Hardcore
2012 December update: Integration Architect for a
$1B+ company about to merge with another $1B+ company. Preparing
and delivering strategic high level briefings. Interviewing
stakeholders to learn perspectives, goals, preferences,
constraints. Crafting our medium- and long-term Integration
Architecture. Research of upcoming SOA & ESB market dynamics
and maturing platform alternatives. (Coverage includes topics,
categories, standards, interfaces, products and modules including
ESB, SOA, Governance, WebServices, WSDL, SOAP, REST, JCA, JMS,
SCA, EIP, BPMN2, jBPM, Drools, TIBCO, webMethods, Mule, Apache
CXF, RESTeasy, IronJacamar, Infinispan, ActiveMQ, HornetQ, Spring
Integration, ServiceMix, JBossESB, FuseESB, Apache Camel,
Switchyard.) Hands-on ESB qualification and prototyping working
toward demonstration (demo based upon selection of several of the
foregoing plus JMS, JPA, EJB3, CDI, Ajax/Comet, GWT), proof of
concept, and pilot stages. Planning leading to parallel and
phased buildouts and rollouts.
2012 August update: My work continues to center on
HTML5, GWT, JBoss, and Cloud. For a multinational client who is a
global player in internet infrastructure, content hosting, and
media delivery, I architected and implemented the first
generation of CDN-class video streaming network diagnostic
framework and initial toolset. Included clientside java network
diagnostic agents, html5/gwt/browser admin console, JavaEE6
serverside service suite, JPA2 relational persistence, CDI
injection & events, COMET, REST, JSON, Maven, Git. For a
startup consumer products client I implemented a prototype
image-centric rich-media HTML5 cloud-based showroom for display
of designer products. During telephone sales conversations with
potential distribution channel partners or buyers at major
retailers, my web application will support tactical marketing
goals of presentation and promotion, and as public website will
support strategic marketing goals of brand positioning and style
leadership (while in both cases gathering market data).
Substantial work this year has been with SVG in the HTML5
context, along with HTML5 video output (and cutting edge video
input), Canvas, DnD, and HTML5 browser-to-native Filesystem APIs.
The foregoing involved architectural-level and hands-on
development and administrative work with JBoss AS7 and over a
dozen JBoss subprojects. I managed multiple PaaS cloud accounts
from multiple cloud service providers (as fractional-CIO for 2
startup clients, as consultant providing a collaboration and
demonstration space for a corporate client, and as researcher
doing cloud technology development.)
2011 October update: I've been creating webapps
for Sustainability (tracking/tracing environmental impacts
throughout the supply chain and product lifecycle) for one client
and for Solar Energy (accelerating legal and business processes
for electric utility renewable energy generation adoption and
grid connection) for another. My webapps are graphically-rich,
open-standards-based, state-of-the-art: JPA2 (Object Relational)
& RDF (Semantic Web) backends... my own topology &
geometry processors.... my own GWT2 layout & HTML5 Canvas
& SVG diagrammatic frontends. As I pass my 40th anniversary
of first cutting computer code (FORTRAN in Sept 1971), I am
grateful for the open-source tools and open-standard platforms
that are making my life so much fun: HTML5, GWT, Errai, JBoss7,
and the Java-centric clouds I deploy to..... allowing me to
develop full public interactive webapp slices including rich
frontend and solid backend and everything in between in record
time – yep, we're now hitting on all cylinders!
2011 March update: My primary work over the past 2
years has been architecting/designing/prototyping/developing web
applications for healthcare IT, plus for advertising media and
solar energy vertical markets. 2 recent successful national
launches: my Fortune 50 healthcare IT client (see 2010, below)
has achieved full certification, including "meaningful
use" requirements for federal stimulus funds under the
Recovery Act; our team at my other healthcare IT client completed
and demonstrated several weeks ago a breakthrough advance of
being the first ever to implement and harmonize both the Direct
Protocol and the Connect Protocol of the new US Nationwide Health
Information Network. Some of the interesting technical aspects of
my work over the past 9 months include: advanced asynchronous
(push) messaging among collections of web browsers and/or cloud
servers; Google cloud (GAE) Datastore graph persistence tools;
advanced tabular reporting capabilities based on the GWT2.1
widget set; demonstrating a range of my GWT/HTML5/GAE/JavaEE apps
running successfully on iPad/iPhone/iPod/iOS devices; further
deepening JavaEE-interoperating HTML5 capabilities via GWT,
including integrating dynamic 2D graphics via Canvas and SVG into
the GWT2 LayoutPanel UI model; JBoss async messaging clustering /
high availability; GWT-cloud end-to-end integration test
architecture; strategizing Android-GWT synergies; extending the
HTML5 media envelope into 3D via WebGL, solidifying the cloud
platform via JavaEE6, JBAS6, and CDI (and assembling the
next-generation tooling to support the foregoing).
