From Punched Cards to the Cloud
I had to do a certain amount of backend work to be able to do the frontend that I enjoy. No longer. Here's my IT trip.
Corporate Punched Cards
In 1968, I rented an apartment across the street from the Connecticut Mutual data center because I liked to go to the data center at night to watch my punch cards make the tape drives spin. We learned Assembler, Cobol, JCL etc over at the IBM center; no computer science graduates, not even any H1B. This was pre backend/frontend.
Education Environment
In 1970, I programmed an HP with a single line display in an HP Basic in a school environment. And experienced a Digital single line teletype telnet.
Small Business
In 1978, I started programming business applications on an IBM 5120's(a desktop) in IBM Basic. A 4 pound 512KB disk drive from a 5120 I use as a bookend. From 1980 to the present,unix systems rule. Initially, I set up all hardware, wiring and did all system and application programming. All backend programming, unless one calls text based data entry screens frontend. This webpage is served up on a unix box I built and set up and sits in a corner of my office. Why would one build a computer today.
The Web on the Cloud
Now, I can concentrate of the frontend. It's way more fun. No more cable pinouts: it's in the cloud. The difficulty now is to decide which of the many great open source software tools to use. This constant learning and reinventing is one of thejoys of IT.
The accordion on the left lists application areas and past/present clients.
My learning web application began when I became frustrated by the difficulty of exchanging medical data easily. My solution is a web site where you enter and maintain you medical data. Take a look at this PHR: Patient Health Record There are other PHR's but I think this one is the most usable and complete.
Difficult Projects
Look at the large ruble stone wall I built behind me in the photo. I enjoy challenges.Contact me for any web needs
