I am an IT professional with over 30 years commercial programming experience. During this time I have worked on everything from mainframe emulation systems, aviation subsystem simulators, educational CD-ROMs, bespoke content management systems, database driven websites and OTT streaming platforms.
I have commercial experience in using a multitude of languages including C, C++, Java, PHP, Brightscript to name just a few. More recently I have concentrated on Roku development and have worked with numerous major OTT streaming companies.
I now work remotely on a freelance basis.
If you're looking for an experienced, dedicated and exceptionally motivated developer for your project, then please don't hesitate to contact me.
An IT professional with over 30 years commercial programming experience:
Software/Scripting Languages | Object-Orientated PHP 8, Doctrine 2 ORM, MVC, jQuery, Java/J2EE/J2SE/Swing, Visual C/C++, OO JavaScript, Visual Basic, Action Script 2 & 3, PHPUnit, Zend Framework 1 & 2, HTML5, CSS3, Ajax, REST, XSL, XML, XSD, XSLT, SPARQL, BrightScript, Slim, Twitter Bootstrap API, Amazon web services, backbone.js, Highcharts charting library |
DBMS | SAPdb, Oracle 10g Enterprise Edition, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Access, SQL, ODBC/JDBC, SQLite |
Operation Systems | Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OSX |
Web Servers/CMS systems | Microsoft IIS, Apache Server/Tomcat, PHP/ HTMl, Apache Jena Fuseki, Visual Studio for C++/Java, Adobe Flex Builder 3, Concrete5, Magento, CMS Made Simple, Drupal 8 |
Version Control/Messaging | GitLab, SVN, SmartSVN, CVS, Visual SourceSafe, Mantis, Jira, Slack, SmartGit, Asana |
May 2018 - April 2024
In complete charge of the brightscript development for the UKTV Roku App for 6 years, adding new development, functionality, certification updates etc.
New features including:
April 2021 - February 2024
In complete charge of the brightscript development for the STV Roku App, Responsible for all new functionality, fixing any bug issues, and providing regular updates to the app. Familiar with all Roku certification requirements, analytics, IAP and the publishing process. Implemented the following:
April 2020 - June 2023
Worked on numerous Roku applications through the whole life cycle of the project including the following app:
Part of a large team for Discovery+ and also the white label application, developing the functionality of the core module. The White label app was a dynamic CMS (Sonic) driven application, designed to be used for a multitude of start-up projects. I was Lead developer for Tennis TV and GCN (Global Cycle Network), working with a team of 3 developers. The GCN app was particularly complex due to it supporting multiple languages including Japanese.
The JWPlayer was a separate project providing a basic app for proof of concept for an existing content CMS.
May 2018 - February 2019
I worked on the Channel 4 Roku app as a brightscript developer working closely alongside the Channel 4 team. During that time I worked on adding new functionality, including subtitles, Sumo analytics, as well as refactoring existing code, such as rewriting the task management and screen loading functionality as well as bug fixing. Participated in mandatory code reviews before merging codebase.
March 2013 - December 2021
Providing development and updates to the Zend driven music website http://www.carlinmusic.com/ and associated CMS which incorporates the Zend Lucene search engine. The most recent work involved integrating the code to support a French site and CMS. Other activities include:
June 2017 - Onwards
I have taken over the development work on the well known Harden's restaurant guide website.
June 2017 - Onwards
I was brought in to complete the partially finished Zend 2 project, MiProcurement. I quickly came up to speed with the project remit and under considerable time pressure successfully completed to specification.
I have now been asked to work on other projects including upgrading from Zend 1 to Zend 2.
Septermber 2017 - Onwards
I have taken over complete development work on this site.
I recently integrated the USA resorts and implemented a new pricing model as well as adding new backend functionality to the bespoke CMS.
June 2017 - August 2017
I worked remotely along side the Surge Online team as the principal backend developer on the Oxplore project. This is a Drupal 8 based site created in collaboration with Oxford University.
June 2016 - March 2017
Created the Roku channel (Hopster TV) using the brightsctipt scene graph XML framework. This links to all the dynamic content from the Hopster api's and also includes the Hopster/Roku subscription process.
I have also worked on updates since the original application, successfully overseeing the strict Roku certification process.
Application features:
November 2016 - February 2017
I worked remotely along side the Surge Online team as the main developer constructing the bcs beacon project (http://beacon.bcs.org). This not only consisted of the site itself but sitting behind is a bespoke content management system, allowing complete control of the data and subscription process.
December 2016 - January 2017
Worked remotely adding additional functionality to the ordering process of the website http://rentalrepublic.co.uk, the Number 1 ski hire and delivery company in France.
March 2016 - May 2016
Worked on a CMS Made Simple commercial property website, Lamb & Swift. Integrated property search functionality, plus the backend admin system to manage the bespoke property content. Integrated with the Google Maps api and the rightmove api to dynamically push content immediately to the rightmove website.
