For the past fifteen years I've built the architecture, code, and development lifecycle of web-based software. My clients and employers have ranged from startups seeking prototypes to Fortune 500 companies developing enterprise solutions. My development is tempered with a solid understanding of product design, user interface, and data modeling. My team management is based on a visible, realistic, ambitious development process, and respect for software developers as collaborative individuals. I seek a position from which to make software developers as valuable as they can be and to make a product that accommodates the growing pains endemic to startups.
Inspirations: Jeff Atwood · Paul Graham · Vijay Vaitheeswaran · Steve Yegge · Alan Carter · Wayne Gretzky's dad
Develop Disney's internal data logging and analysis platform. The product is an asynchronous high-volume logging system, coupled with a collaborative web-based analysis platform that encourages users to share their queries across Disney. We engage non-analyst users by showing insightful results, offering next steps (e.g. condition alerts) from directly within the resultant data, and allowing users to embed visualizations in their own documents. We engage novice analysts by revealing the source code to good queries so they can learn to write their own if they choose.
This product and I were acquired by Disney when Disney bought Playdom, an online game startup, in 2010. Since then I've added features, improved security and reliability, and positioned the product for growth throughout the Disney organization. My role is split between systems architecture, software development, and customer relations. Coordination between teams is generally peer-to-peer and meritocratic – design it well and they will come. I introduced and directed SDLC improvements such as deployment scripts, versioned components, and configuration layers. I personally recruited six employees and two contractors onto my teams at Playdom/Disney.
I was a founding partner in this software consulting group, specializing in early-stage development for startups. Simple Dynamics helped jump-start development often before the startup had its team in place. We led by example: delivered modular software, established visible and predictable development cycles, and so forth.
I developed business, mostly through repeat customers and referrals. I staffed projects by selecting from a small network of trusted software developers – we wouldn't accept the project if the developers weren't a match. And I led projects – by drafting interfaces, mentoring where necessary, and writing lots of code. We shipped on time and on budget. See Simple Dynamics work for samples of our clients and our projects.
This independent game company envisioned an artificial intelligence product, which I helped bring from concept to marketable prototype. I worked with the CEO to develop a new AI model realizable in software, and managed a small development team of three. Also designed production architecture, where the team's modular components worked together in an efficient, asynchronous environment.
I cultivated the association – part social, part political action – and represent it to Alameda government and industry as necessary. Presently we're working with Alameda Municipal Power to overhaul the city's power line undergrounding plan.
Originally a demonstration of a visual interface to navigate faceted data, this became a product in its own right (as a web-based service and as downloadable software). This was a solo project; work included: the SaaS portal, the software engine, and sample UIs to demonstrate its use. Facetmap has distinct recognition among information architects, is taught in university courses, and has been licensed to other software companies.
A representative sample of the clients and projects I led for Simple Dynamics:
I led a three-developer team to create a simple e-commerce site dedicated to selling a single handheld device for Location Labs' new venture. The device required extensive backend integration with three different, unrelated third-party services. Design specs for the interaction between services and for the website.
The server/client codebase had grown unwieldy and monolithic as this company scrambled to meet market demand. I led a two-developer team to redesign and refactor web application code to keep layers of functionality separate, meanwhile developing new features to meet business deadlines.
Created an online store application to sell virtual items within a game world using the game's currency. The store app accommodates multiple games simultaneously and provides extensive administrative tools. I designed and documented the product, and managed a second developer to implement.
Leading user experience design firm needed a functional, aesthetic prototype website for a financial institution, that gave users a friendlier way to manage their mutual funds and financial outlook. I wrote the functional code, and hired and managed the HTML coder on the project.
Work with CTO to define the project architecture for this health-centered social networking startup. Review, evaluate, and implement business requirements to meet market-driven deadlines. Produce technical specs and write production code. Design and implement web application configuration and deployment scheme.