Brian Davis.net

I have experience with a broad range of technologies. I've programmed in a ton of different languages including Perl, JavaScript, SQL, Visual Basic, C#, and Java. I have a deep understanding of web technologies HTML, CSS, jQuery, YUI, Prototype, ASP, CGI, XUL, and Apache. I've also worked with all of the big name databases Oracle PL/SQL, MySQL, MS SQL, and SQLite. I have excellent knowledge of object oriented design including meta-objects, and in-depth experience with major Perl tool chains such as Moose, Template Toolkit, and DBI.

I am captivated by great design. For user interfaces I enjoy the challenge of creating something very functionally powerful yet simple for the user to understand and use. I have consistently improved the user experience on every software project I've been a part of. From a coding standpoint, I enjoy creating the hierarchy of objects and the relationships between them as much as writing the code. I know that a better architecture can lead to a code base that is much easier to extend and work with down the road.

My other strengths include strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. Also, by venturing into entrepreneurship I have gained an above average knowledge of areas like accounting, design, management, sales, and customer service. As a fast, often self-taught, learner I adapt to new programming languages, technologies, systems, and development environments quickly. All of these skills combine with a good work ethic, an outgoing personality, and an upbeat attitude to make me a great engineer.

USP&E Global

Director of Technology

2010+

Responsible for the overall technical direction of the company. Including the website, SEO, general IT and networking infrastructure, along with the company's online customer-facing SMARTpower application and an internal administrative PHP inventory vendor system. Maintain legacy PHP code.

Created the company quote building system as a client-side javascript powered HTML5 app using jQuery, Backbone.js, and Underscore.js with a light-weight PHP and MySQL backend.

Genares Worldwide

Sr. Software Developer

2009-2010

As a Perl/Web developer I refined and added to the company's core hotel reservation system product by creating new and migrating old apps to an ExtJS based front end. I also developed a complete mobile web interface for booking hotel rooms. Although being completely web based, using HTML5 it closely mimicked the look and feel of a native iOS app.As a bug hunter, I uncovered subtle billing bug that was costing the company thousands of dollars per month, as well as systematically finding and fixing hundreds of other defects in the Perl and front end code. I also received a Google Analytics Professional certification while integrating the company's software with the Google Analytics platform.

EFJohnson Technologies

Software Engineer

2008-2009

The project revolved around taking a Perl application that manages a trunked land mobile radio system and converting it to mange a conventional two-way radio system. The scope of the change included controlling an Oracle database, navigating and refactoring a complicated library of Perl modules, building daemons, CGI scripts, web pages with complex Javascript to validate user input, and building reports delivered in Excel spreadsheets via Java's POI.

To improve the end user experience, I simplified the UI in several ways including using jQuery to create custom user input widgets, Prototype to convert several page loads into AJAX calls and generally simplifying rough "over-engineered" areas.

I also created automated scripts in Bash and Perl to setup a Red Hat Linux server for remote modem access. The box had to be setup so that the modem would answer an incoming call, validate a database user and password, hang-up and callback a pre-defined number for that user, revalidate the user and password, then begin a PPP link with NAT traversal to the server's LAN.

Fresh Look Creative

Web Developer & Owner

2007+

Created a document assembly system for a client using VBA in Office 2007 that creates financial planning documents with advanced charts, tables and graphics mixed into dynamic text content.

Created a large and visually stunning websites for clients using Perl's Template Toolkit to automatically build pages, CSS for presentation, YUI for advanced user interaction and GIMP and Inkscape for creation and editing of graphics and images.

Co-owning and operating a marketing agency has also greatly expanded my knowledge and skill set in the areas of marketing, advertising, graphic design, media production, accounting, management and customer service.

XFab Texas

Software Engineer

2003-2007

Designed and wrote a Perl web application with a desktop-style user interface to plan and manage incoming orders of custom silicon wafers through a semiconductor fab based on changing customer demand, fab capacity, raw materials availability, process time, customer forecasts, and engineering needs. The program interfaced with Microsoft Dynamics Solomon to keep accounting in sync with manufacturing.

