Developers, Introduce Yourself

[Xithras]

Our new group needs an introduction thread. What's your development background? Languages? Experience? Platform preferences? Style?

[welshTerrier2]

1. active server pages, vb, sql server

Hi everyone ...

my background: web application development using active server pages, visual basic, sql server, javascript and html ... i'm primarily an application developer and a systems analyst ... my skills lie as much with application definition and design as they do with technical skills ...

i've done a little bit with .Net but would love to be able to ask questions of more experienced people ...

i'm happy to say i got laid off about a month ago and have lots of free time to spend learning new skills ... i'm toying with the idea of "going off on my own" instead of going back to work for corporate America ... the job market is not looking too good right now ...

wt2

[Xithras]

2. I guess I should post mine:

Mom bought me an Tandy CoCo2 in 1983 and I've been programming ever since. I completed my MS in CS, with a double minor in physics and mathematics, at UC Berkeley and today divide my time between running my own software consulting company and an adjunct position teaching programming theory at a local college.

I can, or at one time could, program the following application languages: Delphi (many moons ago), C++ (Borland & MS flavors), Java, C# (new to this one), and a few others.

My web programming experience includes the usual HTML and Javascript, plus PHP, ASP, ASP.NET (C#), PERL, JSP, and Cold Fusion (I'm a few years out of date on that one).

I took several classes on DB development at Berkeley, and routinely find myself doing database design work on Oracle (8i), SQL Server, MySQL, and SyBase.

Environments? Windows/Dos (all versions), Sun Solaris, BSD UNIX, and HPUX (I've worked briefly with many more, but don't know them well enough to claim).

[AntiFascist]

3. Here goes....

I program pretty much exclusively in C++ focusing mostly on Windows, but also lot of experience on the Mac (OS 9 and X), Unix, various other OS, application-level, driver-level, and everything in between. Some experience with DAO and I know how customized Windows database files can be hacked with MS Access :mad: A lot of experience with graphics, imaging, but pretty much internet-challenged when it comes to programming. Need to learn JAVA soon.

[kcr]

4. Here goes

Apache handlers (Unix)
Mod Perl (Unix)
Perl (Unix/Windows)
VB.NET (Win)
Java (Unix/Windows)
C/C++ (Unix/WIndows)
ASP.NET (Win)
C# (WIn)
Javascript (IE/Netscape)
PHP (just a bit)
HTML (IE/Netscape)
XML

And I also spent time as a network security engineer, using Checkpoint firewalls.

Been doing this for about seen years now.

[TrogL]

5. Perl, C, various dead languages

Mostly working in C supporting open source.

[pmbryant]

6. Mostly Java/J2EE web application development

At least that's what I do currently and for the previous few years.

--Peter

[dhinojosa]

15. same here

[rabid_nerd]

7. Here goes...

First Computer:
Commodore Vic 20 at age 5 in 1983

Programming:

BASIC (From Commodore to BASICA, GW-BASIC, QBASIC, QuickBASIC, Visual BASIC 4-6 and .Net)

Visual C++ 6

Sun Java (Forte was my IDE when I was at my prime)

Perl/Shell

Formerly: COBOL, Pascal

Web:

Perl

ASP/JSP/PHP

ColdFusion 4.0-MX

HTML/JavaScript/JScript/DHTML/CSS

WDDX/XML/RSS

Database:

MS SQL 6.0 - 2000
MySQL
Access
ODBC/ADO

Systems:

Windows/DOS (3.0 - XP)
Red Hat Linux (8.0 - Enterprise)
MAC OS X

Graphics:

Flash 4.0 - MX (SwishMax 2.0 as well)
Photoshop 5.0 - 6.0

Previous positions (from oldest to current since 1996):

Computer Store Owner in a Mall
Network Administrator
Computer Programmer
Lead Developer
Web Developer

[ixion]

8. jsp, php and application development for the most part

the jsp pays the bills, and the php I do in my 'spare' time.

[FormerOstrich]

9. I've been developing software....

....forever it seems. I think it's probably the only thing I've ever been really good at. I never could cut it in sports, relationships, or things other people seem to excel.

I started writing BAL to run on an Olivetti A6 (I don't think I spelled it correct but I repressed it).

