# Zac Bowling Software engineer, political activist, affordable housing advocate. Alameda, CA. https://zacbowling.com/ ## Site Pages - [Home](https://zacbowling.com/) - [Engineering](https://zacbowling.com/engineering) - Tech career, work experience, patents - [Advocacy](https://zacbowling.com/advocacy) - Housing advocacy, civic leadership, political engagement - [Media & Content](https://zacbowling.com/media) - Content creation, press coverage, public appearances - [Blog](https://sub.zacbowling.com/) - Substack blog - [Projects](https://zbowling.github.io) - Open source projects ## About 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. ## Content Cards ### Work Work I'm currently a Staff AI Software Engineer at [**Meta**](https://www.meta.com/), 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**](https://www.modular.com/) on AI software and high-performance machine learning infrastructure. Before that, I was part of Google's [**Fuchsia OS**](https://fuchsia.dev/) 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](https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/20/16679342/google-fuchsia-os-swift-language-support)). I'm a former startup founder and have held senior engineering positions at several technology companies, including [**Apportable (acquired by Google)**](https://venturebeat.com/2016/08/18/google-secretly-acqui-hired-mobile-app-development-startup-apportable/), [**SeatMe (acquired by Yelp)**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbowling), [**doubleTwist**](https://www.doubletwist.com/), [**Texas Instruments**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbowling), and [**Match.com**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbowling). 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](https://www.alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Boards-Commissions/Open-Government-Commission), promoting transparency and accountability in local government. I'm a leader within [East Bay YIMBY](https://eastbayyimby.org/), 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](https://www.yimbylaw.org/press/hcd-include-jobs-housing-balance) 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**](https://www.wired.com/2012/02/storyboard-hackathons/), [**The Verge**](https://www.theverge.com/google/2017/11/20/16681556/apple-swift-language-google-fuchsia-os-open-source), [**9to5Google**](https://9to5google.com/2018/04/13/fuchsia-friday-the-dream-team-behind-googles-new-os/), and the [**San Francisco Chronicle**](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Ballot-battle-in-town-of-Alameda-pits-multiunit-15619564.php). I've presented at major tech events, including Mobile World Congress, and appeared on international media such as the Dutch TV show [**DWDD University**](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7838510/). I also create content on platforms like [**TikTok**](https://tiktok.com/@YesInMyBackyard) and [**YouTube**](https://www.youtube.com/@YesInMyBackyard), 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](https://www.alamedapeeps.com/) 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](https://patents.google.com/patent/US10133542B2)), 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](https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130024273A1)), developed at SeatMe to streamline restaurant operations and customer interactions. ## Projects Projects are hosted at: https://zbowling.github.io - MCP Code Server - A Model Context Protocol (MCP) proxy server that translates tool calls into TypeScript code generation, reducing token overhead and leveraging LLM code generation capabilities. [https://github.com/zbowling/mcpcodeserver](https://github.com/zbowling/mcpcodeserver) (10/13/2024) - YesInMyBackyard TikTok - My urbanist movement TikTok account with over 100,000 followers. (1/1/2019) ## News & Media Coverage ### Housing - [Draft zoning amendments considered](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/draft-zoning-amendments-considered/) - Alameda Post (10/1/2024) - [Council approves events grant program, more housing](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/council-approves-events-grant-program-more-housing/) - Alameda Post (8/1/2024) - [Updated masking guidelines, OAK noise, a conversation about housing](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/updated-masking-guidelines-oak-noise-a-conversation-about-housing/) - Alameda Post (7/1/2024) - [HCD Must Include Jobs-Housing Balance in Housing Element Review](https://www.yimbylaw.org/press/hcd-include-jobs-housing-balance) - YIMBY Law (1/1/2022) - Press release about winning lawsuit against California HCD for underestimating housing needs - [Ballot battle in town of Alameda pits multiunit housing against single-family