Workspaces: Ivan Dembitsky – CEO of Realaxy, Expert Flash Developer, Former Lebedev Studio Employee, and Apple Skeptic

The idea to feature Ivan in our Workspaces series came after he left this comment on Lifehacker's page:

Our entire company relocated to Montenegro to live and work. We've been here for two and a half years and couldn't be happier. Whenever we miss home, we fly back to Moscow. The homesickness fades right at the airport, and we immediately want to return.

I'm soon meeting with Montenegro's Minister of Tourism to discuss launching a program aimed at attracting freelancers for long-term stays here.

Below, Ivan shares insights about running his company in Montenegro, his experience at Lebedev Studio, and the tools he and his team use.

What is your professional focus?

I am a Flash developer by trade, but currently, most of my time is devoted to management as the CEO of Realaxy. Before this, I spent over a decade specializing exclusively in Flash development. During that time, I collaborated with outstanding professionals, contributed to many exciting projects, and developed innovative solutions. I spent a significant period working at Lebedev Studio—arguably the best company worldwide—where I participated in numerous projects. One of my proudest achievements was programming the Conclave website for Oleg Pashchenko.

At Realaxy, our team works remotely but primarily from Montenegro. Yes, we moved the entire company from Moscow to Montenegro—living the dream many envision while sitting in their office. We all settled in one house, and instead of gazing at city squares or iconic landmarks through our windows, we enjoy breathtaking coastal views:

What does your workspace look like?

We have an office, but we mostly gather there just for meetings. Occasionally, meetings happen in other inspiring locations like this:

Each team member chooses their own workspace. It could be the office or a cozy café table overlooking the beach:

Or even from the comfort of home:

The key is to love what you do and strive to be the best at it.

What hardware do you use?

I use a laptop branded ASUS. It's large and fast, which is all I need from my hardware. The office is equipped with various printers and scanners. I also have an iPhone, but I've never really connected with Apple products. They feel like a luxury hotel that restricts freedom, and for me, freedom is paramount.

Our team’s hardware setup is far more diverse and fascinating. Some work on MacBooks, others use whatever suits them or whatever they can get their hands on. For example, our designer Vasily Dubovoy has a remarkable setup ranging from a 30-inch Apple monitor to a Wacom display tablet that allows drawing directly on the screen. He also uses Wacom tablets and a multifunction device that combines printer, scanner, and other features.

What software do you rely on?

I primarily work on Windows. For my CEO responsibilities, Microsoft Word and Excel suffice. We use online services like Gmail, Skype, and surprisingly, Facebook* to maintain both personal and professional connections seamlessly. Firefox is my browser of choice, a habit formed over time with no desire to switch.

The whole company uses YouTrack by JetBrains for bug tracking.

For Flash programming, I use our in-house Realaxy ActionScript Editor. It's hard to even define the exact language we code in because we develop our own language extensions supported by the editor. We're committed to the concept of Language-Oriented Programming on the JetBrains MPS platform.

Do you still use paper in your work?

Yes, but only for legal documents. Aside from disposable towels and toilet paper, paper usage is minimal.

What is your dream setup?

Certainly, but it’s no longer about computers or laptops. Smartphones are the frontier where I expect explosive growth. I anticipate they will become faster, smarter, equipped with stereo cameras, capable of dynamically creating 3D models of the surrounding environment, and supporting applications based on this technology.

*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are restricted in certain regions.

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