2010 September update: In preparation for October
overseas, I am now wrapping up deliverables on several
prototyping and teleconsulting projects, which include:
architecture review and verification ("second-opinion" services),
and architecting/prototyping web applications for healthcare
vertical, media vertical, and solar energy vertical market
customers. Some of the interesting technical aspects of these
current projects include: advanced tabular reporting capabilities
based on the upcoming GWT2.1 widget set; advanced asynchronous
(push) messaging among collections of web browsers and/or cloud
servers; Google cloud (GAE Java) Datastore graph persistence
tools; demonstrating a range of my GWT/HTML5/GAE/JavaEE apps
running successfully on iPad/iPhone/iPod/iOS devices; and further
deepening JavaEE-interoperating HTML5 capabilities via GWT,
including integrating dynamic 2D graphics via Canvas and SVG into
the GWT2 LayoutPanel UI model.
2010 June update: Finishing up my primary project
with an intra-preneurial team within a Fortune 50 company. The
domain is Healthcare IT, with direct relevance to what has been
in the headlines nationally, and specifically targets strategic
opportunities funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus"). I was one of the 4
foundational Architect-Developers who began the project from
scratch, our progress demos have garnered highly positive
feedback, the team has since grown larger and continues to grow.
I provided the platform strategy, including the JBoss + GWT
architecture. As a GWT / AJAX web application, all navigation
among hundreds of dynamic screens is provided within a single
webpage. I have collaborated with other team members across a
wide range of issues, and I personally have written multiple
chunks of the codebase. Based on my substantial background with
computer graphics, human interface, web/cloud architecture,
content management, and portal systems (including JBoss Nukes and
its successor JBoss Portal), I designed and implemented an entire
GWT / AJAX dynamic Portal/Portlet system to serve as dashboard
and provide user-configurable high-level summary views onto the
substantial complexity of the overall system. All code for our
app is in Java: the backend is Cloud/JBoss/EJB3/JPA/Oracle; and
the frontend is pure web standard (HTML/CSS/Javascript) with no
plugins, all generated from our GWT Java code (including numerous
subcomponents using GXT (Ext GWT)). Nevertheless, my
portal/dashboard provides realtime interactive features such as
drag and drop instantiation and rearrangement of portlets
(widgets, gadgets), maximization and minimization of portlets,
ondemand entity-based creation and persistence of portlets and
portal layout, and other animated context-preserving navigation
effects.
2009 mid-year status report: Currently working with
JBoss/Seam, Google Web Toolkit (GWT), Google Application Engine /
Java (GAE), and Nuxeo 5.2 Enterprise Content Management System.
Current application domain focus: SmartGrid, Solar Energy,
CleanTech, legal/regulatory document management, energy models,
geospatial integration, and content-rich web applications.
Current platform focus: Linux+JavaEE config, deployment,
monitoring, tuning, scaling, admin; building on 31 years of
high-performance (ranging from parallel supercomputing grids down
to realtime gaming) computing involvement. As of June 2009, 14
years hands-on with Web/Javascript/Java-based human-facing
technologies (including HTML, CSS, AWT, Swing, JSP, Java3D,
Struts, JSF, JOGL, AJAX (many), GWT), 12 years hands-on with a
wide range of Java development tools (including 9 with Ant and 7
with Eclipse), 12 years hands-on with Java-based object &
relational backend and mapping, caching, and cloud solutions
(Oracle, MySQL, MSSQLServer, multiple other DBMSs; JDBC;
ObjectStore; EJB 1, 2.1, 3; Spring; Hibernate; JBoss Cache,
JCache, Infinispan, IMDG; GAE/J; JDO; JPA), 10 years J2EE/JavaEE
(WebLogic, WebSphere, Tomcat, JBoss), 5 years with open source
Java-based content management systems (JBoss Nukes, JBoss Portal,
Jackrabbit, Nuxeo), 4 years of with EJB3 (JPA), 3.5 years with
SEAM/Facelets, 3 years AJAX, 2.5 years GWT. From 1997 to 2009,
well over 10000 hours of hands-on experience using
implementations of JavaEE open standards (>70% of which has
been with Open Source implementations); complemented by well over
10000 hours of providing professional IT service at the
strategic, architectural, managerial, consulting, advising,
mentoring, training, analysis, research, and design levels.