May 2015 - August 2015
Created Roku Music Channel - Pure Music using the Roku SDK and BrightScript language. The streaming video is controlled by a remote PHP driven CMS which allows dynamic editing of the music content. The music tracks are stored and served from Amazon S3.
April 2015 - June 2015
Re-developed the Magento site www.insitumanchester.com, applying new design and features.
September 2014 - January 2015
Worked on a bespoke content planner/authoring system using an RDF data model with the following tasks:
June 2014 - ongoing
Worked on numerous projects including:
January 2014 - February 2014
Developed the site McKenzie Guppy Limited, integrating Twitter Bootstrap and the Flickr api.
March 2013 - ongoing
Continuous development and updates to the Zend driven music website Carlin Music and associated CMS which incorporates the Zend Lucene search engine.. The most recent work involved integrating the code to support a French site and CMS. Other activities include:
January 2013 - September 2013 (9 months)
Developed alongside Ben Baker the website www.touchit.com. This site uses a combination of Zend Framework, PHP, jQuery and Ajax to bring together a visually appealing and informative website for the touch manufacturing community.
Other technologies include the Twitter Bootstrap and the Twitter api as part of the numerous functionalities within the site.
Sitting behind the site is a fully integrated admin section allowing control over the site content and an advanced notification system minimising administration tasks.
The site has been multi language enabled and is easy to switch between English, Chinese (traditional), Korean and Japanese.
MySQL is used as the RDBMS.
April 2012 - July 2012 (4 months)
Worked in association with Pearson Education and LDL on a joint project extending the functionality of the Pearson Flagship web based PHP-MySQL ALG (Always Learning Gateway) platform.
My area involved coding the front and back end of the reporting section of the application, integrating with the Highcharts pure Javascript charting library to create interactive data charts. Front end also included heavy use of jQuery JavaScript library interacting with a Zend Json Server via Ajax requests. Backend uses PHP communicating with a MySQL db.
The project was run using agile development methods with the teams communicating via Google Hangouts each day and regular demonstrations of Sprints via Join.me.
September 2008 - January 2012 (3 years 5 months)
Began working remotely for the Pearson Central Digital Group working on the server side development of a Flex - PHP CMS system using Agile/SCRUM software development methods. Development used Zend Framework for PHP and Cairngorm for Flex with communication between PHP and Flex via Zend AMF.
Key activities and achievements:
April 2001 - September 2008 (7 years 5 months)
My remit at Pearson Education was initially to design and implement the backend code base of the firm?s flagship e-learning product which is sold in the UK primary schools market. When I joined Pearson plc the UK product, KnowledgeBox, had yet to be developed. Coupled with this, I effectively designed, engineered and coded the CMS used as the primary source for content deployment into KnowledgeBox in Java. In addition to providing new PHP support for new planning modules to KnowledgeBox I now provide technical input and coding for individual bespoke software development projects at Pearson and provide support for existing and new customers and support teams.
Key activities and achievements:
June 1995 - April 2001 (5 years 10 months)
During this period I was fortunate to work in a variety of roles, initially as part of the 50 strong Software Development team, and then in the Localisation department and finally in the DK-Online team, developing the e-commerce website for the DK shop.
Software development teamI was initially brought into DK as a member of the ?core team? with the responsibility of maintaining and updating the generic C++ 16/32 bit core libraries for both Macintosh and Windows platforms. This was the core code used by the entire team of software developers and the engine for all the DK CD-Rom applications.
I requested a move into product development and became a developer on numerous DK CD-Rom titles including: Earth Quest, BMA Family Encyclopedia before being promoted to Lead Developer for Encyclopedia of Nature 2 and all of the Bear & Penguin series.
Key activities and achievements:
During this period my roles and responsibilities were two-fold. As well as working on the entire DK backlist of titles maintaining and localising products for export to foreign markets in conjunction with foreign publishers. I took on more of a technical consultant role to outsourcing companies. This was at the stage where DK was starting to move away from in-house CD-Rom production to outsourcing work externally.
Key activities and achievements:
I worked as part of the on-line team developing the e-commerce website for the increasingly important DK Shop. I also developed an Interactive TV website in conjunction with NTL from re-purposed DK content from existing titles.
Key activities and achievements:
November 1990 - September 1993 (2 years 10 months)
During this period I formed a Limited Company, Applied Software Consultants Ltd and contracted for a variety of CBT projects. Clients included: Rolls Royce, St James's Hospital, Allied Lyons and Barclays Bank. Most of the work involved mainframe emulation using the TenCORE language authoring system. In May 1992 I was asked to lead and develop a CD-Rom CBT course for the Ministry of Defence in Australia.
Key activities and achievements:
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London
Research Studentship in The Optical and Semiconductor Devices Group for design and development of a fibre coupled Fabry-Perot tunable cavity
Queen Mary College, University of London
Awarded a BSc Honours Degree (upper second) in Physics
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