Programmer Capabilities and Interests List -- Add your info here!

[Mark_Everson]

One of our new coders, Richard, wanted to know the abilities / capabilities / etc. of the team's programmers. So I thought everyone should, as they get a chance, describe these things in their own words.

I'll start here...

I am just a hack programmer, but my style is improving! I've done a lot of Java coding, but my stuff isn't up to pro standards. I understand windows machines only.

I've done professionally some AI-type stuff:
Foreign Exchange Portfolio Optimization using genetic algoritms.
Agent-Based Modeling of consumer behavior is something I'm getting into now. I'm using Ascape which is a java agent-based modeling toolkit.

[Richard Bruns]

Capabilities: currently, almost zilch
Interests: Anything I could learn that might help.

I temporarily abandoned my learning attempts when it seemed that the code would be finished before I could learn anything useful. Why should I spend five months learning to write population model code if F_Smith can do a much better job in a week?

I might be able to hack up some simple, repetitive stuff if the goals are clearly defined and if someone needs it done. Maybe I'd learn better if I could actually work on a real project. But it seems that Java uses more skill than typing time.

By the way, this was another Richard that asked.

[LDiCesare]

I am professional software developper. Mainly coding in C++ for now. I had been coding everyday in java for 1 year and a half. java is clearly my preferred language though I do mainly C++ ans some VB nowadays.

I have interests in all AI (I coded neural networks, used Genetic Algorithms, tinker from time to time with inference engines). I am particularly interested in frames (for those who don't know, it's kind of objects which can inherit from other objects rahter than fixed classes).

I'm also fond of "event-based" programming. That is more or less the idea behind Observer patterns and javabeans, (was also in Next). The idea is to reduce the number of classes and the number of classes known by one another, in particular at build-time.

[Rüdiger]

Ok, I am a student of computer sciences at the university of erlangen, germany. The studies were a bit on the theoretical side till now, so I am not a very experienced programmer. The programs I have written were only a few pages in size, but I am eager to learn. I have used primarily C and VB till now, but also a litte bit of Java.

[Mark_Everson]

Hi Rüdiger, an official welcome to Clash! I'm sure will be able to find something that matches your experience and interests.

-Mark

[DarthVeda]

Hmm, I guess I've expressed interest. While I'm busy at the moment with Kyokujitsu, I'm studying my second semester of Java at Michigan Tech. Most of the stuff I've written in Java is 400-500 lines. I've had experience with C, C++, VB, Basic, and a few other proprietary languages.

[Mark_Everson]

Great to have you on the team DarthVeda!

[Gary Thomas]

Better add my bit.

I am a full time professional Java Architect, recently (about a year ago) promoted from Senior Java developer/team leader. I work on a contract basis.

Before that I did a short spell as a Java developer to learn the ropes.

Before that I was a contract trouble shooter with senior skills in C++, VB, Delphi, and Intel assembler.

Before that (that is, before I got downsized) I spent 30 years as a mathematical modeller and statistician, and applications programmer at a government agricultural research station.

At other times I have been a drain layer, commercial cleaner, director in a (failed) insurance company, space salesman (failed at that too), stevedore, cowhand, translator, commercial artist, and pool player (pretty good one too).

I collected a few degrees in subjects like mathematics, Russian, history, and some others I have forgotten.

My abiding interests are games (all kinds, but especially strategy), astronomy, history and art. And, of course fishing and beer drinking.

I am a great enthusiast for: OOP, XProgramming, Java, and Open Source.

My current greatest regret is that Sun have not made Java Open Source. Of course they are worried about the Big Bad Corporation moving in and taking over...

Cheers

[Mark_Everson]

Since we now have some new programmers around, I thought it appropriate to bump this up... Please add whatever you think is appropriate

[colorrr]

My profile

My part:

I'm a IT-Specialist, that's what my title say. I do the analysis and implementation. Gary should know about that, seems like he's been there, done that. Not a team leader yet though, although I lead a small one on one occasion.

Translated for everyone else it means I work 9 hrs a day developing client/server business applications with small to very large scale databases for a variety of industries. I work for a major international IT company, where I have been the last 5 years.

The last 2 years I have been doing Java solutions with web interfaces, but before that I have been programming in C/C++, Oracle Forms/Reports and PL/SQL, and PowerBuilder. Also did some MS Access development before I started working where I am now, but that was rather short lived, a while after finishing my engineering degree in computer science (somewhat like bachelors).

On the side I take part in the administration of a web site which uses php & mysql, and some open source projects, like clash. Another one is a redo of the Colonization game.

My strongest skills would be Java and databases.
In java I have extensive experience with Swing - I dived into the implemation of the Swing components in the (now old) Java 1.1.7, making improvements that were needed & implementing new events in the JTable class. The Swing was a bit crude in that release.
Besides this I have experience with XML, sockets, servlets/jsps, jdbc, and some other things.

What do I want to do?
I want to make computer games in Java, preferably strategy games as those are the ones I like the best.

[ctraill]

Hi,

I'm a new guy to join the team. Don't expect too much code in the next couple of days because I need to find my way around the existing code, although it is well documented.

I am a 4th year computing student and my main programming langauge would have to be C++. I have programmed mainly in Win32 & MFC flavours recently developing applications for my courses. I have a fair amount of experience in HTML, VB, Delphi, C and a few web scripting languages. I have done some work in Java on a 10 week course so I have some Java background but its not my main skill.

I've done a lot of work in object-oriected design and coding techniques and algorithms so I know how to keep my code nice and clean when it arrives

My main reason for offering to help is that I would like to cut my teeth in games programming. Most of the stuff I've done at uni has been formal applications and I would like to have a go at being involved in a real game project for a change. The only game programming I've done before is a version of Monopoly for MFC and a quick openGL Pong rip-off.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi

[Mark_Everson]

Hi Chris, thanks for signing in, and Welcome!

Gary will like a Lot that your code shouldn't be dirty and disgusting like mine

I or Gary will send you an updated version of the code in a few days, once we've kicked out the most recent set of ugly bugs from the new features. Please download and try out Demo 6 when you get a chance!

Cya, and looking forward to your contributions,

Mark

[ctraill]

Thanks for the welcome Mark, I'm just having a quick run through the demo and the code just now to find my way around.

Trying to see if there are any bugs in demo 5 I can find from the thread up above and having a look at the design documents.

[Mark_Everson]

Originally posted by ctraill
Trying to see if there are any bugs in demo 5 I can find from the thread up above and having a look at the design documents.

AArgh Not Demo 5! The current demo is Demo 6!!! You can find it in a thread near the top of the forum. I presume you thought it was D5 because that is what is listed on the web site?

I've tried to say everywhere possible that the main web site is out of date, and you should use the mirror at http://cullivan.com/coc/frame/index.shtml

(We can only update it second-hand and since the possibilities for screwups are mind-boggling we've just swichched to the mirror) I've just contacted Dom, our webmaster, so we can put in a redirect, since this is starting to get out of hand.

I Should have put this info in the email I sent . Anyway, now you know...

There is a Mostly up-to-date bug list in the D6 thread, 2nd post.

[ctraill]

Sorry, my mistake. It is demo 6 I'm working through just now. Sorry about that.