About me

I’m a software engineer, housing advocate, and civic leader based in Alameda, California. With over two decades of experience in technology and public advocacy, I work at the intersection of software engineering, open-source contributions, and grassroots political engagement.

Work Work

I’m currently a Staff AI Software Engineer at Meta, where I’m spearheading the development of AI-powered developer tools at Meta’s Reality Labs for Horizon OS, Quest VR, and wearables. Prior to Meta, I worked at Modular on AI software and high-performance machine learning infrastructure. Before that, I was part of Google’s Fuchsia OS project, where I worked on system libraries, drivers, toolchains, and a new Bluetooth stack. I helped enable Apple’s Swift programming language to run natively on Fuchsia (The Verge).

I’m a former startup founder and have held senior engineering positions at several technology companies, including Apportable (acquired by Google), SeatMe (acquired by Yelp), doubleTwist, Texas Instruments, and Match.com.

My professional specializations include:

  • Operating systems and compiler development
  • Cross platform development for desktop, embedded, and mobile platforms
  • Fullstack Rust, Swift, C/C++, Zig, and Python
  • Packaging, distribution, and deployment of software
  • Security and performance optimization
  • Developer evangelism and community engagement
  • Building startups

Housing Advocacy and Civic Leadership

Beyond technology, I’m involved in civic engagement and housing advocacy. I’m currently an elected Executive Board Member and delegate (ADEM) in the California Democratic Party, where I advocate for progressive housing policies. I serve on Alameda’s Open Government Commission, promoting transparency and accountability in local government.

I’m a leader within East Bay YIMBY, advocating for sustainable urban development, affordable housing, and zoning reform. I helped lead campaigns for Alameda’s Measure A (2019) and Measure Z (2020), both initiatives that aimed to revise restrictive housing laws and allow for more housing.

My advocacy is personal, informed by my own experience of homelessness in my early 20s. I’ve participated in legal and grassroots efforts enforcing housing laws across California, including suing and winning against the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development for their application of the state’s housing laws around the jobs and housing ratio, which had underestimated the housing needs of the state by hundreds of thousands of units.

In 2021, I was among the early founding members of the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) at Google. Through AWU, I worked on labor rights, focusing on unionizing both full-time employees and contract workers, and holding tech companies accountable for ethical workplace practices.

In 2024, I took on a leadership role in the YIMBYs for Harris campaign, organizing a virtual fundraiser that raised over $125,000 to support Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential bid. I now serve in a leadership capacity with YIMBY Democrats for America, a national organization dedicated to promoting pro-housing policies within the Democratic Party.

Positions Held:

  • Executive Board Member of the California Democratic Party
  • Open Government Commissioner for the City of Alameda
  • Elected 3 times as an ADEM delegate the CA Dem Party representing AD-18
  • Vice President of the City of Alameda Democratic Club
  • Northern Alameda County Serria Club Housing Committee Member
  • Lead and Cofounder of East Bay YIMBY

Media

My work and advocacy have been covered in various media outlets. I’ve been featured and quoted in outlets including Wired, The Verge, 9to5Google, and the San Francisco Chronicle. I’ve presented at major tech events, including Mobile World Congress, and appeared on international media such as the Dutch TV show DWDD University.

I also create content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where I engage with over 140,000 subscribers on issues of urbanism, housing, and policy education.

Random Facts

  • Competed in over 140+ hackathons from 2008 to 2013
  • I run both the Alameda Reddit (25.8K members) and Alameda Peeps Facebook groups (20.4K members), which have over 20,000 residents each from Alameda, CA.
  • I have a TikTok and YouTube channel with over 140,000 subscribers combined.
  • I have an awesome wife and two dogs

Patents

I hold two patents:

  • Modification of distracting sounds (U.S. Patent 10,133,542), developed during my time at Google to intelligently filter distracting noises from audio streams.
  • Restaurant management and reservation systems and methods (U.S. Patent Application 20130024273), developed at SeatMe to streamline restaurant operations and customer interactions.

Work Experience

Jul 2024 - present

Meta

Staff AI Software Engineer

Spearheading the development of AI-powered developer tools at Meta's Reality Labs for Horizon OS, Quest VR, and wearables.

2023 - 2024

Modular

Staff AI Software Engineer

Built AI software and high-performance machine learning infrastructure.

2021 - present

California Democratic Party

Executive Board Member & DCCC Delegate (ADEM)

Serving as an elected Executive Board Member (since Mar 2025) and ADEM Delegate (since Jan 2021).

2025 - present

City of Alameda

Open Government Commissioner

Serving as an Open Government Commissioner for the City of Alameda.

2015 - 2023

Google

Software Engineer

Early member of Fuchsia OS team. Worked on core systems, drivers, toolchains, Bluetooth stack, developer tools/frameworks (Rust, C++, C, Swift, Dart, Go). Also worked on Chrome, Android, and other projects.

