jrobinson@desert-island.me.uk
I am a software developer with extensive OO Perl knowledge. I have been coding in Perl for 10 years and keep myself uptodate by attending YAPC conferences and local Perl Workshops. I have a fair amount of experience in maintaining and upgrading legacy Perl code. I have a good knowledge of Web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I also contribute back to the Perl community by helping in the development of several prominent Perl modules. I am looking for a position that involves me in architecting and designing solutions as well as developing.
Self-taught in around 2000 using the "Camel" book.
Joined perlmonks.org community website in 2002, very active until 2006, still semi-active.
While working at varetis AG I maintained and improved several large scripts written in Perl. I upgraded the script for fetching remote files using Net::FTP, to also support Net::Perl::SCP (and Net::Perl::SSH). I extended a large set of scripts used to monitor the status of various layers of the statistics system.
Joined Sophos plc in September 2005 as a Perl Programmer in the Web department. Learnt to write mod_perl handlers for Apache 1.3 and helped with the migration to Apache 2.0. Refactored and improved many of the Perl systems that support the Sophos website. Designed and helped implement a new system allowing partners to order Sophos products online. Introduced the use of Moose to the code to further modernise it.
Joined the DBIx::Class contributors by improving the documentation around 2005. I introduced DBIx::Class to my workplace as well as using it on many personal projects. I joined the IRC channel and started helping newcomers to the project to add DBIx::Class to their own code. With the feedback I continued to help update the documentation and was eventually asked to oversee all the documentation.
I have attended several of the YAPC Perl conferences, both in Europe and the USA. I have also attended several London Perl Workshops. I have yet to talk at one!
Today I am active in various Perl IRC channels including: #catalyst, #dbix-class, #tt and #moose. I help out with the documentation and mentoring users.
I contribute answers on the general programming site StackOverflow.
As I joined Sophos plc in 2005, the website was running on FreeBSD and Apache 1.3. I was learned how to write and maintain a large number of mod_perl handlers. The team also maintained the Apache configuration files serving all the sophos.com virtualhosts ourselves.
In 2007 we migrated the site to Apache 2.0 on RedHat Linux.
I maintain my own Apache server serving my website.
I have implemented a number of systems against SOAP-based webservices, using SOAP::Lite initially, and then moving to XML::Compile::SOAP.
I have written some tools for personal use against the Amazon web services API for book information.
The DBIx::Class and Catalyst open source projects use subversion with svk for their source control. I have particpated in creating and merging branches using subversion/svk, as well as the usual developer commits/checkouts. I also help to add and maintain the user access to these projects and their component modules.
I have dabbled with git, it was used to store the content for the "Definitive Guide to Catalyst" book. I also attended several talks on git at YAPC::NA 2009.
I have used CVS since 2005 when I joined Sophos plc. It is used to store all the Perl code, templates, static content, images and other media for the Sophos website.
At varetis AG I used the IBM CMVC source control system. It has built in support for bug and feature tracking, as well as being able to indicate which item each code checkin is associated with. It also allows configurable approvement chains for each project or sub-component. Were it still available I'd still use it!
I initially met SQL while working at CODA GmbH in 1995. I was designing and implementing payment reports using MS Access 2.0.
I joined varetis AG in 2000 to work in the statistics department, with DB2. I helped to maintain a large system for producing call centre statistics on millions of rows of data, including data transport, import, aggregation and report creation.
I helped port the varetis solution from DB2 to Oracle.
I specified and implemented a set of customised SQL scripts for a a customer project at varetis.
I often dig around in my copies of the SQL standards to help solve queries or disputes for users in the DBIx::Class IRC channel.
I wrote the SQL parser and producer for the DB2 DDL syntax for the SQL-Translator Perl module.
At Sophos plc I used first MySQL v3 then v4 as backends to support all the systems requiring databases.
I have used Template toolkit (or TT2) at Sophos plc since I joined. Most of the Sophos Perl-based systems, both internal and external, output HTML via TT templates.
I helped start and continue to support, the #tt IRC channel to support the users of Template Toolkit.
I have discovered and sent patches for bugs to the maintainer of Template Toolkit.
I have used and contributed to DBIx::Class since its early years (2005).
I support users of DBIx::Class on the IRC channel.
I am the chief documentation herder for DBIC.
I wrote the chapter about DBIx::Class and databases, in the book "The Definitive Guide to Catalyst".
I joined the #catalyst IRC channel in late 2005 looking for a better way to write web applications using Perl.
I stayed to help others and wrote a tutorial on starting out with Catalyst for the documentation (since replaced).
I wrote the Databases chapter for "The Definitive Guide to Catalyst", and helped proofread/test the rest.
I have written several Catalyst based applications for my own amusement.
I have used and upgraded an instance of Bugzilla for use at Sophos plc.
I maintain my CPAN modules using the official RT installation.
I have been introduced to and tested liquid planner, but not used it for anything significant yet.
I have used VersionOne.
I have participated in "Planning Poker" sessions as a means of team estimating.
In the Web department (later Web Team then IT Solutions) at Sophos plc, we interacted with almost every other department in the company. I took part in understanding the needs of the Marketing, Support, Sales and HR departments.
I was the technical Perl lead on a joint project with Sales to create a system to allow Partners to quote for and order Sophos products online.
At varetis I visited customers to discuss and design customisations to our solution.
I travelled to customer sites in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to install the CODA software, and often also the associated database it depended on.
I triaged incoming requests for changes to the Sophos website. I solved quick problems and helped to plan and implement solutions for the larger ones.
I helped answer customer calls at CODA and solve installation and software usage problems.
I maintain and administrate my own linux desktop and server.
At CODA I was responsible for all the administration, including MS Exchange, Desktops, and Laptops.
I installed software at customer sites for CODA.
I am very interested in the various agile methodolgies but have yet to experience them in a team environment.
I use Test-Driven-Development (TDD) as much as possible.
I have been a Technical Lead in several cross-functional projects for Sophos plc, usually involving communication with other departments, designing and implementing solutions.
I have acted as interim Project Manager on some projects during the temporary absence of the PM.
I am a co-author of the Apress "The Definitive Guide to Catalyst" book. I contributed the chapter on Databases.
I am co-maintainer of the SQL-Translator CPAN distribution.
I am co-maintainer of the DBIx-Class CPAN distribution.
I have written several CPAN distributions of my own, under the id JROBINSON.
I continue to maintain and improve the Sophos website as a member of the new IT Solutions group.
I worked for Sophos as a member of the Web department, in the Perl development team. I discussed requirements for projects with internal customers, designed and implemented changes to the website. I supported and improved internal Perl-based systems to support content for the website.
I worked for varetis as a developer in the MIS (Statistics) department. Initially I updated code for the Excel/VBA based frontend to the system to specification. Later I also helped plan and implement projects from data collection to database storage and through to the frontend. I maintained the system of Perl scripts for monitoring the various systems.
I worked for Pharmafakt as an administrator for their large cluster of Windows NT / MS SQL Server machines. I also gathered requirements for the specification of a tool to aggregate the data from the SQL Servers. I partially implemented this system in DCOM/VB6.
I worked for this local CODA office as all-round admin and support of systems such as the MS Exchange server, NT servers, Desktops and Laptops of the consultants. Later I also installed the CODA software at customer sites and implemented custom reports and solutions.
Last modified: 2012-02-06T11:16:40