The MMP is a joint project between the Faculties of Mathematics and Education at the University of Cambridge.
Some of my main responsibilities are:
The nrich.maths.org website has been running since 1996 and is published monthly, when I joined the project it was mainly based on a mixture of embedded Perl and SSIs. The site had become difficult for the team to manage and inflexible for new developments and improvements.
I designed and implemented a new backend for the website, this used PHP as the main programming language with content converted to XML and stored in a MySQL database. The site now has an integrated content management system, several different search mechanisms (based on content tagging and a database natural language search), XHTML + MathML output, RSS feeds and the export of SCORM compliant resources for use in other Virtual Learning Environments.
Key Skills:Most of my recent programming has been using PHP and JavaScript, but I also have experience of Perl, Java, Python and C. I have a good knowledge of Internet protocols and web standards; and I keep up to date with current Internet technology and developments.
Huskian Ltd offered many services including web hosting, email, mailing lists, shell accounts and online gaming. The company consisted of two directors and we ran the business in our spare time. We collocated 3 servers, with a load balancer to offer good quality redundant web hosting.
I wrote scripts to automate tasks such as setting up games servers, DNS, email and Apache virtual hosts, and automated billing. I also took care of the company's financial and administrative affairs.
Glasir was a small start up company providing a web hosting services to companies in the Cambridge area. Upon joining Glasir I rapidly took over the responsibilities of the company's web hosting service and internal network.
This included the setup and maintenance of:Part of my work involved the analysis, improvement and automation of the existing systems to enhance the service to customers, examples of this include:
As programmer and manager of the software development team we developed projects including:
A small design company where through demonstration of my ability to learn, apply logic skills and work on my own initiative, I was promoted through the business. The company produces prototype machinery engineering solutions tailored to customer's specific requirement.
During the last three years, my role was predominantly computer-aided designer. This incorporated project management and human resource management to deliver the products to very high specifications within tight design timetables while also liaising with customers regarding refinements of the products. Utilising the existing computer network within the company, I identified a number of weaknesses and produced a proposal to the owners for the installation of a Linux server. This enabled access to the Internet for the engineers and also networked the computers to give the flexibility to deal with the power demands of CAD work and extension of the network to allow CAD CAM and facilitate workshop access to AutoCAD drawings.
Following this particular project, my role was officially amended to incorporate all IT aspects, this included all system and desktop support and training, I introduced routines to allow the backup of AutoCAD customisations and wrote macros to automate template use and printing.
I designed the company's website and intranet. The intranet was introduced to provide a central repository of design specifications and engineering data and working with a colleague we produced system documentation to allow for CE marking of machinery produced by the company.
Programming computer controlled machinery and production of high accuracy components for prototype machines.
I was involved in the construction of high performance kit cars at all levels and the design of specific customer requirements and wiring looms.
I have an interest in cycling and classic cars. I have a full UK driving license.