Isaac Bowen
CV
Projects
*****@**********.***
Curriculum Vitae
TLDR: I build web applications. I have a strong sense for visual and structural
aesthetics. I merge quickly into new projects and environments. I have extensive
experience in large-scale development.
If this sounds like something that you re looking for, or if you have any questions, drop
me a line at *****@**********.***. References available on request.
Jump to section:
Technical Skills
Professional Experience
Projects
Education
Technical Skills
Languages and Databases
Ruby, PHP, Python, JavaScript/CoffeeScript, Perl, Java, VB.NET, C++, C, XML, XHTML,
HTML5, CSS/SCSS, SQL, PL/SQL
PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle 10g, MongoDB
Platforms
Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Arch, RedHat, CentOS), Unix, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Amazon Web Services, Heroku, PHPFog
Frameworks and Tools
Ruby on Rails, Zend Framework, CakePHP, Django, Glade/GTK+
RSpec, Cucumber, Unit::Test, PHPUnit
Professional Experience
Threadless
Description
"Threadless is not your average company. The designs on our products are sourced from our
ongoing open-call for submissions from a worldwide community of amazing artists and
designers. Once submitted, our community of over 1 million members cast votes that help us
decide which designs go on Threadless stuff."
Role
Senior Engineer
(02/2011THE FUTURE)
Achievements
Stay tuned.
CaSTT (Commerce and Search for Technology Transfer)
Description
CaSTT drives unsolicited leads, increases revenue, reduces costs and speeds time-to-
market for tech transfer organizations within universities, hospitals, national labs,
research and development facilities, and corporations.
Role
Lead developer
(Contractor: 05/201111/2011)
Achievements
Working closely with a remote team of developers, managers and stakeholders, designed and
built a strong platform for online marketing and automated licensing of intellectual
property.
Worked with client organizations to develop and deploy flexible, multi-tenant solutions,
allowing clients to massively increase sales to a global market.
Successfully migrated and enhanced existing PHP code using Ruby on Rails in a fraction of
original development time, greatly increasing the efficiency of future iteration.
Technologies
Ruby (Rails 3), MySQL, HTML5, CSS, Javascript (jQuery), Git
Authorize.net, IndexTank, Capistrano, and a host of community gems
Relax Relax Inc
Description
Relax Relax Inc provides professional video hosting services to a broad client base.
Role
Lead developer
(12/200905/2011)
Technologies
PHP, MySQL, XHTML, CSS, Javascript
CakePHP, Adobe AIR, Adobe Flash Media Server, Subversion, Git
Achievements
Designed and built a framework, based on CakePHP, for handling all business processes
from billing cycles to media assets.
Built a client self-service media management application, greatly simplifying asset
control.
Built an administrative application for top-level client and media management, resulting
in significantly less administrative overhead.
Wrote abstract routines for asynchronously executing complex tasks in queue, allowing the
user experience to be uninterrupted by long-running processes.
Constructed a traffic reporting service, drawing from Adobe FMS, providing granular
statistics and analytics to administrators and clients.
Over the course of a week, designed and built a large-file upload and email service,
allowing users to exchange large media files despite email provider limits.
Chicago Public Library
Description
Serving 2.8 million patrons at 79 branch locations, the Chicago Public Library is one of
the largest public library systems in the United States. Its award-winning Information
Services department extends the library s service to online users worldwide. The library s
technology has received many awards, and has been recognized by President Obama.
Role
Web developer
(10/200812/2009
)
Technologies
PHP, Java, Perl, PL/SQL, XHTML, CSS, Javascript
Zend Framework, Oracle Database, Subversion
Achievements
Planned, designed and executed a complete user interface overhaul for the library s
internal web applications, greatly increasing usability and presentation.
Quickly became familiar with the many systems supporting and running the library s
services, learning new languages, frameworks and architectures on the fly.
Designed and helped build a system to handle reservations and inventory control for any
items in any department, tied to existing patron databases.
