Hey, I’m Rob, a full stack developer specializing in web applications. I’m a jack of all trades and utilize my skills to fulfill multiple roles. Mostly I write code, but before that I often need to setup databases, servers, DNS records, etc. I write modular, tested, and documented code. Even when speed is primary I find the time to come back and finish what I started. My goal is always to write code for myself 6 months in the future. I have twenty-one years of experience helping build up development teams. As things progress and the development team expands I enjoy working with and mentoring other developers.
Outside of work I find myself frequently coding a solution to annoyances and problems I find. Automating away the pain is one of the joys of being a developer.
All of my programming projects utilize open source code. I prefer to build applications for the web using RESTful APIs, HTML, and JavaScript. Native apps have their place, but for the most part if it can be done using a browser then that is how I prefer to do it.
Life is quickly becoming a software problem; which is great because I like fixing software problems. Here are some of the tweaks I’ve made to make things a bit better for me.
User.js Scripts
GreaseMonkey Scripts I use to make the website I visit a bit better for me.
Common fixes for many websites to enable autocomplete, sanitize password inputs, disable _gaq links, enable video & audio controls, and show info on YouTube embeds.
Hide annoying banners. Set links to default to old.reddit.com domain. Open posts in a new tab. Enable keyboard navigation for posts. Remove uninteresting subreddits from list pages. Fix the search default to the current subreddit.
Reader mode in Firefox is great, but it’s a bit too conservative when deciding preemptively that it cannot handle a page. This CSS always shows the button which will work most of the time.
Symlink Configuration Folders
Firefox and Sublime Text both store important customizations in folders buried deep in the disk. But on UNIX-y environments you can symlink the folders to other locations. For example a git repository tracking your settings:
I’ve supported the EFF for over a decade. They work to support Network Neutrality, Internet security, and Internet Privacy. I’m proud to use HTTPS Everywhere and Privacy Badger extensions in my browsers. They also help create the Let’s Encrypt Certbot tool that I’ve used to setup my web applications under HTTPS.
I’ve long supported Mozilla through my use of the Firefox browser, and I also support the Mozilla Foundation. Like the EFF Mozilla works to create an open internet usable by everyone. I develop web applications so it is vital to me that the internet be a place innovation thrives. Through my support I hope to help keep the internet from walled gardens and mono-cultures.
As an American I believe that the ACLU is a vital part of our democracy. My donations to the ACLU and ACLU Foundation protect my and all Americans’ civil liberties. It is not always easy to defend the Constitution, and I support those that do this vital work.
I believe that the Southern Poverty Law Center provides important services to my country by shining a light on the hate that is attempting to infest our society. Tolerance and justice aren’t things that just happen, but causes that we must champion. Through my support I hope to promote civil rights and legal reforms that will benefit everyone.
