About me:
I've been a programmer, lead developer, development manager and consultant.
I started as a UNIX systems programmer. My current focus is Web development.
I've been paid to program in C, Perl, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python and Ruby; I've played with many other languages, including Lisp, Prolog and Smalltalk.
For many years, I aspired to the title of "software engineer." I'm now proud to call myself a software developer.
Some of the things I've helped create:
- The Ingres relational database management system (PostgreSQL's precursor)
- The Perforce software configuration management system
- VxWorks, the real-time operating system that runs the Mars Rover
- The Ford Motor Company's first Web site
- Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers
- CDDB—where iTunes gets its information about albums, artists and songs
- An online betting exchange that earned £17M in net profits in 2005
- Weed, a digital music distribution service that pays you to share
- The manufacturing system that's used to make Reebok shoes to your specifications
I have expertise in:
- Data modeling
- Configuration management
- Process definition and automation
- Best practices
- Managing development teams and projects
- Requirements definition
- Web application development
- Extreme Programming
and extensive experience with:
- Software portability
- Software testing
- Domain-specific language design
- Framework design and development
- *nix systems administration
- Software quality assurance
- Object-oriented design
- TCP/IP client-server programming
- XML processing
- Software evaluation and procurement
- Technical writing
- Technical training
- Customer support
- Most three-, four- and five-letter acronyms
Availability:
I'm currently the Director of Development at GigantoCorp, and am not accepting other work at present.