Wrote SOAP exposures for the above system, and created a general-use ui integrated with
the library s public-facing website.
Created new report types on request for the existing data analysis engine, developed
internally.
Designed and built a course registration wizard to streamline the existing scheduling
process for staff training. As a result, a confusing set of disparate tasks were combined
into a simple, user-friendly system.
Wrote a complete implementation of the Google Maps API for Zend Framework, allowing
geographical mapping to be done efficiently across many systems.
Oversaw maintenance and content deployment for the public-facing website, assisting
content editors and troubleshooting when needed.
Provided support and assistance for internal applications to library staff.
Implemented a security layer for patron self-service applications, including brute-force
detection and Recaptchas.
Prototyped a 3d interface for displaying circulation activity across a geographical map.
Customized the functionality of an existing visual media repository, and assisted in its
visual and functional integration with the library s public website.
Brovizion
Description
Brovizion serves mid-sized businesses and organizations through website design.
Role
Web designer/developer
(Contractor: 04/200810/2008)
Technologies
PHP, MySQL, XHTML, CSS, Javascript
Global Grounds Cafe
Description
Global Grounds Cafe is located on-campus at the Illinois Institute of Technology in
Chicago.
Role
Web developer, barista (08/2007 02/2008)
Technologies
PHP, MySQL, XHTML, CSS, jQuery
Achievements
Designed and built a team scheduling request and fulfillment system, automating the
unwieldy process of manually collecting and organizing shifts.
SIL International, NRSI
Description
SIL International is a nonprofit organization committed to serving language communities
worldwide as they build capacity for sustainable language development. The NRSI is a
department of SIL whose task is to provide guidance, information, research and development
for SIL and its partners to facilitate the use of non-Roman and complex scripts in
linguistic study, translation, literacy and publishing.
Role
Web developer (Intern: 06-08/2005)
Technologies
PHP, MySQL, Subversion, phpDoc, XHTML, CSS, Javascript
Achievements
Extended and maintained the NRSI s internal CMS, developed in-house and used by several
child organizations of the SIL.
Projects
Gatekeeper
Description
A content security and user management service that provides deep integration with
Shopify, a turnkey solution for online commerce.
Technologies
Ruby (Rails 3.1), CoffeeScript, SASS, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
Status
Live and profitable with hundreds of shops and thousands of protected resources
Link
apps.shopify.com/gatekeeper
gkapp.com
lucky-fm
Description
Stumble-style interface for Last.fm's track.findbyaudiofeatures API, because why not.
Technologies
Coffeescript, jQuery
Status
Alive and kicking
Link
isaacbowen.com/lucky-fm
Fracken
Description
A quick tool for transferring one s Flickr library to Dropbox.
Technologies
Ruby (Rails 3.1), CoffeeScript, SASS, PostgreSQL
Flickr, Dropbox and Stripe APIs
Status
Live
Link
secure.fracken.com
Rigging
Description
An enhanced theme editor for Shopify, including tabbed editing, friendly keybindings, and
syntax highlighting.
Technologies
Ruby (Rails 3), XHTML, CSS, Javascript (AJAX), CodeMirror
Shopify API
Status
Retired
Biped
Description
A functional experiment in providing statistical tracking functionality from Last.fm in a
live Pandora session.
Technologies
XHTML, CSS, Javascript & AJAX (jQuery)
Last.fm REST API, Pandora Javascript API
Status
Alpha; almost certainly broken
Link
hellobiped.com
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology
Computer Science,
Information Technology & Management (2007-2009)
National Merit Scholar, a distinction granted to 0.05% of the 1.5 million applicants
University of Wisconsin
Superior
Computer Science
(2010-2011)
*****@**********.***
Recent Posts
12 May 2012: It is not enough
30 Apr 2012: Memories Are Sacred
23 Apr 2012: You have to get back on the horse.
Recent Projects
Flee
lucky-fm
Fracken
Elsewhere
500px
Google+
GitHub
SoundClou