About Me
Hello!
I'm James
Who am I?
A developer who is passionate about programming, creating things, learning, new experiences, and all things computer related.
My goal
To make a difference in the world, to further develop myself in every way possible, and to find an amazing company/team with whom to share this journey. A company I would be proud to work with and to call my family.
My Journey
Development & Game Design
I started learning to program when I was 15 years old. Utilizing Google and motivated by my desire to create my own games, I taught myself how to develop flash games (and how to monetize those games). I have been programming ever since.
IT & Computer Repair
Because of my interest in computers and my curiousity, I have always found myself fixing others' computers. As a way to earn money, I decided to utilize this talent by being a freelance IT tech. Eventually, I opened my own computer repair shop, "Generation Tech". A year later, someone purchased my brand/shop from me and I went on to become an IT tech at a large company, getting the chance to work with a great, friendly team of seasoned IT vets who taught me the ins and outs of corporate IT.
Virtual Reality
In 2017, I got my hands on my first virtual reality headset. I was blown away! That's when I knew that I had to create a virtual reality game. A month and a half later, I released my first VR game "Battle Dome" which was a big hit. This is when I realized that it was destiny to be a programmer, not an IT tech. Since then, I have released 2 additional games (with more on the way). Being a lone indie dev has made me self sufficient and well rounded, having to do almost every aspect of game production myself. Although I enjoy making games and have learned a lot, I miss working as a team and having coworkers with whom to share the development experience.
Web Development
Recently, I decided to dive into the world of web development. Even though I already learned HTML, CSS, JS, and SQL years ago, I realized that web development has evolved so much since then. Now I spend every day getting my hands dirty with various web technologies including React, Node.js, MongoDB, and more. It is now my goal to master web development and achieve my dream of working as a developer in an amazing team.
My Interests
- Programming (obviously)
- Learning foreign languages
- Cooking
- Motorcycles
- Cycling
- Teaching
- Playing sports / exercise
- Playing music
- Beer tasting
- Singing drinking songs
- Traveling and exploring
- Shooting (guns/bows)
- Games and virtual reality
- Relaxing with family/friends
A Glimpse into my life
Opening Generation Tech
Not only did I have to fix computers, but I also had to create the brand and marketing materials, as well as handle all financial and business related duties.
Always happy to help
Friendly and honest customer interaction was a huge part of the job.
I love to fix things
There is nothing more satisfying than diagnosing and solving a problem (or bug).
Learning new things
I used my downtime at Northstar Travel Group to learn about microcontrollers and circuits. This was my first creation. This skill gave me the ability to repair boards myself (for example, replacing a blown capacitor).
Taking it to the next level
The company soon had a halloween pumpkin painting contest to raise money for charities. I created a motion detecting pumpkin that would flash its eyes when someone would walk in front of it. I wanted the pumpkin to also turn towards the victim, but the small motor I had couldn't support the weight of the pumpkin. I'll buy a bigger motor next time!
Love for music
Playing music and learning new instruments is one of my favorite hobbies. My most recent instrument was the accordion. Next, I would like to learn the violin and the bag pipes.
Cheers!
There's nothing like enjoying a well deserved pint after an honest day's work.
Learning
What I Want to Master
- HTML/CSS
- Node.js
- MongoDB
- Python
- React
- PostgreSQL
- Java
- Django
Don't see your technology here? Let me know and I will dive into it for you. I would love the chance to learn something new and to prove myself!
What I Want to Learn Next
- Angular
- Vue
- More Spring Framework
- ASP.NET
Other Things I Want to Learn
- Fluent German
- Swedish
- Japanese
- Dancing
- Violin
- Fluent Russian
- Spanish
- Italian
- Brewing beer
- Bagpipes