Welcome. Thanks for stopping by. I'm a highly experienced and passionate client-side developer with over 15 years experience across all aspects of web-development, from UX design, HTML, JavaScript and jQuery coding, to database architecture and server side programming, with everything inbetween, including print design, CD-ROM/DVD authoring, video editing & encoding and much more.
By day, I'm the lead client-side developer at a well known recruitment web site, and by night I'm a web-geek (I'd rather be playing with code than watching repeats on Dave), and a food freak (I was a chef in a past life).
What I do
I use the web to solve problems, and solve problems on the web!
with HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, MySQL, PHP and more...
Overview
I'm passionate about all aspects of web development, from initial User Experience design and planning, to final build, and when I'm not writing code, I'm researching new techniques and keeping abreast of current trends and technologies.
User Experience
A good web site or internet application begins with careful thought and planning. It's not just a case of designing something in PhotoShop and converting it to HTML. Understanding the brief and the needs of your potential user is vital.
Before writing code, I gather a thorough understanding of the project requirements, and build wireframes and prototypes (often collaborating with other developers/designers/UX analysts), to help ensure all user experience and front-end boxes are checked, including usability, cross-browser support, page performance, SEO, accessibility, and best practice.
More recently, I have been involved in AGILE development practices, and I am rapidly gaining a solid insight into the methodology.
You can see some examples of my wireframes and prototypes in the "my work" section of this site.
Web & Interface Design
Once the planning and UX stage is complete, it's design time. In my day job, I work with a crack team of designers, so I do very little actual design, but I can turn my hand to a bit of PhotoShop magic when required. I'm also familiar with Illustrator and 3DS Max.
Though I started as a "web designer" back in late 1995, over time I have become more of an interaction specialist, so I don't really do much design these days. To be honest, I'd rather work with a design ninja and stick with my strengths - I'm a developer, not a designer.
As well as the design of this site, you can see some other examples of my design work in the "my work" section.
Web Video & Motion Graphics
After six years working closely with one of the UK's leading web video solution providers, I have a solid understanding of web video production and delivery, and as part of the Flash movement of the late 90's - early 00's I also have pretty good Flash animation and coding skills.
Client-side Interaction (JavaScript & jQuery)
This is the part I love. While a site may look great, todays user expects richer interactivity and pizazz, and with the rise of "web 2.0", there is huge potential to create stunning interaction without having to rely on browser add-ons such as Flash.
I specialise in creating engaging rich user interaction using current web standards, including HTML5, CSS, JavaScript and particularly jQuery, relating to search and large scale web applications, as well has having a keen interest in creating mash-ups using web APIs such as the Google Maps API, the Twitter API and more
I'm lucky enough to have been working online long enough to remember the bad old days, and the "Great Browser Wars", and as a result, I appreciate how hostile the web platform can be from a development perspective. Today, we have many more standards, but as developers, we still need to understand that there will always be a user that our code doesn't support, and that the web is a rapidly changing development environment, so we have to be flexible, able to adapt, and be willing to learn every day.
I have experience with, and a solid understanding of the following client-side technologies:
- HTML4
- HTML5
- XHTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- jQuery
- AJAX
- JSON/JSONP
- XML
- ActionScript 2
- ActionScript 3
- Lingo
- vbScript
Server-side Programming & Database Design
These days, I work exclusively client-side, but over the last 15 years I have worked as a developer on quite a few server-side projects, using ASP Classic and SQL Server, and PHP and MySQL, across a variety of sectors, including recruitment, online casinos, comparison engines, retail, online streaming & broadcasting, and property sales/management, and I have retained these skills, allowing me to continue writing server-side code when required.
On a day-to-day basis I work in a large team, which includes some very talented web programmers, engineering large scale web applications, and while I rarely write server-side code in my day job, I am still able to converse and collaborate with the server-side developers, and understand the possibilities and restrictions of any platform, and often I can understand and tweak server-side code, in a variety of languages, including ASP vbScript, ASP.net (VB and C#), PHP, and Perl.
I have experience with, and an understanding of the following server-side technolgies:
- ASP vbScript
- ASP.net (VB/C#)
- PHP
- Perl Template Toolkit
- SQL server
- MySQL
I also write quite a bit of server-side code for side projects and in my spare time, just to keep my claws sharp!
Application Achitecture
A web site or internet application is an evolving beast. Functionality is added and removed, new platforms are released, standards come and go, and hopefully the site or application will grow beyond initial expectations! As a result, it's vital that the site or application data and code architecture is well planned, and implemented according to best practice, covering issues such as security, source code control, ease of future management and more.
Part of my current role has been to evaluate and implement a client-side development policy, and I am currently working on an ongoing mission to re-architect and optimise development, testing and delivery of client-side code. Watch this space for more details soon.
My work
Check out some of my creations
A few examples of some previous work
This section of the site shows just a few examples of my work. Other than the site you are currently looking at - which I hope displays some of my abilities - most of my work for the last 7 years has been building internal tools and R'n'D projects, so there's not much available to the public. I will add more as it becomes available.
API Documentation Project Wireframes
JavaScript Architecture Mind Map
Pure Salon Hairdressers
The UKDD Showcase Site
Jobsite Search Widgets
SAGA Ruby Virtual Tour
