What I do?

I write code. I'm fully capable of using Photoshop and similar technologies to produce assets and design websites, but I prefer the coding aspect. I love to create things. Real architecture was always a huge fascination of mine and, through development, I can tackle a wide range of mini architectural problems rapidly; all while creating something interesting and having a useable product at the end of the day.

What kind of code?

This is my least favorite question. Everyone nowadays is a "HTML, CSS, JS, XML EXPERT!" so this has become so diluted that it really carries no weight at all.

I've spent a long time in the server side of PHP v3->5 systems; experience with many accompanying modules. I prefer to use CLi for most things, but fine with using a GUI (mysql, git, mongo, php, nginx, apache, etc). MySQL was often along side the PHP work and I spent a lot of time writing and optimizing queries. It feels really nice as a developer to write a really elaborate query and have it perform a specific task really well.

I've been involved with with HTML since the beginnings of GeoCities and Tripod hosting. Followed along with the HTML changes, CSS implementations, and Javascript evolution. There used to be a time when you'd have to consider that IE for Mac was a competitor and had to compensate for that among differences between Netscape and IE 5.5. It's basically the same game now, but the players have changed.

I write clean, readable, and broken out Javascript that multiple people can work on/test at once. I spent many years figuring out different patterns and structures using PHP to test the efficiencies in each. Now that Javascript has evolved, I have been reapplying my discoveries and rediscovering.

I started with Flash MX in the mid 2000s and have been using it all the way til today. Actionscript 2 comes up every once in a blue moon, but it's mostly all AS3. I have a wide range of experience including: Papervision experiments, small ads, full sites with deep linking, translations, and CMS systems, and games. Working with Flash is not my preferred language, but I'm used to it. I enjoy things better when there's no IDE involved.

The short version of my experience:

  • Server Lang: PHP(SPL), memcached, some ASP
  • Client Lang: HTML(5), CSS(3), Javascript(1.8), Actionscript(3)
  • Database: MySQL, MongoDB
  • Servers: Apache, nginx, Node.js
  • APIs: Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google, Amazon, GitHub, Sonos, Foursquare, more.
  • Frameworks: Lithium, Pyro, CodeIgniter, Smarty, Cake, Wordpress, Drupal, SilverStripe, Magento, jQuery, MooTools, cocos2d, box2d, closure, more.

I prefer to use Ubuntu when working. My editor of choice is Geany. But... I have plenty of experience using both OS X and Windows environments.

What do I like to do?

Creating things that people might use. I like to create things people want, something that serves a purpose, something that fills a void. Then after I build it, I want to improve it. I want to do my best to make it the best.

I experiment constantly in every way. From small folder structures to entire projects. I make up random things to work on just to test how X type of site will work in Z type of situation. Projects like Teepee and my portfolio started out as simple experiments to test one or two things, but then evolved into actual websites.

I take pride in the fact people can ask me things, and I often know the answer off my head from having done it so many times. I think it's more important to know how NOT to do something than only having one solution and no reason why. I like knowing that I don't have to refresh my browser 100 times while coding because I already know what it will look like as I write it.

Where have I worked?

  1. Big Spaceship

    Jan 2009 - Present

    Big Spaceship is a award winning digital creative agency based in DUMBO Brooklyn, NY. They've worked on things such as: Skittles.com, Healthymagination.com, UrbanDaddy Dashboard, and Hungry Suitcase.

    I worked here as a developer coding in every language I know, and learning more. I handled a lot of database administration, took lead on many projects, talked and handled clients from a developer perspective when necessary. Big Spaceship gave me the opportunity to work on projects like Skittles.com, Most Awesomest Thing Ever, and Always Beautiful. I developed several libraries while working here, including: BasilJS, Rosemary, CodeExplorer, and parts of the BSS package.

  2. Seesaw

    Jan 2007 - Jan 2009

    Seesaw is a small exclusive agency with clients including: Nike, Diageo (Smirnoff/Crown Royal), MTV, and Martha Stewart. They're located in Manhattan right in the heart of Chelsea.

    I started with full responsibilites over all development. Project requirements ranged from Flash(as2, later as3) to PHP/MySQL. Small banners to full-scale sites with CMS. I handled all frontend/backend/database coding and maintenance. Later hired more developers and led them until I left. One project from this experience was an e-commerce website for the famous Bustelo brands, JavaCabana.com.

  3. Freelance

    2005 - Present

    I've been freelancing for clients off and on for the past 6 years. Before Seesaw, I was living in Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA freelancing. I keep a small portfolio of clients and do jobs of any range of difficulty in a variety of languages.

Closing words?

Everyone's the same on the internet. Talking to someone in person is a lot easier to get the jist of things.

Not everything I put out to the public is "reviewed, debugged, staged, sent to production," involving my portfolio. When it comes to my own work, I just throw it out there broken or not. I don't mind that people can see my progress as I work. This obviously does not apply to client work.

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