James Leeds (aka Tin)

Freelance Web Application Architect and Developer

This compact page is intended to give a summary of what I do. Hopefully you can glean from it whether or not I will be able to help you with your development needs. I have huge experience in designing, planning and building systems across a diverse range of platforms with different budgets and technologies - either undertaking the work myself, or managing a team to do it.

Technology Summary

Core Technologies

Other Technologies

What do I offer?

Software Architecture

So, you've got this big idea for a world-conquering web application - all you need is someone to figure out how to make it work... right?

Well, that's where I come in:

Web Development

The Linux / Apache / MySQL / PHP stack (LAMP) is my preferred environment for web development, although I am happy to undertake WIMP work if you deploy to Windows servers. I also do ASP and Java for application development, but prefer PHP - phone me up if you'd like to argue about it ;)
On top of that I'm a fan of Javascript where appropriate, using AJAX / jQuery for a dynamic web applications. HTML / CSS are a given pre-requisite.

Database Design + Build

Getting your database right is absolutely crucial to your application working well, running quickly and allowing it to scale up when needs be. Good, non-denormalised, well structured, sensibly designed database construction should apply regardless of what database technologies you deploy. I have hands-on experience working with most of the popular DBs - basically if it's SQL based, I can do it.

Flash AS3 Development

I put Flash development under a different category now as ActionScript has developed into a fully blown language of it's own. It's amazing what you can get it to do now if you try ...;) My experience has been mostly with video streaming applications and browser game development (see examples below).

Experience

PL/SQL + C Developer, Virgin Direct - to 2001

Whilst still at Uni, I worked as a developer for Virgin, designing and building applications using primarily Oracle PL/SQL and C - including the security system still used by the One account banking operation today. I was quickly elevated to development team manager and from there to Technical Architect via a brief stint as Project Manager.

Technical Architect, RBS / Virgin - 2001-2003

I worked for several interesting years as the Technical Architect for the Royal Bank of Scotland's Virgin One operation, dividing my time between the technical evolution of the One account's Oracle/Java based call centre/web systems, and their interface with the legacy RBS systems in Edinburgh (mostly CICS/Cobol). This was a great job, but I realised this was as far as I could go within the corporate structure and still keep doing the techie things that I loved best. So I quit in 2003 and set up on my own.

LAMP / WIMP Developer, Klik - 2003 - today

After quitting the corporate world in 2003 I set up Klik Web Design with a designer friend of mine, and had a taste of consumer web development - mainly online shops, content management systems and other web-based applications. During this time I designed and built the Content Management System (called choColate) that underpins today's Klik sites, as a direct response to my frustrations with Drupal, Symfony et al. I have plans to one day Open Source it so that other developers can utilise and improve it. Klik is still going strong, and I still handle the more complex back-end developments, although choColate's flexibility means that the majority of projects require the minimum of my input.

Architect / LAMP Developer, Pupil Asset - 2008 - 2009

One of the biggest projects recently has been the application design and development for the acclaimed Pupil Asset system, which tracks student's results. This required a large yet highly responsive database to number crunch in real time on a very tight budget. It's widespread adoption in UK Primary Schools is testament to the success of this, as well as it's simplicity of use - another great passion of mine.

Flash AS3 Developer, GKTVS - 2009 - today

GKTVS is a collective of artists, animators and coders that produces video game promos for the music industry. Check out some of our games I have provided the coding for in the Examples section.

Others

I have worked as a freelance architect and coder for various web agencies (including Soup and BGD) and firms (Norwich Union - or Aviva if you must ;)

Online Examples Of My Work

What am I like to work with?

It's not really for me to say, but you are more than welcome to contact any of the companies mentioned here if you'd like a reference - I don't believe there is anyone I've worked for or with that I'd be worried about you talking to. Drop me a line if you need some personal contacts.

Am I a boring geek?

Well... yes to certain degree. I follow Slashdot and Wired (the Guardian do a fantastic job with their weekly Technology supplement too ;).
I'm currently running Mac OSX (my first choice), Ubuntu 9.04, Vista and XP.

What else are you interested in?

I have various musical interests and used to be in the rock band CORD. I'm trying to Cold Turkey myself off of late night gaming (going well), cigarettes (not so well). I drive a classic car, which means that although mechanically inept I'm improving all the time.

Availibility

I am busy most times, but if we get on, you like what I do and I'm enthused by what you're trying to achieve then I'm sure we can work something out. I work from my home in Norfolk, which means I have easy access to London, Cambridge and Norwich for face-to-face whenever needed.

Costs

I quote on a job by job basis. My daily rate is not the cheapest, but I work fast and efficiently and as such often come in quoting lower than less experienced developers. What's more if I say something will cost X, it will cost X.

Contact

You can contact me here. I'm friendly (reasonably)...