My Skills
Front End
Javascript
With around 25 years of experience working with Javascript, I've seen a lot of changes come and go.
Nuxt
I have done a deep dive into this framework on several projects. I love its opinionated approach and its ecosystem that can stretch from front end to back end.
Vue
I've been working with Vue since 2016. Among other things, I love the single file structure. I don't like to pick favorites but right now it's pretty close.
React
As the most common front end framework, it is hard to avoid. I've worked on large scale React apps including the business help app for Pinterest.
Tailwind
I love anything that strives to simplify development. Using Tailwind on my current projects has made development quicker and responsiveness much easier.
Typescript
I've had the chance to use Typescript on both Vue and non-Vue apps. I really enjoy the type checking and the other features it brings to Javascript.
SASS
SASS, SCSS, and other CSS extensions have proven nearly too useful to ignore. I use SASS on any project that I can.
jQuery
The old warhorse of javascript. As an early adopter, I have used it since 2008. It still seems to stay relevant for good reason. It just works.
HTML
With over 20 years of using HTML, I've found it's difficult to get much done on the web without it. I keep up to date with the newest tags and abilities.
CSS
I love CSS. I have over 20 years of experience with CSS. It has come a long way since I started using it, and I have enjoyed the journey. Except for IE6...
Back End
Laravel
I think it's fair to say that Laravel breathed new life into PHP. I have been using Laravel off and on since version 4. I like to use it for backends and admin panels where I can, and I keep up with the latest releases.
PHP
My first back end language. I've used it for over 20 years. I appreciate its easy learning curve for beginners and its proven stability.
Go
My current fascination. I led a team of developers that built and managed a complex RESTful service using Go. I love it for a compiled solution and its ease of concurrency. I'm excited about the newest HTTP capabilities as well.
Python
The Swiss army knife of programming languages. I've used it for over 10 years on various projects as well as teaching a high school class focusing on python scripting. I also dabble with A.I. and LLM's, and python is indispensable for this.
FastAPI
The quickest and easiest way to produce a python based RESTful API. I've used it on several projects. It also makes a great choice if your API needs to use ASGI for asynchronous calls.
Flask
Having used it for quick testing APIs, it proves to be a versatile tool and I have had genuinely good times using it.
Django
The python web framework. Sure, there are others, but this is the one to use. I've used it on a large project and some small projects. Django showed me what a real ORM was like. Sometimes I spin up a Django project just to try out the new features.
C#
I wouldn't call myself a Microsoft-only guy, but C# is a solid language and I am truly happy when I get to use it. I have used it on some pretty huge projects. It's a bit like an old friend that I want to catch up with.
.NET
.NET could be considered the first great web app framework and it is constantly improving. Among other projects, I've used it to build a company intranet system and it showed me what a consistent framework can do.
RESTful API Design
I've designed numerous RESTful APIs in a variety of languages and technologies, but the basics remain the same.
Drupal
Having worked with Drupal since 2006, I've seen it come a long way. I have worked on some projects that did some amazing things inside the Drupal framework. It was the first CMS I used regularly and it showed me the basic principles for web development.
Wordpress
It's everywhere and for good reason. I've used it to spin up quick, maintainable websites for years, having worked with it since 2008. It can be as simple as you want it to be or as complex.
Data
MySQL
The first database I worked with, having used it in a majority of projects since 2006. I love it for its stability and ubiquity. If it ain't broke...
MS SQL
I've used Microsoft SQL Server since 2015 on some very data intensive projects. SQL Server's ecosystem may be a classic, but Microsoft does a great job at keeping one of the greatest database solutions available relavant and feature rich.
PostgreSQL
An interesting variation of a relational database, I've used it on a handful of projects. My favorite thing about Postgres is the CLI tooling. It offers a more rich development experience than other relational databases.
Elasticsearch
As a key/value pair store data solution, it holds some similarities with NoSQL style databases, but its search capabilities are far more rich. I've used it on some data heavy sites requiring searchable indexing.
Systems
Linux
I've been tinkering with and using Linux as an everyday desktop since the early 2000s. I've managed production servers running most mainstream server distros that ran large PHP, Go, Python, and Java apps among others. I also teach a high school level class that uses Ubuntu. Personally, my favorite flavor is Debian for its stability and KDE Plasma desktop.
Docker
I've used a wide variety of local environments but I never found one that I liked until I started using Docker in 2018. I love using it for local development and the fact that it can handle production services too is pretty great. One day I will spin up a Kubernetes cluster on my own if I get the chance.
AWS
I've been using AWS for small and large projects since 2013. I love the flexibility it offers even though that flexibility can introduce complexity as well. If planned out properly, it isn't too bad though. It's all in the planning.
Azure
I have not used Azure as much as AWS, but I think that I personally prefer it. Its interface seems a little bit simpler and its wide variety of integrations are great.
Git
At this point, developing without Git seems a bit like walking a tightrope without a net. I've been using it regularly since 2013. There is also no better way to manage code and deployments across developers and teams.
NPM
Node and NPM have made a big splash in all aspects of web development. I've been using it since 2013 on nearly every front end involved project. It's hard to live without.
Design
Adobe Photoshop
As a designer, I've been using it since 1999. At this point, it's like second nature.
Adobe Illustrator
My favorite Adobe product. I've been using it since 1999. That's back in the Birth of Venus days. Not to brag, but my Illustrator Kung Fu is strong.
Adobe XD
With my experience with Adobe products, picking up new Adobe software is fairly easy. I've been using XD for mockups for a few years now and I dig it.
UI/UX
I've been designing User Interfaces for complex apps since 2016, striving to keep the user in mind. Generating and following user stories and using my skills as a designer to help in the decision-making process.
Web Design
I can't count the number of websites and web mockups I've produced since 2002. I've seen a lot of trends come and go, but I like to hold on to the things that work, always keeping in mind the needs of the customer.
Soft Skills
Jira Agile Processes
I've participated in teams as well as led teams using Jira's tool sets to manage sprints and backlogs.
Strong Communication Skills
Most of my experience comes from agency-style work that forces you to learn how to communicate clearly as well as listen to them. As a team leader and manager, I believe in taking communication slowly so that all members on the team understand the the topics at hand, backing up and asking a lot of questions for clarity. I have brought clarity to more than a few teams that posed communication challenges due to technical complexity and language barriers.
Development Team Lead
I feel like being a leader from the trenches suits my personality well. I've been reviewing code and approving pull requests since 2013, and I enjoy the process a lot. I especially love mentoring and I get excited to teach (and learn) new things.
Management
I've been in management in several positions. I tend to grow a close connection to my teams, and I truly enjoy inspiring others to do great work with creativity and unique perspectives.
Adaptability
If there is one thing I can do, it's adapt. I believe it comes from my enthusiasm for learning new things and presenting unique solutions.
Resourcefulness
I love the show MacGyver. I love to take what is at hand and make something out of it. That extends into my development career. Sometimes we don't have access to the newest and greatest, but we can always think our way around our problems and come up with a great solution.