Computer Engineering at McGill · Montréal
Domenico
Valentino.
I write software for DJ equipment,
robots and lab instruments.
From the interface to the electronics underneath. Co-founder of Kaskaraa Instruments, builder of OverCue, and former FRC programming lead.
Selected engineering work
What I’ve built.
From motor control
to audio software.
Software & audio01
OverCue
Core software & firmware
Tools that give DJs more control over the music and hardware they already use.
- Built most of the software, spanning a desktop app and custom DJ hardware firmware.
- Added DJM knob control of stems on CDJs, with a switch back to regular EQ. External apps handle stem processing.
- Rust
- C/C++
- React
- Tauri
- Core ML
My contribution in more detail
My work includes audio processing, synchronization, bounded buffers, resampling and playback transitions. Collaborators contributed testing on equipment I did not own and related bug fixes. The software and firmware are publicly released; the source is private.
Robotics & leadership02
FIRST Robotics
Programming lead · Teams 3990 & 9406
Robot software written, tested and tuned for competition.
- Developed swerve drive, autonomous routines, vision localization and scoring controls in Java/WPILib.
- Led 10 programmers, reviewed their code and taught beginners who progressed to writing robot control systems.
- Java
- WPILib
- PathPlanner
- PID control
My contribution in more detail
I wrote and oversaw competition software for both teams, with most of my work on 3990. I integrated encoders, a gyro and AprilTag cameras using WPILib’s pose estimator, and used telemetry and system identification for tuning. I also built TechScout and TechInsights for scouting, offline collection, QR transfer and analysis. Teammates contributed through delegated tasks and reviewed pull requests.
Embedded systems & instruments03
Kaskaraa Instruments
Co-founder · Software & electronics
Building prototype automated microtomes for tissue preparation in pathology.
- Lead instrument software, including UI, motor control, safety logic and AI imaging.
- Develop embedded electronics, circuit boards and wiring, and manage interns alongside my co-founders.
- Embedded software
- Motor control
- Electronics
- AI imaging
My contribution in more detail
I work across the instrument’s software and electronics, and take part in research coordination, grant applications and company development. These are prototypes under development. Technical methods and partner details are kept private.
Digital hardware04
6502 Computer
Independent hardware & assembly project
A working computer built from the CPU and wiring up.
- Wired the processor, memory, clock, reset, address decoding and I/O.
- Brought up the system with ROM programming and 6502 assembly.
- 6502 assembly
- Digital circuits
- ROM programming
My contribution in more detail
Building this computer let me work directly with the relationship between instructions, memory, timing and physical signals. The source and build documentation are private.
Background
Working with people.
McGill UniversityComputer Engineering
I came to McGill through CEGEP at Dawson College, where I studied Mathematics and Computer Science. I like understanding a system well enough to build and debug it myself.
AppleProduct Specialist
On the retail floor, I became a technical resource for colleagues. I explain product capabilities in plain language and help customers understand why a system behaves the way it does.
FIRST RoboticsTeaching & team leadership
I taught programming to students with no prior experience, then helped them build robot controls. Leading a team meant delegating work, reviewing pull requests and testing together.
Tools I work withC/C++ · Rust · Java · TypeScript · Python · Swift · Git · Linux
English & French · Italian & Spanish conversational