScript, Python, Go, Terraform, Ansible, AWS
Worked on
Magical Crypto Conference VR 2020
Online VR conference 2020
Based on Mozilla Hubs, we created and served a 2-day conference in VR about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, during the pandemic.
Image: Magical Crypto Friends Magical Fun
Kids 2019
Educational app for kids to learn English and the alphabet. The ambition was also to teach a bit about Bitcoin.
Image: Pixelmatic Infinite Fleet
MMO action strategy 2018
MMO game set in space, with crypto elements to allow trading of spaceships.
My part I led its development, with a team of up to 30 engineers.
Image: Pixelmatic Vainglory
Multiplayer online battle arena 2016
My part Technical release and support of the game in China, then global technical support, and backend and infrastructure development.
Image: Super Evil Megacorp A Warhammer 40,000 mobile game
Mobile action game 2015
My part Help with the localization for the Chinese market, and then additional content.
Image: illustration, the game is not named Crossword engine
Puzzle 2015
A responsive crossword engine in Unity, for a mobile game.
My part I did the main part of it myself, with extra care on responsiveness and touch controls.
Image: illustration, not a screenshot Gem Wizard
Puzzle 2014
"Casual-core" match-3 game including RPG mechanics and a free-to-play business model.
My part I led its development and release.
Image: Pixelmatic
- 2013–2014
Lead UI engineer
Spicy Horse · Shanghai
Led a team of two on the user interface overhaul of Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, fixed gameplay bugs, and managed builds and releases on Steam.
Worked on
Akaneiro: Demon Hunters
Hack and slash 2013
My part UI revamp and general bugs fixing, leading a team of two. I also managed the builds and releases on Steam.
Image: Spicy Horse
- 2012–2013
Project manager and lead engineer
Numeri4D · Montbéliard, France
Led a cross-functional team of five on an augmented reality application generator for the construction industry, for clients including Bouygues Construction and Vinci. Designed and developed a serious game to train staff in operating and maintaining a gas power plant.
Worked on
Power plant training simulator
Serious game 2013
Training of the new recruits within a gas power plant recreated in 3D.
My part I designed and developed it.
Image: Numeri4D Ramby
Augmented reality tool 2012
It automates the creation of augmented reality scenes, using 2D markers and also on location, for the construction industry.
My part Project manager and lead engineer, with a cross-functional team of five.
Image: Numeri4D
Education.
- 2009–2012
Software engineering diploma (Master's degree)
UTBM (opens in a new tab) (Belfort, France)
- Final semester
Kyushu University (opens in a new tab) (Japan). In a research laboratory of the Graduate School of Design. I presented one of the papers I wrote there, with Yuka Inokuchi and Hideyuki Takagi, at a conference in Osaka in March 2012.
Evolving a Human Player Model for the Star Trek Game (PDF, in Japanese with an English abstract)
Record in the Kyushu University repository (opens in a new tab)
- Final semester
- 2007–2009
Bachelor's degree
University of Burgundy (opens in a new tab) (Dijon, France)
- Erasmus exchange
Northumbria University (opens in a new tab) (Newcastle, England). One semester.
- Erasmus exchange
- 2005–2007
DUT in computer science (two-year university diploma)
IUT de Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (opens in a new tab) (France)
- Exchange programme
Wrexham University (opens in a new tab) (Wales). An internship, where my main project was a checkers game made in Flash and ActionScript.
- Exchange programme
A few numbers.
- Up to 30 engineers on Infinite Fleet at Pixelmatic
- 100,000+ peak concurrent players on Vainglory, where I managed backend and DevOps
- 14+ years building software, since 2012
- 6 podcast conversations with software engineers, in 2021
How I work.
I write expectations down, so a team can discuss them.
My Leadership Clear ContractI listen to people's reasons, including my own, and change my mind when they don't hold.
Street EpistemologyI keep dependencies moving without rushing every update.
Modern dependency managementI like learning by making something fun.
Introduction to programming for kids
Skills.
- Languages
- Go, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, C#, C/C++, Bash, PHP, SQL
- Infrastructure
- Kubernetes, Terraform, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Alibaba Cloud, Ansible, GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, Nginx
- Data
- Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, Couchbase, Redis
- Spoken languages
- French (native), English (fluent), Chinese (elementary)
Elsewhere.
- sonny [at] alvesdi [dot] as
- RSS
- Writing feed
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