In order to provide the feel and responsiveness of a desktop application, I heavily used complex Javascript, XMLHttpRequest, HTML and CSS to:

• Create a database table editing grid that enabled users to edit data on a web page similar to the way they would while using Access or Excel
• Create a calendar drag-and-drop editor for quick re-arrangement of weekly wafer starts
• Add context menus, date selectors, and smart input widgets throughout the program providing instant feedback on invalid data entry
• Create XUL window chrome that is server-delivered to a custom Gecko desktop client installation that I built with NSIS

Designed and wrote Perl web application to track employee training and fab equipment certifications to prevent employees from running equipment that they weren't certified for and alert HR of training classes that were needed.

Mentored other employees on Perl and Web programming.

Learning Lynx

Lead Programmer

2001-2003

Designed and wrote an online testing engine using Microsoft ASP, advanced Javascript, DHTML, CSS and MS SQL Server. The software dynamically changed image URLs to provide asynchronous page updates while a student is taking a test.

Designed and created a complete online classroom web application with ASP and MS SQL that included Lectures, Assignments, Tests, Discussion Forums, Private Messaging and User Management. The management component allowed for the creation of classroom content and also included a custom CRM system to track students, teachers, and online instructors and manage billing.

As part of a Texas Education Agency grant, I developed TAKShelp, a derivative of the classroom software, to facilitate online training and practice testing to help high school students prepare for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exit exam.

I also attended conferences and met with buyers to explain and push the technology through bureaucratic red tape.

XFab Texas

Development Intern

2000-2001

Designed and wrote Perl web application to track employee time cards and vacation accruals. The software facilitated supervisor approval of hours worked, vacation requests and replaced a manual spreadsheet system. The program would then run all of the paycheck calculations and create a data file ready to be uploaded to the outsourced payroll provider.

While working on the project, I created a CGI session management and user authentication system that would become the development model for other developers creating Perl CGI applications at the company.

Knowlton & Associates

Programming Instructor & Developer

1998-2000

Instructor and assignment grader for high-school students taking C++ and Visual Basic computer science courses.

Revolutionized the design of the online student user interface by converting it from a dry set of lists and links into an interactive chart that graphically relayed a map through the course. Used Delphi and Visual Basic to create COM components that were called by ASP pages in order to generate tests and progress reports for online students.

Datho Manufacturing

IT & Web Developer

1995-1998

Computerized the operations of the company including setting up a network, accounting software, shipping software, and automated backups.

Designed and created an e-commerce website and custom shopping cart with Microsoft ASP and SQL Server.

Created an ASP.NET web service and corresponding desktop application using C# to keep the online inventory in-sync with the accounting software.

My Own Web Development Framework

2001+

Throughout my career, while developing web applications that were becoming more and more complex, I noticed patterns that could and should be abstracted into a framework layer. So, as an ongoing independent project, I have created my own. First written in ASP Visual Basic then rewritten in Perl, it enables faster development of complex web applications by abstracting away or helping with:

• Session Management
• User Management
• Database Connections
• Object-Relational Mapping
• Page Construction
• Client & Server Data Validation
• Complex Data-Entry Widgets
• Debugging

Although ahead of the curve, it is apparent that I wasn't the only developer thinking about this at the time. There are now several popular open source frameworks similar to this in concept that are taking over web development best practices in dynamic languages. However, I haven't found one that I like better than my own so I continue to refine it and add functionality. Even now I am currently rewriting it on top of Moose, a postmodern meta-object system for Perl, to make it even more powerful and easy to use.

Education

Texas Tech University
Rawls College of Business
BBA in Management Information Systems (2003)
2nd Place - Big XII Collegiate Web Programming Competition (2001)

Microsoft Visual Basic Basics
Publisher: Course Technology
Book Field Reviewer/Tester & Contributor (1998)

Introduction to Computer Science Using C++
Publisher: South-Western Press
Book Field Reviewer/Tester & Contributor (1994)