Portfolio

Contents:

Site integration modules (Qtask)

Qtask is an online project management tool that is integrating information from other sites to a high degree, so you don't have to log in to many sites to get all your information; Qtask will have it all.

We worked on integration for the following sites and formats:

• Evite
• Skype
• Netflix
• iCal
• Microsoft Project

Our job was to provide interface modules that the internal Qtask developers could use to access information from these sites, or for specific formats and platforms, for display and interaction in Qtask.

Technical writing (REBOL Technologies)

We specialize in REBOL, so it was nice to be able to work with the big brains at REBOL HQ to get some new documentation out when a new version of View was released.

Make-doc was the main format used to produce documents, but a number of internal tools and formats were also designed, to make generating large volumes of reference information much easier. A lot of the data was in native REBOL format, or a dialect of it, and then processed and aggregated to create the final documentation for the web, and for use in tools like the REBOL Word Browser.

Loan origination and service system (Best Finance, Inc.)

The ultimate goal was a complete system, written in C# and SQL Server. Since those aren't our primary development tools, we looked for ways to leverage our skills in ways that would help us, and also help their internal developers. In addition, the existing system had some issues that could be improved, if not solved entirely, while the new system was under development.

Ultimately, we built custom code generators for C# classes, and SQL definitions and stored procedures, prototyped some Windows custom controls in C#, and mocked up some user interface prototypes; laying a design and infrastructure foundation so the final development could be done in-house.

We also created a number of interim tools (a.k.a. band-aids) to help users, while main system was being developed.

• Simple Amortization schedule
• Simple Interest Calculator
• Clipboard quick-paste utility
• Automation for existing credit card processing software
• Mail Merge System update - The old system used WordPerfect and custom file formats and required manual mail merge input. The new system uses MS Word, uses existing data format, and added a UI for complete merge visualization and automation.
• Redraft system handler - replaced paper process for failed payments that needed to be reprocessed.

More details, and screenshots, can be seen here.

Health Club distributed membership management system (ASAP Workout, Inc.)

This system was built on top of REBOL IOS, which handled all the remote sychronization for us. We wrote "reblets" that operated from the IOS desktop and integrated with each other via TCP-based IPC, so the system was very modular.

It integrated with an optical bar code scanner and credit card/MICR check reader and an interface to the ECHO online payment processing system was built.

The front end was a collaborative effort with a graphic designer (Chris Ross-Gill), who designed a built the low level styles and many of the initial screen layouts.

SURFnet National Research Institute (Netherlands)

• Open Source Cross platform installation toolkit (Roxy).
• Stunnel-in-a-Box - Installer, configuration via web portal, auto-updater for Stunnel universal SSL wrapper.
• Secure web portal.

More details, and screenshots, can be seen here.

Theatre Audition Software

Developed for two local non-profit theatre groups, to help manage their season auditions, which sometimes drew hundreds of actors. Scoring, remembering, and casting four to six shows, with dozens of potential candidates for certain roles, can be very trying, especially at 3AM.

More details.

IOS and general file publishing utility (Real World Systems)

Auto-publish files from one location to another. There was a general version first, then it was adapted to auto-publish updated files to IOS. This was a proof-of-concept project built on REBOL IOS.

Other projects, not done under the auspices of Pointillistic Software

Infastructure Tools and Libraries

The client had an existing system for school system administration that ran on HP3000s, and they wanted a Windows front-end.

• Code generator for converting COBOL CopyLibs to VB Class modules. If all ~1,500 record definitions were converted, roughly one million lines of VB code would be generated. Each class knew how to serialize itself to and from the HP3000 back-end, converting datatypes, etc.
• Dynamic Report Screen generator. Using a simple definition file, a custom VB report form would be dynamically generated.
• Custom Windows socket library; based on original source created by Desaware software. Dan Appleman, of Desaware, is a true low-level Windows guru, plus a heck of a nice guy. Desaware makes great products.
• Continuation of previous class library development (that I retained rights to). I believe it had about 65 classes and 1,800 methods when all was said and done.

These were all built with Visual Basic.

Mortgage Origination System (used by 5 of the top-ten banks in the U.S.)

The banking brain behind this system was Rich Marston, of Marston Financial Systems, Inc. I was the technical guy, though I learned a lot about mortgages while working on this project. If you need someone who knows mortages, and how to get the numbers right--no matter how complex and ugly your products are--Rich Marston is the man you should call.

• Design and development of Windows-based mortgage origination system.
• Production technical support.
• Analysis, and optimization of clients other in-house software.
• Conversion of 16-bit mortgage origination system to 32-bit.
• Design and development of processes, reusable components (DLLs and ActiveX controls), and tools for VB/Windows development.
• Train and mentor employees in object-oriented development practices.

This system was built with Visual Basic, and some Delphi and PowerBASIC.

Visual Basic Specialist (IBAX Healthcare R&D project)

• Proof-of-concept project for conversion of a 4,000 screen AS/400 system to the Windows platform.
• Designed and developed an engine that would dynamically generate Visual Basic forms from AS/400 Presentation Spaces using Rumba.

Other

Spell checking add-in for vertical market software (MicroCraft)

Using Microhelp's custom control for Visual Basic, a spell-checking feature was "added to" an existing DOS program running under Windows. The add-on would read the proprietary data files, allow you to select a particular file or account, then scan the file for spelling errors, displaying a window that allowed you to update the data in the file.

Direct-Line-Plus mortgage origination system (Countrywide Funding)

Allowed brokers to remotely access current pricing, submit loan applications, and check their status. This was pretty cutting edge for a small team to build in Windows at the time.

Front end for Excel/Word data access (Bonneville Power, ETI/AMPG)

Bonneville Power did an energy survey (PNWRES92 if memory serves), that produced hundreds of Excel spreadsheets and Word documents. A navigation system was built with Visual Basic that controlled Word and Excel via DDE to let the users select documents, or groups of documents from menus, automatically display charts, etc.

Kiosk software (computer dating) (The Network Club International)

Interfaced with a bill acceptor and touch screen. Simple data entry, profile matching, and account maintenance.

Commercial PIM/Contact Manager (Call or Write -- Positive Software Solutions)

A commercial Personal Information Manager for Windows, published by Positive Software Solutions. Version 1 was built with Visual Basic version 1.0, and Version 2 with VB3; it used the QEVB data engine. Notable for its time was a customizable table view, the ability to define and store custom views, and the ability to query by example. It could be used to auto-dial phone numbers, and print mailing labels.

Gear Design Assistance software (DOS-based) (Barner Engineering)

This was a rough prototype, run as a graphics-mode DOS app, that would allow you to enter target criteria, then interactively "tune" the resulting gear design.

Loudspeaker Design Tools (DOS-based) (Self-Published)

Design software for loudspeakers. Supported various box designs (vented, transmission line, horn, sealed, double-chamber reflex) and simple passive networks. Came with a standard database of drivers that could be extended by the user.