2008: Architected SaaS initiative for a major
CleanTech industry venture. Full systems analysis and
architecture, including requirements, strategy, platform
recommendation, project phasing, resourcing and budgeting. Then
implemented proof-of-concept and first generation atop
JBoss/Seam. Authored FreeMarker JavaEE code generation templates
and meta-data management tools. Created and migrated ~100 EJB3
entities in sync with MySQL schema, through multiple rounds of
schema evolution, in collaboration with an international team
responsible for realtime global data collection from mobile and
fixed sources, satellite and internet transmission, and feeding
the MySQL repository shared with my SaaS system. Evaluated AJAX
alternatives (incl RichFaces, GWT, Seam Remoting, IceFaces,
OracleADF / Apache Trinidad), and then used appropriate
components from these, together with Google Maps. Created a
charting and data reporting dashboard subpackage, utilizing AJAX,
JSF, SEAM, serverside-Java2D graphics, EJB3, JPQL. Then provided
custom training and technology transfer to offshore team.
2007: For a multinational client in the (non-GMO)
food crop genetics sector, performed a range of strategic
services across the IT spectrum directly working with the CIO.
Analyzed existing legacy applications and planned future
migration path for core proprietary genetics R&D-support app
suite. Created IT standardization strategy and JavaEE-based
enterprise EAI architechture, bridging Oracle ERP and other
proprietary JavaEE packages and scattered MS silos, with
JBoss/RedHat open JavaEE + AJAX / GWT platform for future
development initiatives. Designed interim initiative to support
scanned paper image management, document management, content
management, and evolutionary collaboration and knowledge
management. Researched and evaluated JCR standard, Apache
JackRabbit, Lucene, JBoss Portal, Alfresco (Spring-based), Nuxeo
(SEAM-based). Exhaustively tracked (roadmap, mailing lists, JIRA,
SVN commits, sourcecode), tested, and qualified over 2 dozen
versions and interim builds of Nuxeo to arrive at
JBoss/SEAM/OSGi-based ECM solution. Distilled requirements
matrix, implemented proof-of-concept against all matrix features
(including coding OSGi plugins), trained client sys admin staff,
transferred technology, and launched operational pilot. Evaluated
and recommended 3rd party service providers for operational,
support, and maintenance roles. To add specialized document
management/scan/OCR capabilities: identified, negotiated
licensing, managed, and co-developed the necessary C & Java
code to integrate (via JNI and GlueGen) this multilingual OCR
engine written in C.
2006: Using JBoss IDE & Hibernate Tools. Active
with AJAX & front-end integration with JBoss Portal, SEAM,
and EJB3. JBoss5.x tracking; JIRA voting. JBossWorld 2006.
Expertise in
Declarative-Configuration/Dependency-Injection/Inversion-of-Control
containers (SEAM, Spring). Based on a combination of all of the
aforementioned JBoss4.x/EJB3/SEAM/pre-certification-JavaEE5
technologies and associated toolsets, singlehandedly managed,
needs-assessed, architected, designed, coded, tested, hosted,
solidified, and maintained a complete enterprise-class web
application for a client in the international green logistics
industry, including EJB3-based ETL functionality for database
migration from MS SQLServer to MySQL, custom JSF componentry, and
with performance exceeding some Fortune 50 intranet sites.
2005: Participated in the inaugural JBossWorld
conference; coded one of the first JBossPortal-compatible
(pre-SEAM) EJB3-JSF/Portlets; one of the very first adopters to
intensively use SEAM. Trained and mentored a COBOL-era Fortune-50
team to leapfrog into the leading edge of JBoss/EJB3/JavaEE green
logistics software -- a 5-generation skills transformation within
1 calendar year -- from COBOL & ISAM/VSAM files, thru
hierarchical and network databases and structured programming...
thru relational databases, object orientation, markup languages,
internet protocols.... thru Java programming syntax &
semantics, J2SE, JDK, JRE, JVM.... object-relational mapping,
extensibility, and the web paradigm..... thru Servlets, JSP, XML,
EJB 1 & 2, J2EE, JNDI, JCA, JMS, JTA, JAAS, Hibernate... to
the cutting edge of JBoss4.x, EJB3, JSF, and the other emerging
elements of JavaEE5.
2004: Giving back to Open Source.
Contributing to the primary JBoss
content management system and portal
of the era, which was called "JBoss
Nukes" -- author of main installation docs wiki; frequent
helpful forums postings; advised primary committers on
architecture; wrote and committed code to CVS for "CMR
proof-of-concept for pure-CMP backend architecture for
JbossNukes" plus several plugins. Multiple client projects
involving JBoss, J2EE, portals, CMS (Content Management Systems).
Telephony software research (Java Media Framework; VOIP, SIP,
RTP; JAIN low level JCC/JCAT call control APIs and SLEE & SCE
telco standards; proprietary (Dialogic, etc)) and development
(prototype built on Voxeo VoiceXML SaaS, and another prototype
built on GJTAPI open source implementation of the open standard
Java Telephony API; + limited Text-to-Speech(speech synthesis)
integration); formulated architecture for repurposing end-of-life
modembanks to provide super-cheap web voice services for a client
serving the cost-sensitive public school market.
