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.
