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Email john@watson-net.com
Location USA, California, Los Angeles area, GMT-8
Recent projects
Caravela
TYPE OF WORK: PHP, AJAX, user interface development
ABOUT THE SITE: State of the art software development bug tracking application for small teams. AJAX technology used extensively throughout to provide desktop-like capabilities without requiring page refreshes.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, Javascript, jQuery, AJAX, MySQL database
Android™ Mobile Applications
TYPE OF WORK: Application development for Android-powered mobile devices.
ABOUT: Custom Android application development including UI design, application coding, testing, deployment, maintenance, and updates.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: API versions 1.5, 1.6, and 2.1+; mobile development; web services integration; designing for multiple screen resolutions; multi-device testing; Java
Magento® Customization
TYPE OF WORK: Application development for the Magento e-commerce platform.
ABOUT: Custom module and feature development including customizations to all aspects of the customer-facing storefront and the backend store administration systems and databases.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: Magento, E-commerce, credit card payment gateways, MySQL database, PHP, Javascript
Christianaudio.com
TYPE OF WORK: E-commerce
ABOUT THE SITE: The leading online provider of thoughtful Christian audiobooks, lectures, and courses in digital download. Recently re-launched with Magento including full legacy data conversion from osCommerce.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: Magento custom module development, E-commerce, PHP, MySQL database, Podcasting, WordPress, TrustCommerce payment gateway
BigHugeLabs.com
TYPE OF WORK: Custom PHP, online generators
ABOUT THE SITE: Producers of fine toys and amusements for your digital photographs since 2005.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, Javascript, AJAX, Drag and Drop, MySQL database, E-commerce, PayPal integration
PayPal Website Payments API Integration
TYPE OF WORK: API integration, E-commerce, payment processing
ABOUT: Custom shopping cart solutions for one-time payments and subscriptions. Various levels of PayPal integration including standard payments, Direct Payment API, Express Checkout, and Instant Payment Notification callback handling.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, APIs, PayPal
WordPress Customization and Plugin Development
TYPE OF WORK: User interface development, theme customization, plugins
ABOUT: Custom theme and plugin development for WordPress. WordPress is a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress can be extended to include any functionality desired via its flexible plugin architecture.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, WordPress
KidsWeatherReport.com
TYPE OF WORK: API integration, user interface development
ABOUT THE SITE: A weather report tool that uses the public Yahoo! Weather API to present weather forecasts in an intuitive way for very young people.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, APIs
Photodoto
TYPE OF WORK: WordPress customization, plugin development
ABOUT THE SITE: A photography blog for hobbyists. Provides tips, tutorials, instruction, news and other information for photographers of all levels. The WordPress blogging platform was extended through custom plugins, custom MySql development, the addition of a lens database with WordPress administration, and custom theme development.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: WordPress, PHP, MySQL database
Big Huge Thesaurus
TYPE OF WORK: Custom PHP/AJAX, API development
ABOUT THE SITE: A comprehensive thesaurus, sounds-like reference, and rhyming dictionary. Users can suggest additional terms and phrases easily via AJAX-enabled forms that must be approved before being added. The site also includes a blogging post idea generator and a random plot/logline generator that is capable of creating millions of unique plot lines. Includes a public (free) and commercial API that can be accessed via a REST interface with output in text, XML, JSON, and serialized PHP.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, Javascript, AJAX, MySQL database
Sun Tzu’s Art of War
TYPE OF WORK: Custom PHP/AJAX, user interface development
ABOUT THE SITE: A unique and streamlined explorer for Sun Tzu’s ancient book. Innovative features include an online AJAX book reader; two-way, cross-referenced index with “tag cloud” display; and a highly functional people and search-engine friendly URL structure.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, Javascript, AJAX, MySQL database
Feedbloc
TYPE OF WORK: Custom PHP/AJAX, user interface
ABOUT THE SITE: News aggregation sites on any topic that combine information from multiple sources into a cohesive interface—called “blocs”—a la popurls.com. Behind-the-scenes technology includes an RSS feed aggregator and a system for replicating a new bloc on any topic in under five minutes.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, MySQL database, RSS
Writer
TYPE OF WORK: Custom PHP/AJAX, user interface
ABOUT THE SITE: A fast, simple, distractionless online writing environment.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: PHP, Javascript, AJAX, MySQL database, Word processing
SermonCentral.com
TYPE OF WORK: Community site
ABOUT THE SITE: To empower church leaders in biblical, effective and efficient sermon preparation.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: ASP and .Net, IIS, MS SQL database, Content Management, E-commerce, Authorize.Net payment gateway
PastorFinder.com
TYPE OF WORK: E-commerce
ABOUT THE SITE: Christian jobs (pastors, etc.) site.
KEY TECHNOLOGY: ASP and .Net, IIS, MS SQL database, Content Management, E-commerce, Authorize.Net payment gateway
Skills, platforms, languages, technologies, etc.
- Over 14 years of experience building web systems
- PHP
- MySQL
- AJAX
- XML, XSL
- Perl
- Linux server admin
- Javascript
- HTML, XHTML, CSS
- Apache and Lighttpd web servers
- Integrating with 3rd-party APIs (Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Flickr, etc.)
- Blogging and podcasting tools and platforms
- Content management systems
- I am not a designer, but I dabble
Other stuff
A few years ago I was a lead developer at Channelwave where I helped create customized web e-commerce systems for major manufacturers like HP, Sony, Toshiba, Maxtor, Western Digital, Sharp, Kia Motors, ATI, Hawk Clothing, Logitech, Lexmark, and many others.
I have a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Computer Engineering from UC Irvine.
I contributed to the O’Reilly book Flickr Hacks. I’m also a published photographer with photographs in JPG Magazine Issue 7, Flickr Hacks by Jim Bumgardner & Paul Bausch, How to Use Flickr by Richard Giles, Create Your Own Photo Blog by Catherine Jamieson, Digital Photography and Lighting by Catherine Jamieson & Sean McCormick.
I’m a husband and father of two. Raising children is simultaneously the toughest and most fulfilling job I’ve ever had.
My services are more expensive than others. If you’re frustrated with throwing your money away on “inexpensive” web developers, call me.
I believe most people are fundamentally good. I am not religious.