2003: Helped client organizations adopt JBoss for
general development and deployment. Coding focus:
J2EE-EJB-XML-XSL. 2003 Mid-Atlantic MasterSeries (digital
business strategy and architecture in the context of Open
Standards & Open Source). By 2003, had delivered management
briefings, multimedia events, hands-on workshops, strategic
seminars and keynote speeches to professionals from JPMorgan,
GoldmanSachs, Intel, IBM, Sun Microsystems, EDS, CSC, Barclays,
One2One, Orange, Reach, Amdocs, Nokia, Comverse, Earth Island
Institute, Friends of the Earth, NASA Ames Research Center, Xerox
PARC, SGI, Compaq, Motorola, PSA (Port of Singapore Authority),
and hundreds of other organizations ranging from large financial,
telecom, media, environmental, healthcare, government, logistics,
and industrial enterprises to entrepreneurs, start-ups,
consultancies, and R&D organizations across 5 continents.
2002: Designed & delivered "IT Architecture
MasterSeries" in Perth, Australia covering Java, XML, J2EE, and
WebServices architectures -- highlighting the strategic
importance of open standards, open source, and JBoss. First
person to integrate headless Java3D with JBoss; then used it to
design and generate a finished animation for an environmental
video. Began using Eclipse heavily. Advised Apple decision makers
to adopt JBoss as Mac OSX's bundled J2EE app server.
2001: 11 months in Singapore: First person ever to
integrate IBM MQSeries with JBoss (deep JMS and JCA); integrated
Oracle backend; then tripled transactional message performance
via 2 weeks of tuning (yet still keeping within J2EE standards,
MDBs & pure-CMP entity EJBs!).... resulted in better than 50%
reduction in HW cost for this Korean banking (mainframe + Oracle
CRM) EAI project. (Other major projects while in Singapore
included: Advising one of the world's largest telco consortia on
data center market strategy, how to host java-based web apps, and
where to add value to avoid competing with their wholesale
customers. Training domain-name internationalization venture on
traditional and Agile Java development methodologies. Training
the Java team of the organization that runs the world's busiest
shipping port. Training a major wireless carrier's development
group how to process XML via Java. Designed and delivered a
summit conference (Enterprise Application Integration, and the
Strategic Importance of XML) for 50 IT executives impacted by the
merger of their employers -- 2 of the 5 largest financial
institutions in Singapore. Served on the Board of Directors for
an Australian Java-based portal startup, and represented them to
the Singaporean VC community. Delivered a number of specialized
XML and Java seminars and workshops under the auspices of the
largest university in Singapore, and also of the largest European
system software vendor.)
2000: When the head of a Sun Microsystems Java
R&D lab was hired as CEO of the development arm of a $30M
VC-funded online ad/music delivery startup, who did he bring in
as his top J2EE guru? Who did he pick to train his team in
strategy and architecture? Plus, to give his team a further
boost: Architected the entire backend. Developed 4-tier
architectural prototype, 200-class UML functional prototype, and
human interface prototype -- all based on JBoss2.0 + Tomcat, with
tooling from that era including Visual Cafe, Together UML, and
early versions of Ant automated build tools. (Additional 2000
engagements (referred to on the testimonials page): "Java
Enterprise Architecture" and XML trainings for Capital One,
executive briefing on IT Strategy for Goldman Sachs, "What
Every IT Manager Must Know About Enterprise Java" for
Compaq/Tandem's top-tier clients, plus several more including
2-day JavaOne "Fast Track to Java".)
1998-1999: Leading seminars in Java Enterprise
Architecture since 1998; developing and delivering EJB & J2EE
trainings since 1999. Close tracking of open source java,
especially Tomcat and JBoss since their inception. Open source
EJB since EJBHome 1998 (I personally knew the EJBHome authors in
London, so I was hot on the lookout for a replacement open source
EJB container after they sold out to Iona in 1999); EJBoss/JBoss
hands-on since 1999. Evaluated JBoss from adopter perspective
since 1999; introducing JBoss to CXO-level clients for increasing
range of projects since 2000.
1996-1998: Java programming since 1996; primary
programming focus since 1997. Example of one of my pre-J2EE
projects.... For a major player in the Digital Factory market
(and #1 Computer Aided Production Engineering vendor): Developed
a visual, web-enabled Executive Information System / Decision
Support System for production-chain oversight. In response to
demand from GM, Ford, and other automotive and aerospace
customers worldwide, this product allows users to present their
robot-automated factory designs for executive sign-off by making
animated, 3D, interactive management reports/presentations via
web (Netscape browser, Java applet, and VRML
(VirtualRealityMarkupLanguage) plugin) to any authorized persons
in their company (intranet) and in partner companies (extranet).
Managed, designed and implemented from start to finish in only 19
weeks. Authored 100% of all Java application code; personally
performed all object-oriented analysis, design, coding, testing,
and integration.