Started with PHP back when the acronym still meant Personal Home Page.  Been working in the web development industry consistently since around 2003, focusing on PHP and LAMP stack development.  Experience with all the major frameworks, OOP, etc.

Starting with MySQL version 3, I've been using it as a back end for web development.  Everything from proper schema design, normalization levels, and simple single server setup, to highly available fine tuned clusters handling billions of writes a month!  

From simple virtual host configuration, to advanced scenarios involving the openresty nginx compilation that includes lua, I've done almost everything when it comes to nginx aside from actual module development.

Since I first discovered Linux back in the nineties, I've been using it almost daily.  Not for a desktop mind you, that is not where my expertise lies... but instead, for servers powering web sites and various web applications!   

A large chunk of my professional experience has involved design and management of back end systems on the Amazon AWS platform.   Intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the platform... whether using it directly, or coding against the API's.   Figuring out the best way to utilize their cloud based offerings in a project is where I really shine!

I've been the tech lead for two seperate startups.   The first, which I co-founded, Project Sunblock, was in the online advertising realm.  The second one, as tech lead, I helped pivot the platform, get us accepted into the '15 cohort of Gener8tor (based out of Milkwaukee).  

I have a lot of knowledge of the startup world, mostly focused around the scrutiny put on any technology involved.

Led the tech teams at two distinct startups, handling all the infrastructure around development.    Tests, auto deployment, bitbucket pipelines, Atlassian suite, monitoring, load testing, emergency situation planning, etc.

Set up and managed various automated build/build-release systems using Github Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins.

With almost twenty years in the industry, I've particpated in more interviews than I can remember... both as a candidate and the interviewer.   This experience has given me some unique insights into the process that could help someone currently looking for a new job, or going through the interview process.

Personal details

James W.

Summary

Technical skills