Overview

My primary area of expertise is with the Microsoft stack. I have been using C#.Net since the release of version 2.0. For windows application development I favour a WPF/XAML user interface combined with an Entity Framework ORM and SQL Server database.

For websites, I am competent in the use of the ASP.Net MVC framework, combined with expertise in Javascript, HTML 5 and CSS 3. Recent projects have included significant use of Javascript to develop highly interactive ‘single page app’ websites.

I am able to learn new technologies quickly. I can rapidly apply my previous experience to an unfamiliar code base.

Projects

I have several software development projects I work on which I use to expand on my knowledge of current technologies. Source code for some projects is available on GitHub.

• Boxed In - Windows 8 / Windows Phone game.
  • Beta version created in one week.
  • Currently preparing final version for market place release.
  • Prize winner in Codeproject/Intel AppInnovation competition.
  • Demo available on request.
  • C#.Net v4
  • XNA 4/MonoGame
  • Windows Phone 7/8
  • Windows 8
• OISC VM - Virtual machine environment and assembler for a "One Instruction Set Computing" CPU. Based on the "subtract and branch if less than or equal to zero" instruction.
  • C#.Net v4
  • SUBLEQ Assembly
• Microcontroller programming - Learning to program Arduino and Netduino microcontrollers. Goal is to build a small robot.
  
  Delivered introduction talk at NxtGenUg in December 2010.
  • C
  • C#.Net Microframework v4
• Ph-Air Hockey - Air hockey game for the Windows Phone 7 platform, and XNA collision library.
  
  Won first prize in WP7 game competition at XNA-UK.
  • C#.Net v4
  • XNA
• Creou website - Company website, written as a contact point for clients and to aid in learning web technologies.
  • C#.Net v4
  • ASP.NET MVC v3
  • Razor
  • XHTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • jQuery
  • Modernizr

Community

I take an active role in and enjoy contributing regularly to the development community.

• Python Club
  • Two 6 week courses at a local school teaching game programming.
  • GCSE and A-Level students using Python and PyGame.
  • Both were very successful and the school and pupils have requested that I run more in the future.
• NxtGenUG Member and speaker
  • Delivered three 20 minute talks:
    • EF4 POCO - Zero Code Approach (Rated 7.2/9)
    • A Beginner's Guide to Programmable Microcontrollers (Rated 8.1/9)
    • Introduction to XNA (Rated 8.5/9)
• XNA-UK UG (2010-2012) Organiser and speaker
  • Involved in organisation of meetings and website
  • Delivered one 20 minute talk:
    • Collision Physics with Vectors - (Write up)
• Global Games Jam 2012
  • Awarded 2nd place for the Birmingham region in Global Games Jam 2012 for our game Skitz, written from scratch in just 2 days.
• Stackoverflow
  • 10k+ reputation
• The CodeProject
  • MVP award 2009
  • Two published articles:
    • How to Safely Trigger Events the Easy Way (Rated 4.54/5)
    • Building and Maintaining Multiple Application Editions using Conditional Compilation (Rated 4.71/5)

Employment history

• Creou Software - 2011 - Present: Software Developer / Director.
  

  In May 2011 I left Hadley Industries to start Creou Software. Initially working as a software consultant and freelance developer with the long term goal of building a software products company.

  Contracts:

  Bravissimo Ltd April 2012 – April 2013.

  • Responsible for complete delivery of a brand new mobile website as part of a small team.
    • Single page app architecture using Backbone.js and Marionette.
    • Handlebars.js templating with custom written Jurassic.net based pre-compilation engine.
    • HTML 5 semantic markup and CSS 3 effects.
    • Support for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7/8.
    • Asp.Net MVC 3 / razor server side.
  • Sole responsibility for:
    • Development of new password security to use current best practices.
    • Implementation of new guest checkout system.
    • Implementation of new product review system.
  • Javascript
  • HTML 5
  • CSS 3
  • Backbone.js
  • Backbone.Marionette
  • jQuery
  • Underscore.js
  • Handlebars.js
  • Jurassic.net
  • C#.Net v4
  • ASP.Net MVC 3
  • Razor
  • Git

  Aqua Intelligence March 2012 – May 2012.

  • Contracted to complete development of Mercedes Benz Accelerate sales platform.
    • ASP.Net MVC 3 / razor web app.
    • Full support for IE6 to 9.
    • Expertise gained and project delivered in limited time frame.
  • C#.Net v4
  • ASP.Net MVC 3
  • Razor
  • Entity framework
  • SQL Server 2008
  • TFS

  Crimson December 2011 – February 2012.

