TRAVIS WILSON

Contact/availability information PDF / printable version

In brief:

For the past thirteen years I've built the architecture, code, and development lifecycle of software. Almost all of it has been web-based applications — server-side apps, browser apps, and the communication between them. My clients and employers have ranged from startups seeking prototypes to Fortune 500 companies developing enterprise solutions. Many clients are repeat customers.

My development is tempered with a solid understanding of product design, user interface, and data modeling. My team management is based on a robust, respectful, realistic yet ambitious development process highly visible to all stakeholders. I seek a position from which to make software developers as valuable as they can be and to make a product that accommodates the growing pains endemic to startups.

Weapons of choice:

  • Code:
  • Java · Javascript · PHP · Python · ActionScript
  • Java framework:
  • Spring Framework · Servlet
  • Browser framework:
  • Vanilla Javascript · jQuery · Dojo Toolkit
  • Database:
  • MySQL · Oracle · JDBC · iBatis · Hibernate
  • Development:
  • Debian Linux · bash · Subversion · make
  • Task management:
  • Bugzilla · Jira

    Software development columnists I usually agree with: Jeff Atwood · Paul Graham · Steve Yegge · Alan Carter

    Recent work:

    TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
    May 2009 to present
    Playdom, Mountain View, CA (Acquired by Disney)

    After a few months developing and refactoring Playdom's social game applications, test environments, and deployment scripts, I took ownership of two key Playdom software products. The first was a common interface and library for communication across games and services. The second was the flagship website playdom.com, to which I introduced a release cycle, configuration layer, issue tracking standards, and other SDLC improvements. The website served many different functions for many different teams in Playdom, so I redesigned each function into a distinct component directly controlled by its team. These duties meant coordinating with and mentoring disparate teams across Playdom, as well as managing software developers. Products shipped on time and on budget.

    From 2003 to 2009 I was a partner in the software consulting group Simple Dynamics. Selected client work:

    WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPER
    Multiple engagements
    Wavemarket, Emeryville, CA

    October 2008 to January 2009
    Led a three-developer team to create a simple e-commerce site dedicated to selling a single handheld device. The device required extensive backend integration with three different, unrelated third-party services. Design specs for the interaction between services and for the website. Product shipped on time and on budget.

    April 2007 to May 2007
    Profiled memory leaks and other performance problems in Javascript map component of Wavemarket's web application. Removed memory leaks and optimized code.

    October 2006 to January 2007
    Redesigned web application architecture such that the web application could be rapidly customized and skinned to meet the business needs of each Wavemarket partner.

    October 2005 to October 2006
    Brought to release a web application based on Wavemarket's core GPS server technology. Focus was on browser communications with HTTP server, and modular design of JSP and servlet pipeline. This also included writing some in-browser Ajax functionality.

    TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
    August 2008 to September 2008
    Active Technologies, San Jose, CA (Acquired by Apple)

    The server-client codebase had grown unwieldy and monolithic as this company scrambled to meet market demand. I led a two-developer team to redesign and refactor web application code to keep layers of functionality separate, meanwhile developing new features to meet business deadlines.

    TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
    Multiple engagements
    Trion World Network, Redwood City, CA

    December 2007 to June 2008
    Created an online store application to sell virtual items within a game world using the game's currency. The store app accommodates multiple games simultaneously and provides extensive administrative tools. I designed and documented the product, and managed a second developer to implement. Product shipped on time and on budget.

    April 2007 to October 2007
    Designed, prototyped (see my case study), spec'd, produced, and brought to release a framework to translate the technology and user experience of video games to a set of web applications. As a notable part of this task I recruited and managed a development specialist who was able to walk a fine line between Java web code and C++ game code.

    LEAD USER INTERFACE DEVELOPER
    Multiple engagements
    Adaptive Path, San Francisco, CA

    July and August 2007
    Led a two-person team to produce a functional, aesthetic prototype for a web application — proposed to a financial institution — that allowed users to manage their mutual funds and financial outlook.

    February 2007
    Debugged, repaired, and polished the Javascript functionality and CSS styling of an automobile search application.

    TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
    November 2006 to March 2007
    Wellsphere, San Francisco, CA (Acquired by HealthCentral)

    Consult with CTO to define the project architecture (a combination of software architecture, task assignment, team interfaces, and project management) for this startup health-centered social networking site. Review, evaluate, and implement business requirements to meet market-driven deadlines. Produce technical specs, writing production code when necessary. Design and implement web application configuration and deployment scheme.

    WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPER
    Multiple engagements
    Yahoo!, Sunnyvale, CA

    October 2006
    Profiled and optimized code performance.

    April to October 2005
    Various SDLC improvements to Yahoo's Health and Astrology websites: Refactored the software architecture; collected requirements and defined architecture for a tiered template system; reorganized software packages and configurations for better integrity and simpler deployment; automated regular jobs that were previously performed manually.

    SOFTWARE ARCHITECT
    Multiple engagements
    Online Alchemy, Austin, TX

    July 2003 to January 2005
    Managed a development staff of myself plus two others, to bring a game-oriented artificial intelligence product from concept to deployment. Worked with CEO to develop a new AI model realizable in software. Developed prototype to have a robust architecture for simulation, and to be easily scriptable for rapid development. Designed production architecture, which required modular components to work together in an efficient, asynchronous environment.

    September 2002 to November 2002
    Developed a Java applet port of a PC game. Innovated and resolved problems independently, and spec'd deliverables to facilitate client feedback.

    For more see my extended resume

    Education:

    UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
    August 1990 to December 1994
    Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science