From there I worked within the IBM world (it sort of had a corner on the market) mainly in the mid-range family.

I graduated from the old school into the new old school (Microsoft) about the time that Access 1.1 and Visual Basic were introduced (Windows 3.1 & DOS 6).

I've never met a language I couldn't figure out and I've met a lot of them. I've learned plenty of dead languages.

My specialty (if you could really consider it such) has been databases since I've worked lots of data warehouse projects. I've written code of relational, object, and multi-dimensional databases.

I know enough of UNIX to get me to my ORACLE database and I'm becoming woefully behind in open systems development and the latest non-Microsoft technologies.

I have worked independently since 1997. It was feast for a long time and famine has set in (and is terribly hard to recover from). I just finished up a contract at the beginning of November...so I am actively looking for work (full time employment or contract whichever comes first). The project I just finished was SQL Server T-SQL.

more than you ever wanted to know......

[GregD]

10. I started with RPG back in the Seventies

and created a career coding "tic tac toe on 4 sheets of paper." At least that's how we referred to it - RPG is a language that requires commands and other values to be coded into fixed positions on a series of programming statement formats. I programmed on IBM System/3, /34, /36 and AS/400 for 25 years.

Moved over to the web in 2000, and needed a shopping cart. Discovered Storefront 2000 from www.storefront.net, and that led me down the path of learning ASP.

A little over 2 years into the business I became political, having discovered the e-voting issue (and hating Bush, and what he might do with them.) That led to my spending most of the time since June 2003 building sites to support activism in opposition to the paperless voting machines. After working my butt off to build my web development business, it's now pretty much in ashes since I turned away so much business during that time.

Now I wish I knew PHP because I recognized the need for that language to support some of the applications out there, but I'm not inclined to dig in and learn yet another language.

Basically, I have a couple guys in MN (I'm in CA) who have full time jobs doing web work for a big company that provides a nationwide news service. I sell web development projects to my clients, do as much of the gigs as I can manage, subcontract design and heavy programming to the guys, and fill in with other resources as situations dictate.

Looking to rebuild the business with like-minded folks.

[demnan]

11. I do Cold Fusion and Dreamweaver front ends

for SQL Server and Oracle databases. I also design databases. I have a passing acquintance with database administration and pc hardware.

I've been doing this for about 8 years now. I started taking programming classes like C and Visual Basic in the early 90's while I was doing admin work. Then in 1998 I went to work for a Cold Fusion shop and I bought Ben Forta's book on Cold Fusion.

I've been with the same contacting company now for 5 years and I do web development projects for the FAA.

[benburch]

12. Every language you can imagine.

But these days I am trying to make a living running a website...

Honestly, after being a software engineer for 28 years, I am totally burned out on methodology, specifications, bug reports, office politics, etc... I had to either change what I was doing or lose my mind.

[BootinUp]

13. Howdy

Not my main profession, but I do database app development for internal company use. My first was a dbase III multiuser application for inventory control and product formulation that was used at 3 different plant sites. Since then I have used MS Access to design custom Laboratory information apps. Recently I set up 2 Linux servers which run MySQL. One is for our Clarkie forum, the other is at work and is for developing a secure website for serving laboratory reports. It is also a hylafax server.

If you all don't mind, I might try to pick your brains from time to time. :)

[Meshuga]

14. PHP Enthusiast here...

Hello, I'm a software QA engineer and mostly work with scripting language for test automation but I wrote most of the intranet dynamic sites for my department (and other departments) at work and learning PHP scripting from scratch.

I created bug tracking systems, test coverage system, inventory systems, and an office pool (superbowl squares)all with PHP and some Java scripting on Linux environment using MySql as the database.

Learning PHP was easy because of all the online resources and all the books available like the PHP Bible and PHP cookbook and from little examples I started creating intranet solutions. So if you are looking into learning some web development start with PHP that in no time you will be creating some cool stuff!