2012 - 2015

Apportable (acquired by Google)

Principal Software Engineer & Developer Evangelist

Lead developer on Apportable/Tengu SDKs (Objective-C/Swift to Android/other platforms). Ported/reimplemented Objective-C runtime, CoreFoundation, Foundation, etc. Forked LLVM/Clang. Also served as Developer Evangelist.

2011 - 2012

SeatMe, Inc. (acquired by Yelp)

Lead iOS Developer

First employee and lead iOS developer for a restaurant reservation system.

2010 - 2011

View Inc

Founder

Startup developing mobile apps for local information sharing.

2009 - 2010

doubleTwist

Senior Software Engineer

Developed a deesktop Music Player.

2009 - 2010

Seesmic

Software Engineer

Mobile developer (iPhone and Android developer).

2006 - 2008

Texas Instruments

Senior Software Engineer (TL)

Working as part of the Education Technology division, focusing on the development of the latest generation of TI graphing calculators and educational software.

2005 - 2006

Match.com

Applications Engineer

Designed and deployed double blind email services with web based frontends. Also was in charge of Win32 and Unix service integration and development in our division.

2003 - 2005

OnlineISP

Software Engineer

Software and Systems Engineer for a mid-sized ISP.

2000 - 2001

Microselect

Software Developer

Mobile (Palm/PocketPC) and Web based software development for medical practice management software.

In The News

Post-election update

Draft zoning amendments considered

Alameda's high-injury corridor set for revamp

Council approves events grant program, more housing

Updated masking guidelines, OAK noise, a conversation about housing

APA Caucus compiles DCC information for AD-18

Salary increase for council on November ballot

Rescue dog Benny dies in Alameda after eating cupcakes with xylitol

Google layoffs: Employees turn to Discord for emotional support, financial advice

Google, Meta, Big Tech Is Bad at Firing

Workshop Held to Discuss Shopping Center Zoning

On Jan. 10th, the Planning Board held a public workshop...

SB 9 Needed But with Possible Changes

Mayor and Council: I ask that you adopt the resolution...

HCD Must Include Jobs-Housing Balance in Housing Element Review

Press release about winning lawsuit against California HCD for underestimating housing needs

Bay Area cities face long odds in fighting state housing mandates

Support SB 9 & 10: More homes in our neighborhoods

Editor: California's housing shortage began with the downzonings of the 1970s and 80s...

Future Alameda wellness and medical respite center moves forward

Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context

Assembly passed bill on Monday Zac Bowling Part three of three...

Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context

News Analysis In January 2023, Alameda must submit a plan...

Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context

Zac Bowling Part one in a series

Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context

Zac Bowling Part one in a series

Too militaristic: Alameda police to keep armored vehicle

District delegates to state Democratic Party central committee meeting celebrate election victory

Preserve our community by voting Yes on Z

Editor: One of the questions we require before allowing anyone to join the Alameda Peeps Facebook group...

Ballot battle in town of Alameda pits multiunit housing against single-family homes

Coverage of Measure Z housing ballot initiative in Alameda

Ballot battle in town of Alameda pits multiunit housing against single-family homes

COVID-19 Testing

Alameda's COVID-19 testing site has been plagued with temporary shutdowns...

Council Moves Forward

Divided community response reflects attitudes toward Council's legal fees

Fear mongering and homeless stereotyping

Editor: I was once homeless. I stumbled into Alameda some 10 years ago...

The Truth Matters

The Truth Matters

As the April 9th special election is getting closer...

The State of Site A

A drone piloted by Alameda resident Zac Bowling captured the view...

Bridge, tunnel crowd

Editor: The bridges and tunnels we have are more than adequate...

Fuchsia Friday: The dream team behind Google's new OS

Featured as part of the Fuchsia OS development team

Fuchsia Friday: The dream team behind Google's new OS

Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia

Coverage of enabling Swift to run natively on Fuchsia OS

Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia

Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia

Google adds Fuchsia support to Apple's Swift

Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia

Coverage of enabling Swift to run natively on Fuchsia OS

Google secretly acqui-hired mobile app development startup Apportable

Coverage of Apportable acquisition by Google

Last-minute push for votes on Prop. 50 in the Bay Area

Interview about Democratic club canvassing efforts for Proposition 50 less than 48 hours before election day

The State of Mobile Gaming with Apportable

How Apple's Developer Conference Grew Too Big for Its Own Developers

Zac Bowling quoted about WWDC ticket access and developer experience

Zac Bowling

How to Host a Hackathon

Playing Games: Nexus Possibility

Developers tackle solar energy issues with code at Oakland's CleanWeb hackathon

Confessions of an 80x Hackathon Contender

Storyboard: Hackathons

Featured in Wired article about hackathons

Apple Store Genius Coding Class

Hacking: Helping Businesses Beyond Tech

First Look: View.io Lets You See News and Info About Places Near You

First Look: View.io Lets You See News and Info About Places Near You

View.io

Aussie Linux head: Microsoft more open than iPhone

iPhone SDK agreement is a giant joke on several levels

If the iPhone SDK is a joke, Apple will be laughing all the way to the bank