Ian Ward

Summary

Software developer with interface design, customer relations and operations management skills. Programming experience includes:

• Writing device drivers and microcontroller firmware in C and assembly language
• Agile test-driven Python script and user/web interface development
• Administering and automating tasks on Linux servers.

Availability varies from month to month. Currently entertaining requests for 1-2 days per week.

Software Development Experience

Platforms: Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, Centos), Windows, Mac OS, Atmel and PIC Microcontrollers
Languages: C, C++, Java, Prolog, Scheme, Smalltalk, Visual Basic, Assembly (x86 and PIC)
Scripting Languages: Python, Perl, Bash Shell, Ruby
Web Languages: Django, PHP, JSP, PSP, CGI, AJAX, HTML, CSS, DHTML, JavaScript
User Interface: wxWidgets (wxPython), GTK, Qt, Tcl/Tk, MFC, JFC/Swing, OpenGL
Internationalization: Unicode, ISO 2022-*, CJK encodings
Databases: SQL, Data Modeling, Query optimization, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Firebird (InterBase), SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, Access
Automation: COM, AppleScript, Shell scripting
Typesetting: DocBook, LaTeX, CSS
Source Control: Git, Mercurial, SVN, CVS, SourceSafe
Packaging: Debian and Ubuntu software packaging and policies, Debian Python Modules Team member

Networking Experience

Protocols: DNS, HTTP, SMTP, IMAP, SNMP
Security: OpenSSL, Certificate management, SSH, PGP, Firewalls, Secure programming practices
Configuration: Routing, Tunneling, Traffic Shaping

System Administration Experience

E-Mail Servers: Exim MTA, Postfix, Cyrus IMAP, Mailman mailing lists
Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird (InterBase), Oracle
Web Services: Apache with mod_perl, mod_python, Lighttpd, AWStats, Munin, Subversion, Trac
Other: Xen, RAID, Samba, Git, CVS, SVN, Mercurial, OpenSSH, BIND, ProFTPd, TwoFTPd

Skills by Years of Experience

> 10 Years: Python, Linux, Debian, Apache, Windows, Samba, Bind (DNS), CGI, HTML, CSS, OpenSSH (SSH), PGP, DNS, HTTP, Routing, Exim (MTA), BASH shell scripting, CVS, Subversion
7 Years: Firebird (Interbase), OpenSSL (SSL)
6 Years: C, C++, PostgreSQL,
5 Years: MySQL, Perl, Java, Xen, LaTeX, OpenSSL, Certificate Management, SNMP, Mailman, RAID, ProFTPd (FTP)
4 Years: Django, JavaScript, AJAX, Prolog, Smalltalk, MFC, Unicode, DocBook, Cyrus (IMAP), Lighttpd
3 Years: PHP, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, Centos
2 Years: COM, AppleScript, SourceSafe, Oracle

Education

• Bachelor of Computer Science (Software), University of Ottawa, 2005

Original Open Source Projects

Designed, created and now maintain and support a number of open source projects:

Urwid: Console user interface library with fluid interface resizing, Unicode support and a wide array of built-in widgets; Trac-based wiki and bug reporting; Mailman community mailing list; IRC support channel; Comprehensive manual, tutorial and reference documentation; Unit tests and doctests; Written in Python with some C extensions
Templayer: Layered HTML template library that helps prevent invalid HTML and cross-site scripting attacks; Supports Django 1.0; Tutorial and reference documentation; Written in Python
Mkzip: Library for creating zip files on the fly with no intermediate storage required; Written in Python
Speedometer: Network bandwidth and file transfer monitor with animated console bar-graph; Written in Python using Urwid library
File Tosser: Safe, verifiable network file transfer program; Shell scripts
Printing HOWTO: Step by step guide explaining how to configure a Debian GNU/Linux computer for printer sharing; Translated into five languages

Work Experience

Generic Consulting Inc. (2007-present)

• Wrote custom firmware in C and monitoring script in Python for an ATmega32-based embedded device
• Designed an implemented interface between a microcontroller and an FPGA
• Built multiple websites and services using Django and PostgreSQL and integrated with PHP applications
• Enabled internationalization(i18n) of a Health Canada PDF-generating PHP web site
• Migrated a Legal Information web site to a PHP content management system
• Installed, configured and adminstered multiple Centos and Debian Xen servers
• Built a PHP project deployment application with Capistrano/Ruby
• Designed a new Django-based web site for the Ottawa Canada Linux Users Group
• Authored technical articles for LWN.net

Arevco Lighting (2001-2009)

• Managed all business operations
• Mentored new employees
• Resolved conflicts with customers
• Designed advertising and display materials with Inkscape, Corel Draw, GIMP and Photoshop
• Incorporated Quasar Accounting and Point of Sale software into the business processes
• Built a public web site linked to the new internal PostgreSQL database with GNU make and imagemagick
• Added graphic label and bar code printing to the business software with GNU Barcode and LaTeX
• Automated remote backups for company data with cron, rsync and SSH

Ntegrating Solutions (2002)

• Designed a video clipping device that saves MPEG4 video clips based on closed caption text
• Created a library to parse video streaming data in Python

Dynamic Network Heuristics (1999-2001)

• Created a network security device with commodity PC hardware
• Designed a remote web browsing add-on module with VNC
• Managed an encrypted email network with Exim and SSH

Corel Corporation (1997-1998)

• Enhanced the automation code in CorelDRAW and Photo-Paint in C++, Visual Basic and AppleScript
• Created a legacy script conversion tool that shipped with the final product
• Designed the first CASE tool used to reduce maintenance of automation code in CorelDRAW
• Extended existing automation code for Mac (Power PC) and Windows cross-platform compatibility

Union Logic Software (1994-1995)

• Optimized video and sound modules written in assembly language
• Created a timing module and keyboard and joystick handling code in C
• Play tested and designed levels for a platform side-scrolling video game

Canadian Union of Public Employees (1993)

• Designed a data entry application for questionnaires in C++
• Worked with end users to refine software feedback and reduce user errors

Groups

• Ottawa Python Authors Group
• Ottawa Canada Linux Users Group on board of directors from 2007-2010

Contact Information

Ian Ward
+1-613-808-7877