User:MystikShadows

About Me
Computers and computer programming have always fascinated me since I was 7 years old and picked up my first computer programming book at the local library of the time. Since then I've always loved to read and learn about new languages. This was back in 1975 and since then I can't say I've ever stopped learning. Having started back then though gives me a unique perspective on things like problem analysis and other related fields.

The computer industry (and programming languages) have evolved quite a bit since 1975. Back then (all the way to 1987 or so) we had the added parameter of deciding which computer to program for. Atari, Commodore, and other computers were surfacing all the time and there was a big variety of different systems. Today, all that disappeared. Our choices are The PC (and compatibles) and the Macs. The variety lies in the available operating systems and Graphical User Interfaces. Since the choice of computers is gone, our variety comes in the type of programs (or games) that we can create on these machines.

To me, if I can learn from it (any challenge in any field) I just know I will love to take on the challenge. Below are the industries I've had the privilege to learn from either on a professional level or on a personal level with personal projects I created to learn the industry and possibly may decide to commercialize. You can also find the programming languages, database environments I've had the chance to learn and use in the course of my career so far.

Contact Information
Here are some of the many ways to get in touch with me. I'm always ready to discuss software engineering / development subjects. I'm also always ready to get feedback and suggestions (as well as submissions) about this knowledge base project so if you would like to get in touch with me feel free to use one of the following means of reaching me.

Known Industries
Throughout my career as a software developer I have had the privilege of working in several industries. I can't say I've hated any of them. Learning and new challenges is to me what software development is all about.


 * Accounting: Book keeping Financial statements, year end procedures
 * Payables/Receivables: Automatic Receivable management system, collection agencies
 * Banking/Financial: Loans, leases, mortages and investments
 * Statistics: linear regressions, trend analysis, simulations
 * Employee and Payroll: Deductions, printing of cheques, resource management
 * Rentals: Short and long term rentals, leases with option to buy
 * Manufacturing: M.R.P. and the production of finished goods
 * Food Industry: UPC quality control, Plannogramming and related financials
 * Law and Law firms: office document automation, document management and precise time billing
 * Project/Time Management: time/date calculations and project billing
 * Inventory Control: Inventory transactions, purchase orders, packing slips
 * Document Management: for all corporate and legal related documents
 * Natural Resources: Oil, Gas, petroleum, precious minerals, land and rights management
 * E.D.I.: Standarizations and creation of standard invoicing data transfer protocols
 * Employee and Payroll: Deductions, printing of cheques, resource management
 * Software Development: developed small and usefull utilities for developers
 * Web Design/Development: Created a few corporate websites for clients and for myself

I wasn't completely satisfied with what I was learning (though I was learning a great deal) and I wanted to learn and know more. hence, I have also, on a personal, basis learned and programmed personal projects in the following fields of expertise:


 * Programming language: currently working on my own programming language WarpBASIC, you guessed it.
 * Operating Systems: Working on my own Natively Graphical Operating System
 * I.R.C.: Client/Server Working on an Graphical Internet Relay chat Server and client
 * Musical: Recording Studio Working on a project to create a full fledged professional quality MIDI and Digital recording studio software.
 * Artificial Intelligence: I have an A.I. project I am working on called Memorium.

Known Programming Languages
To me, it's important to know more than one programming language. Depending on the project at hand and the desired results/performances a given language could be better suited for the task and therefore should be used. Here's the list of programming languages I've learned, used and still am using.


 * Visual Basic: Worked with all versions on multiple projects, with exhaustive Office Automation projects.
 * Other Basic: Ranging from GW BASIC to Quick Basic, GFA Basic, The QuickBasic P.D.S. and more.
 * C/C++: Professionally and personally programmed in C and C++ using O.O.P.
 * Delphi: Personally programmed in Delphi for about 2 years and working on a commercial product.
 * Java: Personally programming a project to get familiar with this now very popular language
 * Pascal/ObjectPascal: Programmed a few D.O.S. based utilities in Pascal throughout my career
 * Clipper: Again both professionally and personally programmed in CA-Clipper for years
 * Ada 95/2005: been working on a sequencing project with a friend for about a year and a half in this language
 * Modula-4: I'm at a learning point in this language.
 * Assembly Language: I'm at a learning stage and constantly evolving.

I have also created website and website development projects which gave me good usable knowledge in the following internet related languages:


 * H.T.M.L. / D.H.T.M.L.: For the visual design of web documents.
 * VB-Script: to add interactivity and functionalities to web documents
 * JavaScript: for the same purpose as VB-Script.
 * X.M.L. / X.S.L.: X.M.L. to save Online Data. X.S.L. as a means to present the data to users.
 * A.S.P. Active Server Pages: developed for all types of online database access.
 * Perl/C.G.I.: creating an online order form with knowledge based artificial intelligence features in this language.
 * PHP: A leading internet development language. Doing an online collaboration website project.
 * Python: A freely available language that is fast becoming a leading internet tool.

Known Database Systems/Environments
Databases are the core of most professional applications built today whether online or not. Some database are better than others when it comes to hardcore performances and knowing the differences between the many databases available out there can help greatly in selecting the best database for the task at hand. Here are the database environments I've been working with professionally and personally.


 * SQL Server&trade;: Programmed a few windows project using Visual basic as this database's front-end
 * Oracle&trade;: created PL/SQL procedures for automation of routine database maintenance
 * Sybase and SQL Anywhere&trade;: Sybase a unix database management system. SQL Anywhere a portable computing database system
 * Interbase&trade;/Firebird&trade;: this is one I learned and still am learning on my own.
 * MySQL&trade;: Recently begun development in this database using PHP.
 * PostgreSQL&trade;: Another I'm learning on my own and enjoying every minute of it.
 * DBase&trade;/Visual DBase&trade;: I programmed a multitude of applications under this database environment
 * Foxpro&trade;/Visual Foxpro&trade;: Developed a time scheduling and management system with this database and it's programming features
 * Paradox&trade;: create a small Box based inventory control system.
 * Lotus Approach&trade;: All versions to date.
 * Microsoft Access&trade;: created applications both in access itself and using access databases and Visual Basic Front-end.
 * Superbase Professional&trade;: To Version 3.XX. A good all around programmable database management system

Known Operating Systems
Whether it was at home on different computers and computer setups or in the course of my professional career I have had the privilege of work on a wide variety of Operating System for a variety of computer systems.


 * MS-DOS&trade;/PC-DOS&trade;: All existing versions to day except Vista&trade;.
 * Novell&trade;: From the early Novell 286 and 386 to their later versions.
 * Visi On&trade;: One of the better classic GUI environments of the time.
 * GEOS&trade;: Graphical Environment Operating System on both Commodore and PC computers.
 * Windows&trade;: All versions to date.
 * OS/2&trade;: This OS needs no introductions.
 * Amiga OS&trade;: All the way to Amiga OS 3.9
 * SCO Unix&trade;: Many versions using more than one GUI front ends.
 * Linux: Many versions including SuSE, RedHat and Ubuntu.
 * MacOS&trade;: All the way to MacOS 9.X.X
 * GEM&trade;: On both the Atari ST series and on the PC platform.
 * DeskMate&trade;: Though not as popular, this environment offered some great advantages.
 * BeOS&trade;: o the last available version. Also following closely the OpenBeOS project.
 * Deskview/X&trade;: An excellent MS-DOS environment that had many unheard of features.