Some web design projects came my way for small companies and groups and I was able to make some extra cash on the side. I'm not very good with making the page pretty (I'm better in making it functional) but I solve that issue by buying pre-made templates with flash and the works. I take the static templates and make them more dynamic with some logic. :-)

[bpilgrim]

16. web stuff mostly...

html, xml, css, javascript, actionscript, lingo, linux/os x, apache, mysql, perl/php, applescript

i prefer dev on a mac since it's tight with both programming & graphics which is where i spend most of my time ;->

for dev i use mostly bbedit, dreamweaver, terminal, fugu, fireworks, flash, photoshop, director, cinema 4d, learning maya 5

love playing with all the new stuff we got in TIGER, too :evilgrin:

:hi:

peace

[steely]

17. double ee with a need to integrate w/ hardware NOW

by that (NOW) I mean, I am not paid to code - but am expected to get it to work pronto when I have to. so I code for a month a yr.

latest example, took LabView training a few months ago and I haven't had a chance to write any yet, but when I do get the chance, it'll have to produce results quickly.

exprnc: macro11, fortran, pascal, C, some PIC code, VB, LbVw, SQL (sybase).
platforms, PC based, but older MAC, VAX, HP, compac proliant, dec
protocols: tcp/ip, RS/eia 232, 422, 484, ieee488/gpib, usb, and wierd mil protocls

you'd probably rate me as a hacker. I get familiar with the code, do it, then forget it (can't help myself)

on edit, anyone here ever have a vic-20 (predecessor to the commodore 64)?

[demnan]

18. I have to update my post

Since May I have been doing ASP pages and now I am doing Java with Tapestry. Needless to say, it's been a busy two months.

[DS1]

19. Didn't know this group was here - until now, obviously

I've had a similar path to rabid_nerd, started out in forms design, then went through network/mail/db admin job to programming job to graphics job supporting the html end of programming (typical dot.com rise from the ground up deal)

I'm a month away from getting my degree in graphic design, and I'm hammering away at some PHP sites for contract cash, and learning to love PHP against mySQL on Apache - all free - can't beat it.

Skills - Photoshop 7 years, Flash 4 years, Dreamweaver 4 years, J2EE, DHTML+CSS and of course, more and more PHP as each day passes.

:hi:

[mode13h_net]

20. computer science student

my specific area of study is operating systems. my main languages are c/c++ and asm for obvious reasons. my primary intrest is streamlined/embedded microkernels for security (gateways, firewalls, etc..) I also dabble in mobile devices - and I love the symbian os. I do, however, have much experience with *nix's. My current workstation os is, and has been for a long time, slackware. In the future it may be replaced by a linux distro of my own design, if I ever finish it.

[aePrime]

21. On the division

I have my B.S. in computer science, I'm just finishing up my M.S. in computer science, and have a ways to go on my Ph.D. for computer science, but am leaving school this semester to go work at a company that makes home design software (I've interned there a couple of times). The coursework is done; I just have to write that dissertation (Ha! Clearly the easy part!).

I just got done teaching an introduction to programming course using C++, and that and C are the languages in which I am most knowledgeable. At work I do C++ development on Windows. At home and school, I use Linux, Unix, and occasionally Mac OS X. If I could find a good *nix programming job I wouldn't touch Windows at all :) (except for the fact that my thesis project is cross-platform).

Aside from C++ and C, my languages are:
Java
Lisp
Scheme
Python (quickly replacing Perl for all of my scripting jobs)
Perl (as just mentioned)
Bash (if you want to count that as a language)
PHP (ick! Not so much PHP, but I hate web programming)
with some experience in Prolog and Icon.

Most of my knowledge lies in graphics and raytracers, but my research is in evolutionary computation (which can be considered a subset of AI, if you're not familiar).

[mainegreen]

22. Hi all! Web developer here.

Spend 90% of my time developing web based Insurance applications, with a focus on the financial aspects of insurance. I work primarily with PHP/Zend, but know my way around the usual suspects (VB,C,ASP,JS,Pascal). I work with a small tight knit group of developers. Most of our work is contracted out to various agencies and hospitals, but we also sell a few products as well, mostly for niche insurance (bonds, subrogation).

I've always preferred PHP, finding it to be flexible to my needs. Plus we have a huge library written in PHP, which according to our new guy just about mimics everything in .NET and then some. So that's what .NET does! :P

Getting into AJAX and loving it! Makes web programming more like a client app and less like your slow cousin Daryl!

