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Zachary Roth

Music, work, and software

A history

I went from music to software by following curiosity and making things.

Software

Solflare, Aptos, and Raintree

I joined Solflare, then Aptos Labs, and moved to the Bay Area. Today, I build software products and open-source tools at Raintree Technology.

Chicago

Worked and kept building

Back in Chicago, I worked odd jobs and built software around them. There was no clean transition into technology, just steady work and increasingly ambitious projects.

Alaska

Learned to code

I moved to Alaska. When COVID arrived, I taught myself to code through YouTube and small projects. Software became my second craft.

Ages 19–21

Played in Forgotten Tropics

I played in Forgotten Tropics from 19 to 21 while moving between Michigan State and DePaul. I took time off for the band, then returned to earn a degree in classical music.

Age 19

Found Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett inspired me to start piano at 19. It changed how I heard harmony, improvisation, and form.

Age 6

Started with guitar

I started playing guitar at 6. It was my first serious craft and the beginning of a life organized around making things.