Matei Budiu

About me

• Computer Science PhD Student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (As of Aug 2025)
• Advised by Prof. Sasa Misailovic
• Currently doing research in compilers for machine learning
• Generally interested in parallel systems, compilers, and graphics
• Graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in May 2025
• Interested in game development as a hobby
• Not much of a web developer, as you can see here

My research

• In review
• Created an "auto-scheduler" which places novel loop fusion transformations to perform operator fusion in the Neptune tensor compiler

• Published in The VLDB Journal
• A database system modeled off the idea of streams which uses incremental computation
• I worked on creating a modular system that automatically collects and graphs metrics to compare the Feldera platform with similar streaming systems and databases
• I conducted a literature review of existing benchmarks for streaming systems and implemented and tested these benchmarks in the Feldera platform

My personal projects

Tanks

The Crusades

(2018–present)

Steam iOS GitHub

• A video game inspired by Wii Play's Tanks minigame, a childhood favorite of mine
• Java with OpenGL via LWJGL
• Supports network multiplayer for fun parties!
• Free and open source software!

Machimania

(~2021–present)

GitHub

• A machine fighting game in very early alpha
• Weaponize "smart" household objects to fight others
• Java with OpenGL via LWJGL

Vulkan Renderer

(Spring 2024, CMU Real-Time Graphics)

GitHub

• Real-time Vulkan rendering engine written in C++
• Physics-based rendering, shadow mapping, screen-space ambient occlusion, screen-space reflections

Manhunt

Game

(Fall 2021, CMU Game Creation Society)

GCS Webpage GitHub

• Large scale GPS-based hide and seek mobile game!
• Created with Java and LibGDX
• Co-led a small team with Parth Iyer