  • Responsible for implementation of two new modules for existing PharmaBase platform.
    • Coding of NSP and NRT modules on schedule with no prior SharePoint experience.
    • Full support for IE6 to 9.
    • Produced SharePoint packages to be integrated with pharmacy sites.
    • WCF Data Services back end.
    • Developed new custom SharePoint navigation provide to smooth the deployment of the new modules.
  • C#.Net v3.5/v4
  • Sharepoint 2010
  • Asp.Net
  • WCF Data Services
  • Entity framework
  • SQL Server 2008
  • TFS

  Greenhous Group May 2011 – November 2011.

  • Assisted with final development drive 8 weeks before the 1.0 release of their new internal vehicle management system.
    • Required to be quickly proficient with their existing system.
    • Supported the existing development team in bug fixing and performance tuning.
    • WPF / Prism application.
  • Development of prototype retail website.
    • Entirely new website written in Asp.Net MVC 3.
    • Made use of progressive enhancement with CSS3 and HTML5 features along with jQuery fallbacks.
    • Full support for IE6 to 9, Chrome and Firefox.
    • Silverlight components.
    • Entity framework ORM.
  • Development of MOT/Service booking system
    • Required to implement a new MOT/Service booking system for 3 independent branches.
    • Very short time frame; designed and delivered in less than 3 weeks.
    • Silverlight application with RIA services connection to Entity Framework/SQL Server store.
  • C#/.Net v3.5/4
  • WPF
  • Prism
  • Asp.Net MVC 3
  • Razor
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • jQuery
  • Modernizr
  • Silverlight 4
  • RIA Services
  • NHibernate
  • Entity framework
  • SQL Server 2005/2008
  • TFS
• Hadley Group 2007 - 2011: Analyst Software Developer

  The Hadley Group is a major producer of cold rolled steel section. My role in Hadley’s technology department was development of systems to support both the manufacturing process and business operations. I was also expected to drive innovation and improvement around the group.

  • Initiation and development of an "Electronic Production Board" project. Generating £10,000 - £15,000 per installation for 4 installations. Achieved 4 times the original target for the project revenue. Responsible for full product life cycle from inception to launch within 9 months of joining the company.
    
  • Responsible for development of a "Remote Machine Monitor" and advancing the project from the originally planned 6 installations to 41 installations across the company generating £315,000 in additional revenue for my department.
    
  • Worked closely with electrical and hardware engineers using PLCs, CLMs and SCADA systems to build systems that integrate with machinery to provide control and capture information from a range of sources.
  • Key participant in the design and code of a new quotation management system to improve the work flow and structure of the customer acquisition process.
  • Implemented improved development practices including Subversion source control, unit testing, continuous integration and bug tracking.
  • Responsible for liaisons with new clients and securing bespoke project work.
  • C#.Net v3.5/v4
  • Entity Framework
  • WCF
  • WPF
  • MVVM
  • WinForms
  • MVC
  • SQL Server 2000/2005/2008
  • RS-232 Comms
  • Sockets
  • TCP/IP
  • Test Driven Development
  • NUnit
  • MSTest
  • Subversion
  • CruiseControl.net
  • BugTracker.net
• CDC Respond 2005 - 2007: Software Developer

  Respond’s primary product was a highly configurable enterprise class feedback management suite capable of supporting thousands of concurrent users and millions of customer records. Supporting both desktop client and web user interfaces Respond was primarily targeted at the financial sector customers included Barclays and Lloyds TSB.

  • Key participant in three maintenance releases of Respond's legacy product and new development on their flagship replacement.
  • Responsible for design and code of several bespoke projects to secure contracts valued in excess of £500,000.
  • Responsible for development of a ‘Record and replay’ plug-in to allow auditing and repeatability of configuration changes made to test/live environments.
  • Responsible for design and development of a ‘Category linker’ system that correlated user entered categories to filter data and provide an enhanced user experience when using the web client.
  • C#.Net v2
  • Web Services
  • WinForms
  • MVC
  • VB6
  • ASP (Classic)
  • HTML
  • JavaScript
  • SQL Server 2000/2005
  • Oracle 8/9
  • TFS

Education

• Microsoft Certifications
  • 2009 - MCPD - Windows Developer
  • 2007 - MCTS - .Net Framework 2.0: Windows Applications.
• The University Of Birmingham
  • 2005 - BSc (with honours) Computer Science (1st class).
• Lawrence Sheriff School - Rugby
  • 2001 - A – levels: Computing (A) Maths (B) Physics (C).
  • 2001 - AS – levels: Electronics (A) General studies (B).
  • 1999 - GCSEs: 1 A*, 7 A’s, 3 B’s. Including English, Maths, Science and IT.