How I got involved in software development
I originally trained as a biologist with a particular interest in genetics and statistics. I have been working in the charity sector since graduation in 1998. In 2000 I collaborated with Robin Rawson-Tetley on the creation of the Animal Shelter Manager project. This experience introduced me to the world of open source software and showed me how much can be accomplished and how much money can be saved by a determined individual.
Working on the Animal Shelter Manager project gave me a basic working knowledge of MySQL and we adopted Linux workstations to maximise the software’s performance on donated, low end hardware. I also learned to write basic HTML, CSS and Python so I could pull data directly from our Animal Shelter Manager system onto our company website. I have never looked back.
Where I have been unable to find open source software to meet my needs I have written my own and as and when I find gaps in my skillset I fill them using online training resources and by picking the brains of close friend and IT guru Rob Rawson-Tetley, thanks Rob 🙂
When the need arose for RSPCA Sheffield to computerise their veterinary/stock management records I asked for the opportunity to try to write the software myself. Permission was given and I chose to learn WXPython and MySQL so I could create software that could run on all available platforms. The project was a huge success and has been in use at RSPCA Sheffield and several other RSPCA branches for the last decade.
Although I have no formal training in IT/web design I have discovered that I have a talent for simplifying processes via software and for building fast, functional, intuitive interfaces quickly with few overheads.
My recent projects have all been web based for ease of deployment and mobile device compatibility. I favour running Apache2 and MySQL server on a Debian Linux server all of which are available for free. I added javascript/jquery to my repertoire and embraced mobile friendly, reactive web design. I believe that the skill set that I have acquired can be applied to a wide range of applications and I hope to continue to improve and develop as I take on more and more ambitious projects.
What can I do for you?
My background is in animal welfare, a sector where IT savvy staff and volunteers are few and far between in my experience. I am skilled at developing robust IT solutions for and with people that are unfamiliar many of the principles involved and have limited budgets and infrastructure. My honesty and integrity are second to none (references available on request) and I am very friendly and down to Earth.
Functional Web Design
There are a lot of services available that make building a professional looking website simple and cheap. The service I offer is a custom built site to your exact specifications with no unnecessary overheads and no restrictions.
Advanced Web Based Data Management
We all manage data. More and more of our data is now stored and manipulated using computers. I can provide a custom database that can be accessed by any device with a modern web browser and an intuitive interface that will streamline data capture, retrieval, processing, backup and reporting.
Do you have data that needs taming? Contact me at [email protected] for a chat.