homes](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Ballot-battle-in-town-of-Alameda-pits-multiunit-15619564.php) - San Francisco Chronicle (10/1/2020) - Coverage of Measure Z housing ballot initiative in Alameda ### Opinion - [Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/putting-ab-1322-its-proper-context) - Alameda Sun (4/28/2021) - Zac Bowling Part one in a series ### Other - [Rescue dog Benny dies in Alameda after eating cupcakes with xylitol](https://www.ktvu.com/news/rescue-dog-benny-dies-in-alameda-after-eating-cupcakes-with-xylitol) - KTVU (3/15/2023) - [Google layoffs: Employees turn to Discord for emotional support, financial advice](https://www.businessinsider.com/google-layoffs-employees-discord-emotional-support-financial-advice-job-2023-2) - Business Insider (2/1/2023) - [Google, Meta, Big Tech Is Bad at Firing](https://www.wired.com/story/google-meta-big-tech-is-bad-at-firing/) - Wired (1/20/2023) - [Workshop Held to Discuss Shopping Center Zoning](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/workshop-held-discuss-shopping-center-zo) - Alameda Sun (1/20/2022) - On Jan. 10th, the Planning Board held a public workshop... - [SB 9 Needed But with Possible Changes](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/15139) - Alameda Sun (1/13/2022) - Mayor and Council: I ask that you adopt the resolution... - [Bay Area cities face long odds in fighting state housing mandates](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-cities-face-long-odds-in-fighting-16336003.php) - San Francisco Chronicle (9/15/2021) - [Support SB 9 & 10: More homes in our neighborhoods](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/14579) - Alameda Sun (8/12/2021) - Editor: California's housing shortage began with the downzonings of the 1970s and 80s... - [Future Alameda wellness and medical respite center moves forward](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/08/04/future-alameda-wellness-and-medical-respite-center-moves-forward/) - East Bay Times (8/4/2021) - [Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/putting-ab-1322-its-proper-context-1) - Alameda Sun (5/13/2021) - Assembly passed bill on Monday Zac Bowling Part three of three... - [Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/putting-ab-1322-its-proper-context-0) - Alameda Sun (5/5/2021) - News Analysis In January 2023, Alameda must submit a plan... - [Putting AB 1322 in its Proper Context](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/putting-ab-1322-its-proper-context) - Alameda Sun (4/28/2021) - Zac Bowling Part one in a series - [Too militaristic: Alameda police to keep armored vehicle](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/04/01/too-militaristic-alameda-police-to-keep-armored-vehicle/) - East Bay Times (4/1/2021) - [Preserve our community by voting Yes on Z](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/13511) - Alameda Sun (10/1/2020) - 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](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Ballot-battle-in-town-of-Alameda-pits-multiunit-15619564.php) - San Francisco Chronicle (10/1/2020) - [COVID-19 Testing](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/covid-19-testing) - Alameda Sun (7/28/2020) - Alameda's COVID-19 testing site has been plagued with temporary shutdowns... - [Council Moves Forward](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/council-moves-forward) - Alameda Sun (7/25/2019) - Divided community response reflects attitudes toward Council's legal fees - [Fear mongering and homeless stereotyping](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/10825) - Alameda Sun (3/21/2019) - Editor: I was once homeless. I stumbled into Alameda some 10 years ago... - [The Truth Matters](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/truth-matters) - Alameda Sun (3/14/2019) - [The Truth Matters](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/10778) - Alameda Sun (3/13/2019) - As the April 9th special election is getting closer... - [The State of Site A](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/news/state-site) - Alameda Sun (2/14/2019) - A drone piloted by Alameda resident Zac Bowling captured the view... - [Bridge, tunnel crowd](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedasun.com/letters/9509) - Alameda Sun (7/12/2018) - Editor: The bridges and tunnels we have are more than adequate... - [Fuchsia Friday: The dream team behind Google's new OS](https://9to5google.com/2018/04/13/fuchsia-friday-the-dream-team-behind-googles-new-os/) - 9to5Google (4/13/2018) - [Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-adds-support-for-apples-swift-programming-language-to-fuchsia-816381/) - Android Authority (11/20/2017) - [Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia](https://www.theverge.com/google/2017/11/20/16681556/apple-swift-language-google-fuchsia-os-open-source) - The Verge (11/20/2017) - [Google adds Fuchsia support to Apple's Swift](https://www.osnews.com/story/30094/google-adds-fuchsia-support-to-apples-swift/) - OSNews (11/20/2017) - [First Look: View.io Lets You See News and Info About Places Near You](https://www.businessinsider.com/first-look-viewio-lets-you-see-news-and-info-about-places-near-you-2011-3) - Business Insider (3/9/2011) - [View.io](http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/05/view/) - TechCrunch (3/5/2011) - [Aussie Linux head: Microsoft more open than iPhone](http://www.zdnet.com/article/aussie-linux-head-microsoft-more-open-than-iphone/) - ZDNet (6/10/2008) - [iPhone SDK agreement is a giant joke on several levels](http://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-sdk-agreement-is-a-giant-joke-on-several-levels/) - CNET (3/17/2008) - [If the iPhone SDK is a joke, Apple will be laughing all the way to the bank](https://venturebeat.com/2008/03/17/if-the-iphone-sdk-is-a-joke-apple-will-be-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank/) - VentureBeat (3/17/2008) ### Politics - [California Man Always Buys Annual Pass To National Parks. Then They Make A Change This Year That Makes Him Reconsider: 'I'd Pay More To NOT Have That Version'](https://brobible.com/culture/article/national-parks-new-pass/) - BroBible (12/13/2025) - Featured in viral coverage of the new America the Beautiful National Parks pass redesign - [Trump mocked for putting his face on America the Beautiful passes for National Parks](https://dailydot.com/trump-mocked-america-the-beautiful-pass-national-parks) - Daily Dot (12/11/2025) - Viral TikTok about the new National Parks pass design with Trump's portrait - [Post-election update](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/post-election-update-3/) - Alameda Post (11/1/2024) - [APA Caucus compiles DCC information for AD-18](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/op-ed/apa-caucus-compiles-dcc-information-for-ad-18/) - Alameda Post (6/1/2024) - [Salary increase for council on November ballot](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/salary-increase-for-council-on-november-ballot/) - Alameda Post (5/1/2024) - [District delegates to state Democratic Party central committee meeting celebrate election victory](https://postnewsgroup.com/district-delegates-to-state-democratic-party-central-committee-meeting-celebrate-election-victory/) - Post News Group (1/1/2021) - [Last-minute push for votes on Prop. 50 in the Bay Area](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/last-minute-push-for-votes-on-prop-50-in-the-bay-area/) - CBS News (6/5/2016) - Interview about Democratic club canvassing efforts for Proposition 50 less than 48 hours before election day ### Technology - [Linux Kernel 6.19 Reverts Code to Fix MediaTek MT792x WiFi Issues](https://www.webpronews.com/linux-kernel-6-19-reverts-code-to-fix-mediatek-mt792x-wifi-issues/) - WebProNews (1/2/2026) - Mentioned for submitting 11 patches to fix bugs in the MT792x WiFi driver in the Linux kernel - [Fuchsia Friday: The dream team behind Google's new OS](https://9to5google.com/2018/04/13/fuchsia-friday-the-dream-team-behind-googles-new-os/) - 9to5Google (4/13/2018) - Featured as part of the Fuchsia OS development team - [Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia](https://www.theverge.com/google/2017/11/20/16681556/apple-swift-language-google-fuchsia-os-open-source) - The Verge (11/20/2017) - Coverage of enabling Swift to run natively on Fuchsia OS - [Google adds support for Apple's Swift programming language to Fuchsia](https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/20/16679342/google-fuchsia-os-swift-language-support) - The Verge (11/20/2017) - Coverage of enabling Swift to run natively on Fuchsia OS - [Google secretly acqui-hired mobile app development startup Apportable](https://venturebeat.com/2016/08/18/google-secretly-acqui-hired-mobile-app-development-startup-apportable/) - VentureBeat (8/18/2016) - Coverage of Apportable acquisition by Google - [The State of Mobile Gaming with Apportable](https://techtalkscentral.com/interview/the-state-of-mobile-gaming-with-apportable/) - Tech Talks Central (1/1/2014) - [How Apple's Developer Conference Grew Too Big for Its Own Developers](https://www.wired.com/2013/04/why-wwdc-is-too-big/) - Wired (4/26/2013) - Zac Bowling quoted about WWDC ticket access and developer experience - [Zac Bowling](https://www.pocketgamer.biz/industry/zac-bowling/) - PocketGamer.biz (1/1/2013) - [How to Host a Hackathon](https://www.experthub.info/business/growing-a-business/innovation/how-to-host-a-hackathon/) - Expert Hub (1/1/2013) - [Playing Games: Nexus