The rest of my time is spent on MSSQL server administration (ick) and data migrations (double ick)

[stevietheman]

23. Freelance Web Programmer -- mainly PHP & MySQL

I concentrate in server-side programming and database design for websites and web applications. I've been programming for 16 years, and dallying with the web since 1995, although it's been just the past few years that I've tried to be a serious professional with web development--before that time, I was mainly a Windows app developer.

Beyond client projects, I'm also working on an extended version of the phpBB discussion board, php-based directory software, and my own website framework.

Here's my services site: http://www.webcommons.biz/hub.php

[mogster]

24. Web and other programming

Free-lancing a lot on no-pay, feel good stuff these days :D

But I do some paid work too, for a small company I'm involved with, mostly health care progs related to the Norw. system of partly public/partly privatized healthcare.
Just now I'm coding a rather big system for homecare over the net. It's made up by a database'd web administration interface, in cooperation with a win prog that transmits live video, and it all is controlled by a daemon - written in php!
I'm used to running programs by coding in Deplhi/Pascal, but the daemon-php-stuff really took some time to get sorted out.
Fun though.

Er.. yeah, and apart from that I'm a self thaught wolf, and have been working with computers since '96. Know a lot of Unix and win stuff, and used to work with Sun equipment.
Mostly done web related work since 2001, and does the whole package from front end to back end.

[LSK]

25. lets see, at my job I do VB, ASP, PERL, SQL, EDI

I started out knowing only some PERL and a little VB. Then I got my current job in 1998 and learned ASP and SQL. Built many websites and applications over the years for the company. Meanwhile I was utilizing perl to create reports from our databases. Around 2003 another developer started to show me VB objects. Now we combine VB objects with ASP and Perl. Then the EDI coordinator quit so now I have added EDI to my duties as well. Soon I will be learning .NET.

Other skills would include Photoshop, SQL Server, DB2, HTML (thats a given), javascript, linux, Win 2000 Server support.

I have worn many hats at my job over the years.

Whats really funny is I was originally hired at my job to be a graphic designer. :rofl:

[Omphaloskepsis]

26. Hello...

Mostly web stuff here!

I use RealBasic.. It works well for simple stuff.. Don't laugh..

Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and Ajax stuff for work.

PHP, MySQL, Perl, Python, and JavaScript. I feel pretty solid with those.

Learning Objective-C to write Cocoa Apps on OS X.

[Debau2005]

27. Just found you!

By day, I am a Lotus Notes/Domino database administrator/designer. By night I use DreamWeaver, Flash, and Fireworks to create sites for small businesses. Within my sites I have PHP, MySql, FlashPaper (great alternative to Acrobat!), Miva Merchant, and CubeCart. Right now I prefer CubeCart, it is easy to manipulate and the forums are full of helpful tips.

[Sgent]

28. Lets see....

Current Platforms: SPARC, Linux, IBM z9 (big Iron), PowerPC

Languages: C, Objective-C, Java, JCL, Mumps varients, Python

Other: Oracle, Postgresql

Current job: freelance "data analyst" with expertise in EMR systems & revenue/cost analysis.

Best new thing: Python as glue using compiled C functions for data intensive stuff.

New cool thing: Sun's grid computing network!!! Jobs that used to take weeks now take hours.

[ZombieNixon]

29. Hi...

Old DUer, new to this group. :P

My experience is in gaming, largely self-taught in C since I was 11 (though I originally started out in Java), and now delving into C++ more than I'm in college...majoring in computer game development. Nearly all of my C and Java programming has been on the Mac, with most of my C++ experience on Windows. Oh, yeah, I also do HTML. I'm also in the process of developing a proprietary game engine from scratch using the open source Quesa API (http://www.quesa.org). Much of my current work involved 3D animation, and recently (as in yesterday) I completed the character animation portion (AKA H.E.R.K. - those of you who know me will get the joke :P) of said engine.

[RetroLounge]

30. Been a developer for 20 years...

Started in Cobol and then dBase III, Paradox, Foxpro.

For the past 8 years I have been at the same job coding in Delphi with Oracle and SQL Server.

Started teaching myself C# in anticipation of us going to .net.

So freaking burned out on developing I want to quit and sell books full time...

RL