Technical Summary

I started by programming in dBase for British Rail, then moved on to using the other packages that BR had, and helping the Engineers to realise the potentials of these systems. Since then, I have been exposed to several different systems, having used OS/2, and Linux on my own PC, as well as learning to use VAX/VMS during my year at Rutherford, and gaining some basic experience of MVS at PolyGram.

My degrees were focused on software design and development, and this is the area I then moved into - mainly writing windows based Client/ Server systems against SQL back ends. I have worked on projects with between 1 and 10 coders, and have been involved in analysis and design at practically all times. I have formed working relationships with clients at all levels from users through to directors and other technical personnel, and wish to continue in the same vain, bringing my ability to bear in providing technical solutions in a wide spectrum of situations.

Employment

I am part of the team maintaining and expanding DoCs Visitor Asset Management System, currently written in Centura against an MS-SQL database, and imminently to be re-written in C#, making use of 'smart client' technology.

As well as VAMS, I am currently working on an Electronic Time Recording System for the entire department, an Asset Management System for Fencing, and am responsible for maintenance of the departments Land Register application.

EKS Data Ltd, October 1998 to January 2002, contracted to :

I was initially approached to compile a database systems review for DPGL head office.

I audited the use of Access and MS-SQL Server databases, as well as reverse engineering their schemas, mainly using the Visible Analyst CASE tool, and presented a report to Directors, senior management, and close technical suppliers. The report layed out the current position and suggested a series of improvements, some technical, and others based on the usage of the systems and data.

The report was accepted, and I acted as a technical guide in helping the MIS department to implement some of the suggestions. Non usage oriented suggestions which I undertook included the development of a new, central database, which I designed using the data modelling facilities within Visible Analyst, along with a large number of T-SQL data import functions, and the development of front ends to allow simpler maintenance of the data, which I implemented using Delphi 6.

As well as performing the analysis, design and implementation of the Delphi systems by liaising directly with end users, I wrote end user and design documentation, acted as DBA when any production problems occurred throughout DPGL, and was consulted by management for technical input on any projects that could benefit from wider access to data.

Returning to Active Imaging in an off-site role I became involved in the development of the Active Imaging Multi Media Server, a Linux based video over IP server. As well as being involved in the building of the system - attending design meetings, and liasing with other developers - my main input was the design and programming of a configuration system.

As the configuration requirements were rather loosely defined, I wrote a generic system, using the BASH scripting language, and standard UNiX tools such as sed, in order to create an easily extensible, yet functionally strong application. As well as the back end scripts that actually enacted a configuration change, I wrote a Kylix front end for the Administrator to choose the required settings, and provided README and comment based documentation.

Since finishing my involvement in the project the Configuration requirements have continued to fluctuate and I have been thanked by the project manager for choosing the generic route, and for the ease with which they have been able to modify the options available.

In July 2000 Active Imaging was looking to relaunch itself as a Video Service Provider, and I was brought in on a 6 month contract in order to get them over any programming hurdles they may encounter. During my time there, I modified and extended the Video re-serving utilities that AI already had, which were written in C, and spent some time setting up the Server farm, a set of SuSE Linux machines housed in Londons docklands.

As well as working on web backends - using PostrgeSQL and PHP along with a dedicated web designer, I was called upon to sit in on sales meetings with potential customers - to provide technical information/ feedback - and was involved in early design meetings regarding the AIMMS box.

Rapid were writing a large Gupta/ MS-SQL Client/ Server application for a chain of high street holiday retailers, and I subcontracted to Rapid as an Analyst/ Programmer.

The system is a full life cycle holiday selection, booking and tracking system comprising over 30 screens, and I was a member of a 5-10 strong coding team that was supposedly implementing specs from a team of BAs, though they were generally incomplete, so we ended up doing much of the analysis ourselves. During this project I really learnt the worth of BAs, and how ineffectual ones could cause huge wastage! As well as having to perform a lot of my own analysis, and design my own database schema changes, I proved to be extremely good at demonstrating my code to end users, and gaining their feedback and/or approval.

My last few months at Rapid were spent re-engineering the system, to generate a cut down version for use in a call centre, this involved re-using existing code, writing fresh code to stitch the pieces together, and solving a number of database locking problems that were shown up by the larger number of concurrent users.

Permanent :

In my first role after University, I was a trainee business analyst in the Finance and Admin development team, which is responsible for developing Gupta/ Oracle Client/ Server applications to support the product Marketing companies.

During my 2 years at PolyGram I became extremely adept at Gupta and Oracle, including PL/ SQL, as well as having my first exposure to a real life design process, including users who actually had ideas about the ways that computers could improve their working life.

My main tasks were the creation of one system from scratch, and the maintenance of PolyGrams main repertoire system, though I was also involved in helping people on other projects on an ad hoc basis - especially with my SQL abilities.

I created a system for the licensing division, and though I was accompanied by a senior BA to the first couple of meetings, I was soon entrusted with analysing the problem, generating the specification, design and program myself, with just regular progress reporting back to the BA.

When LSD was in place I was responsible for maintaining and extending the system, and also for the ongoing maintenance of PARIS - PolyGram UKs largest in house application. Maintenance of PARIS was somewhat a step back into code monkey status, as it was one particular BAs baby, and hence I would generally be carrying out specific modifications asked for by him.

For my 'sandwich' year I was a member of a team developing ground support software for one of the Infra-red Space Observatory satellite's four instruments, the Long Wave Spectrometer.

I wrote several small, text based utilities mainly dealing with data translation, in FORTRAN and C, but I spent most of my time writing event driven data analysis programs that used IDL, providing a GUI on Workstations running off a VAX/VMS system.

Before I went to University I spent a year in Bristol, where I was first introduced to programming, by doing some dBase III+ coding, including a large application to store details about all of the buildings under the Office's jurisdiction, and their examination schedules and records. I spent my last few weeks upgrading all of the database applications used in the office from dBase II and III+ to dBase IV.

As I was extremely eager to find out as much as possible, I also took on the unofficial role of Junior Computer Officer, not only supporting my own applications but generally aiding the Computer Officer, helping to install a NetWare network, and helping the Engineers to get to grips with the programs available to them in the office.

Personal Details

Education

Hobbies and Interests

My main interests are sporting, playing Hockey, Mountain Biking, Road Cycling, Climbing, and last year completing my second season of racing motorcycles. I have represented Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire at Hockey, and Lincolnshire at Cross-country running. I was a member of both my University Hockey 1st XI's, and have played for several clubs. During my year at RMCS I played Cricket, and managed the Cricket Club Bar.

My cycling, motorcycling, and hockey also lead me to traveling and camping. I have visited most of Western Europe, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Egypt, Barbados, New Zealand and Malawi. I speak passable French, and some German, having visited Germany several times, the first two occasions being exchanges with my secondary school.

My other interests include juggling, computing, reading (mainly Sci-Fi Fantasy), hi-fi and listening to music (mainly rock or classical), maintaining my bicycles and motorcycles, and socialising.