Grzegorz Ligierko

Senior iOS Developer & Technical Co-Founder

Graphics Programming • Machine Learning • Game Development

Email + LinkedIn

About

I specialize in graphics programming and high-performance iOS development. My work focuses on real-time visualization and responsive interfaces, using Metal shaders for sophisticated graphics processing. Recent projects have integrated language models and semantic analysis to handle dynamically generated content from large knowledge graphs.

As technical co-founder of In Other Words, I built a word puzzle engine that efficiently navigates a semantic network of 1.1M words with 60M relationships, generating hints by sampling potential paths without exhaustive tree traversal. The app demonstrates my approach to technical challenges: clean architecture, efficient resource usage, and clean user interaction.

With over a decade of iOS experience, I consistently deliver polished, performant applications that solve complex problems. I'm seeking opportunities to work on challenging projects, particularly those involving graphics, performance optimization, or practical AI integration.

Skills

Core strengths and technical focus:

Projects

In Other Words

A daily word puzzle where players find chains of meaning between seemingly unrelated words, like connecting "sugar" to "peace" through "sweet" and "harmony". The game combines embedding vectors with weighted graph traversal to model nuanced relationships across a vast semantic network of 1.1M words with 60M connections. This approach efficiently samples millions of potential solution paths without exhaustive searching, making hint generation feel instant while maintaining smooth on-device performance.

  • Technical Co-founder: Designed and built core systems for semantic pathfinding and visualization
  • Word Engine: Built hybrid system of embedding vectors and weighted graph traversal
  • Hint System: Developed ray-tracing inspired algorithm for efficient path sampling
  • Interface: Created Metal shaders and force-directed layouts at 60fps
  • Architecture: Implemented offline system handling 1.1M words with 60M relationships

OtherWordly

A space-themed arcade game that reimagines word puzzles as physical challenges, where players launch words through mesmerizing fields of geometric swarms. The game transforms traditional word matching into spatial gameplay, with players navigating obstacle courses while deciphering partially hidden targets like "v**il*a". The game's intelligent difficulty system adjusts in real-time to match each player's skill across both word puzzles and arcade challenges.

    • Technical Co-founder: Built native iOS game in Objective-C with Box2D physics integration
    • Graphics: Created OpenGL and Metal custom shader effects for atmospheric sci-fi visuals
    • Audio: Developed procedural generation for character voices and effects
    • Gameplay: Implemented adaptive challenge system across vocabulary and arcade elements
    • Performance: Optimized rendering and physics for consistent 60fps across devices

SpicyNodes and WikiNodes

A visualization system that transformed how users explore hierarchical information through organic, interactive node maps, evolving from a web platform used by 315,000 creators into WikiNodes, an Apple-featured iPad app. The system combined hyperbolic tree layouts with natural inertial motion, requiring sophisticated solutions for branch positioning and animation timing to maintain visual coherence during zooming. This approach made fluid exploration possible through smooth transitions while maintaining natural spatial relationships.

  • Lead Developer: Engineered core visualization engine across Flash and iOS platforms
  • Flash Engine: Optimized force-directed layouts and memory for large datasets
  • iOS Version: Built touch-optimized system with CoreGraphics
  • Performance: Developed caching and node culling for fluid navigation
  • Scale: Supported 580,000+ user maps while maintaining smooth performance

Awards

Publication