I code. I design. I hack on Linux.
jstpierre@mecheye.netContracted with Verizon Business Systems as a team member developing an Adobe Flash/Flex-based animated circuit diagram that displays elements, connections, status and feedback on circuits in Verizon's optical backbone network, and permits engineers to run tests and probes, and also examine data and alarms.
I architected and implemented some core interactive components, such as a Flash-based zoomable, pannable container that allows users to conveniently navigate the circuit, and a JavaScript-based Splitter control that allows the user to resize the applet arbitrarily.
I wrote large parts of a JavaScript/Flash bridge that allows Verizon's existing JavaScript code to be reused from the Flash-based circuit diagram. I created an event system that synchronizes the circuit diagram with new data from the server in real-time.
I created vector artwork using Flash CS5, and wireframe UI mockups using Photoshop CS5. These included scalable icons for familiar SONET circuit elements including separate, clear, small-sized variants for use in the separate tree view, and standard familiar UI icons OK, Error, Warning, and Info for use when displaying circuit test results.
I'm currently a member of the Red Hat desktop team, where I'm working on improving the Linux desktop.
I contributed a fair amount of features and bugfixes to the open-source GNOME Desktop Environment, along with ad-hoc technical support on public mailing lists, forums, and IRC channels. A large amount of my effort has been focused on GNOME Shell, the major user interface component of GNOME 3, written in a mixture of C (using the GObject class library) and JavaScript. For GNOME Shell, I've made several user-visible improvements to the built-in instant messaging client, along with some work on the search and file management systems, as well a major overhaul to the extensions system to allow users to load and unload extensions at runtime. I made various bug fixes for broken builds, learning each individual project along with the GNU autotools build system, in use by the GNOME Desktop Environment and other large open-source projects.
Recognized for my work on the GNOME Desktop Environment, I was given an internship position to develop a new product from scratch: a web-based repository allowing users to find, rate, and try out GNOME Shell Extensions. The project, codenamed SweetTooth, has goals similar to "AMO", the Mozilla Addons site. It is now live for all users to use.