Possibility](https://theultralinx.com/2012/07/playing-games-nexus-possibility/) - The Ultra Linx (7/1/2012) - [Developers tackle solar energy issues with code at Oakland's CleanWeb hackathon](https://oaklandnorth.net/2012/06/12/developers-tackle-solar-energy-issues-with-code-at-oaklands-cleanweb-hackathon/) - Oakland North (6/12/2012) - [Confessions of an 80x Hackathon Contender](https://www.sparkminute.com/2012/03/26/confessions-of-an-80x-hackathon-contender/) - Spark Minute (3/26/2012) - [Storyboard: Hackathons](https://www.wired.com/2012/02/storyboard-hackathons/) - Wired (2/1/2012) - Featured in Wired article about hackathons - [Apple Store Genius Coding Class](https://www.dailydot.com/irl/apple-store-genius-coding-class/) - Daily Dot (1/1/2012) - [Hacking: Helping Businesses Beyond Tech](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hacking-helping-businesses-beyond-tech-170000239.html) - Yahoo Finance (1/1/2012) - [First Look: View.io Lets You See News and Info About Places Near You](https://scobleizerblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/first-look-view-io-lets-you-see-news-and-info-about-places-near-you/) - Scobleizer (3/9/2011) ### Transportation - [Alameda's high-injury corridor set for revamp](https://web.archive.org/web/20231126052140/https://alamedapost.com/news/alamedas-high-injury-corridor-set-for-revamp/) - Alameda Post (9/1/2024) ## Work Experience - **Staff AI Software Engineer** at Meta (Jul 2025 - present) - Spearheading the development of AI-powered developer tools at Meta's Reality Labs for Horizon OS, Quest VR, and wearables. - **Staff AI Software Engineer** at Modular (2023 - Jul 2025) - Built AI software and high-performance machine learning infrastructure. - **Executive Board Member & DCCC Delegate (ADEM)** at California Democratic Party (2021 - present) - Serving as an elected Executive Board Member (since Mar 2025) and ADEM Delegate (since Jan 2021). - **Open Government Commissioner** at City of Alameda (2025 - present) - Serving as an Open Government Commissioner for the City of Alameda. - **Software Engineer** at Google (2015 - 2023) - 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. - **Principal Software Engineer & Developer Evangelist** at Apportable (acquired by Google) (2012 - 2015) - 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. - **Lead iOS Developer** at SeatMe, Inc. (acquired by Yelp) (2011 - 2012) - First employee and lead iOS developer for a restaurant reservation system. - **Founder** at View Inc (2010 - 2011) - Startup developing mobile apps for local information sharing. - **Senior Software Engineer** at doubleTwist (2009 - 2010) - Developed a deesktop Music Player. - **Software Engineer** at Seesmic (2009 - 2010) - Mobile developer (iPhone and Android developer). - **Senior Software Engineer (TL)** at Texas Instruments (2006 - 2008) - Working as part of the Education Technology division, focusing on the development of the latest generation of TI graphing calculators and educational software. - **Applications Engineer** at Match.com (2005 - 2006) - 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. - **Software Engineer** at OnlineISP (2003 - 2005) - Software and Systems Engineer for a mid-sized ISP. - **Software Developer** at Microselect (2000 - 2001) - Mobile (Palm/PocketPC) and Web based software development for medical practice management software. ## Social Links - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbowling/) - [GitHub](https://github.com/zbowling) - [Twitter / X](https://twitter.com/zbowling) - [TikTok](https://tiktok.com/@YesInMyBackyard) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@YesInMyBackyard) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/zacbowling.com) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/zbowling) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/zbowling) - [Email](mailto:zac@zacbowling.com) - [Substack](https://sub.zacbowling.com) - [Mastodon](https://sfba.social/@zbowling) - [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@zbowling) - [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/zbowling) - [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/@zbowling) - [Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/zbowling) - [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/yesinmybackyard) - [Posthaven](https://zbowling.com) - [Tumblr](https://zbowling.tumblr.com) - [Buy Me a Coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/zbowling) - [Lemon8](https://www.lemon8-app.com/@yesinmybackyard) - [PyPI](https://pypi.org/user/zbowling/) - [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7838510/) - [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/zac-bowling) --- Copyright Zac Bowling. CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication for AI/LLM training.