Active Video
2016 - 2023
One day I was approached by a recruiter with an opportunity to work at a company in The Netherlands. Having previously visited the country and thoroughly enjoyed it, I saw this as a great chance to work abroad and broaden my horizons. This opportunity turned out to lead to my longest professional engagement, spanning over seven years.
ActiveVideo is a software company that started by using cloud-based technology to deliver advanced user interfaces to cable and IPTV set-top boxes. Over time, it expanded its focus from video streaming and developed technologies that allowed streaming of graphics and even full Android applications. These apps were run and rendered in the cloud, but displayed on the user's device.
I began as a QA automation engineer and later transitioned into a C++ development role, contributing wherever the company needed. My time there was marked by continuous growth, driven by the dynamic environment, the wealth of experienced engineers, and the cutting-edge technologies we worked with. The company's culture, combined with its location, made it a rewarding place to learn and thrive.
During my time at the company, I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, many of which I've likely since forgotten.
I initially focused on building and enhancing automation frameworks, including the end-to-end test harness, a suite of component test frameworks, and their integration with the CI system.
I was also involved in the initial implementation of our service management system, which eventually grew into its own dedicated team based in India.
But mainly, I contributed to the development of various client applications that rendered our product across multiple platforms, including x86 desktop applications, Android, and a myriad of set-top boxes. It was here that I gained experience with video streaming technologies such as HLS, DASH, ABR, DRM etc.
This was the main relaxation and dogfooding area, our kitchen.
