Piyush Agade

The GatorByte platform was a comprehensive project that involved the complete design-build-test cycle, providing a direct case study in multi-disciplinary integrated systems engineering.

The process included:

• Served as the central tool for a Ph.D. dissertation in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
• Resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference papers, including in HardwareX and IEEE Sensors. More to come.
• Provided a platform for undergraduate research mentorship, including training an assistant in advanced electronics soldering and fabrication.
• Successfully used as a hands-on teaching tool for youth outreach workshops with Florida 4-H, making complex engineering concepts accessible.

Key Outcomes:

• This project demonstrated the ability to identify an opportunity for process improvement within an academic environment and independently develop a targeted software solution.
• Successfully built and deployed a real-time, single-page application, showcasing skills in modern frontend frameworks and user-centric design for an educational setting.

Inspired by my own habit of misplacing flash drives, I developed "Box," a free, ad-less, simple, self-hosted web application that functions as a cloud "flash drive." Built with ExpressJS and running on a Raspberry Pi, the service allows for temporarily sharing files up to 100 MB with a configurable expiration timer. The platform's functionality was also extended to serve as a personal URL shortening service.

Key outcomes:

• Demonstrated practical problem-solving by creating a tool to solve a personal habit of misplacing things.
• Successfully developed and deployed a self-hosted, full-stack web application on a Raspberry Pi, showcasing skills in backend development.
• Engineered a functional, user-facing service that includes a file expiration timer and a URL shortening service.

As a key developer for the state-wide H2OSAV program, I created a suite of web applications to help Florida utilities conserve water more effectively. I developed Python scripts to preprocess large, raw water consumption datasets and engineered a data pipeline that standardized and accelerated the conversion of this data into actionable insights. The platform featured two primary interfaces built with NodeJS, CGI, SQLite, and LeafletJS: an Exploratory Tool for geo-visualized data exploration and an Analysis Tool for visualizing the effectiveness of conservation programs.

Key outcomes:

• Contributed to a significant University of Florida (IFAS) program for state-wide water conservation by developing a suite of web visualization tools.
• Engineered a complete data pipeline that standardized and accelerated the conversion of raw water consumption data from multiple Florida utilities into actionable information.
• Designed and deployed two primary web applications—an Exploratory Tool and an Analysis Tool—that provided valuable, map-based data visualization to stakeholders and utility managers.

To solve the complex administrative challenges faced by large, student-run organizations, I designed and developed a comprehensive, web-based administrative console. The platform was built with ExpressJS and MySQL and includes modules for managing a member database, event RSVPs, attendance tracking, merchandise sales, treasury and finances, and instructor scheduling.

Key Outcomes:

• The tool is currently in use by the UF Kickboxing and Gator Salsa clubs, serving a combined membership of over 200 students.
• It has demonstrably improved organizational efficiency, enhanced member management, and provided robust, data-driven tools for tracking recruitment and finances.

Developed as a high-stakes project for a software developer interview with IBM, I was tasked with building a complete weather application from the ground up within a one-week timeframe. The project involved rapidly learning and implementing a full technology stack, including a NodeJS/ExpressJS backend hosted on AWS to serve real-time weather data as a service, and a responsive frontend built with Bootstrap.

Key Outcomes:

• The submission was lauded by the IBM interview panel as one of the best they had seen.
• This project was subsequently demonstrated to UF IFAS and was a key factor in securing the job offer for the OPS Web Developer position in 2017.

Developed in response to the lack of a versatile, all-in-one productivity application for the Linux community, I took on the personal challenge of building a complete desktop tool from the ground up. The project involved architecting and implementing a feature-rich application using ElectronJS. This included building a markdown note editor, a to-do list manager with priority alarms, and a suite of desktop widgets, while also incorporating advanced features like cloud backup and PIN protection.

Key Outcomes:

• The application was well-received and gained significant traction within the Linux enthusiast community, demonstrating an ability to identify a market need and deliver a robust software solution.
• This self-directed project solidified my skills in full-stack desktop application development and user-focused design.

Developed after observing a common challenge in university classrooms where instructors often relied on basic web timers during exams, I took on the personal challenge to build a dedicated, real-time exam management application. The project involved designing and building a full-stack application from the ground up, featuring a dynamic frontend built with Angular 2. The system was architected to allow instructors to make live announcements, display custom exam instructions, and provide a clear, synchronized countdown timer for students.

Key Outcomes:

• This project demonstrated the ability to identify an opportunity for process improvement within an academic environment and independently develop a targeted software solution.
• Successfully built and deployed a real-time, single-page application, showcasing skills in modern frontend frameworks and user-centric design for an educational setting.