JIM MASSE

JIM MASSE
37715 Boxthorn
Palmdale, CA 93552
661.285.8778
highplains@usa.net

SOFTWARE: MS Windows (over 9 years, beta test site for Win 9X, Win 2000, XP, Vista), OS/2 and Presentation Manager, VC++ (9 years), GUI user interfaces, relational database and SQL, TCP/IP, Winsock, FTP, HTTP, ActiveX, COM, MFC, Win32, streaming media, media players, peer-to-peer (P2P), Windows RAS/DUN, X.12 Electronic Data Interchange, XML, Rational Rose and GDPro UML modeling tools, InstallShield and MSI installer

LANGUAGES: C++, Visual Basic, Java, C#, Javascript

Independent Software Contracting 4/86 - present

As software contractor I worked for various companies, specializing in MS-Windows, OS/2, MS-DOS, and UNIX applications such as retail (backoffice) operations, financial database systems, user interfaces, DLLs, client/server, and communications. All of the following projects involved hands-on design and coding, and many were for companies that produced shrink-wrapped software products for the retail consumer market. In these projects, I typically used Microsoft development tools to develop the software, and various Microsoft and third-party tools for debugging, version control, and bug tracking, in a continuous cycle of new requirements, design, coding, and alpha and beta testing. Nearly all of these projects involved some form of GUI user interface development, usually using MFC.

Honda: I created a DLL in C++ that allows bench-testing of next-generation auto electronic components, including a gui application that allowed use of the DLL, and documentation for it. The DLL was designed for use from any language â�“ it accesses the serial and parallel ports to send operator commands to the electronics. The DLL can process the commands one at a time, or in batch mode can accept and interpret streams of commands.
AvaWorks: For a startup software company, I worked on the port of an existing Pocket PC demo application to Mobile 5. The demo was written in C++, and used proprietary AvaWorks technology to display photo-realistic avatars with accurate lip-syncing. Such avatars could be useful for embedded help and other user-guidance applications.
Capital Group: For an investment management company, I was responsible for porting in-house enterprise applications to Windows XP. This included identifying compatibility issues, working with third-party library vendors, recommending development tools to assist with porting, and debugging applications when necessary. I worked closely with development groups to advise them of best practices for XP development and help them plan for XP migration.
PC Interlink: For a multimedia service company, I designed and implemented the software for a music-industry sponsored "Napster" service. This P2P software was written in MFC for the GUI user interface and VC++ and used Winsock event-driven send/recv threads. The software kept track of the user's account status, and queried the server database for account balance and other information. As a P2P program, the client program incorporated both client and server functions, and allowed users to share their MP3 files with other registered users. The DRM (Digital Rights Management) functions were managed by software (written in Java) residing on PC Interlink servers, running SQL Server 2000. The server management utilities were written using OLE DB consumer templates.

BroadStream: For an Internet startup that offers enhanced streaming media services and real-time reporting of consumer usage, I was the team leader for the client-side software components, including ATL-based ActiveX controls that emulated several popular media players (WMP, Real, QuickTime) and were able to detect stream degradation and quickly switch to another CDN. These ActiveX GUI user interface controls communicated with the ISAPI server (and the SQL Server database) by means of a custom HTTP protocol, implemented using multiple threads. This work included writing web pages written in Javascript to demo the ActiveX controls. Later these ActiveX controls were converted to Java.

Autologic: For a worldwide leader in digital prepress systems, helped to implement a component-based NT client/server system that clients such as newspaper publishers use to perform layout and artwork design. This system utilized a browser UI and components based on ActiveX and ATL/COM in a distributed MTS framework. Used Java for UI on web pages.

Capital Management Sciences: Team Leader of a group that was chartered with the task of designing and developing a new product - BondVu (www.bondvu.com), a real-time bond analysis tool using three-tier client/server architecture based on Winsock and multiple threads, using MFC for the GUI user interface, with ISAPI servers responding to requests sent via the Internet, and back-ended by a Sun (UNIX) Oracle server. This system is currently in use by major institutional investors to track bond portfolios and perform technical analysis.

PC411: For a startup company that provides Web-based phonebook services, I developed an MFC C++ RAS class that automatically switched to DUN if no Internet connection was found. I also developed a registration wizard, and a technique for on-line updating of individual program components.

Transamerica: For a nationwide company that provides consumer loans, I designed and developed a UI application running under NT 4.0, using MS VC++, MFC, SQL and ODBC. This app enabled my client to manage advertising campaigns as part of a continuous relationship management system. MFC CRecordsets were used to create and query campaign status, via an ODBC connection to an Oracle database running on a Sun computer.

Info-Symmetrics: For a startup software company, I designed and implemented the user interface for a product suite aimed at the banking industry, that allows banks and their customers to view check data and check images. This software was developed in Visual C++ and MFC, using CFormView and CListBox classes that I customized, and transferred data to and from the bankâ�™s RS6000 Oracle database using ODBC.

Locus: For a leading supplier of open systems Unix/DOS software, I designed and implemented a new FTP client to run under MS-Windows, using Visual C++ and MFC. This FTP Client supported standard FTP operations, using the WinSock TCP interface, and displayed file lists using a hierarchical tree. It also had the ability to cache remote directories, provided transparent file transfer between two remote hosts, and used a drag-and-drop interface.

Quotron: For a West L.A. vendor of financial market reporting tools, I designed and implemented a Windows port of their Unix-based software, using Visual C++ and WinSock.. The Windows client DLL interfaced to the Unix server via TCP/IP sockets. I also wrote parts of the Unix server, and designed the PC-Unix message protocol.

Xerox: For a major manufacturer of office equipment, I designed interfaces to connect mainframe-hosted EDI software to PC-based SQLWindows applications. These interfaces were written in C in DLLs to provide access from within SQL programs.

Hughes/Avicom: For a subsidiary of a Southern California aerospace company, I developed Windows C++ applications using Microsoft MFC. This software provided the user interface and attendant control functions for in-flight entertainment and shopping services on commercial airlines, and was connected to a database server running Unix.

Beckman: For a leading manufacturer of laboratory instrumentation, I designed a user interface for a new real-time chemical analyzer. A PC running this Windows user interface communicated with the embedded instrument controller via the serial port. The user interface was written in C++ after an initial prototype was done in Visual Basic. A CASE tool using Rumbaugh methodology was used to generate the application.

Network Telesys: For a startup software company, I designed and implemented a PM interface for their OS/2-based network monitoring product. This software allows administrators to test new applications by simulating large numbers of on-line users, and also reports on network performance.

Ralphs: For a major Southern California supermarket chain I designed and implemented an OS/2- based system to manage in-store applications. The user interface for this system was written using PM, with a menu system that could be changed without recompiling the software. I functioned as the technical team leader, and directed the efforts of four other programmers.

Geosoft: For a leading vendor of computerized mapping systems I converted their MS-DOS applications to MS Windows 2. Later, I ported their software to OS/2 (Presentation Manager), and then to Windows 3.0.

Lockheed: For a major aerospace company I designed and implemented a paperless shop floor (CIM) system for the ATF, based on Sun workstations. The Suns were connected by TCP/IP, using X-Windows to drive touch screens.

Hughes: For a large Southern California defense company I designed ISO/OSI LAN software for the FAA's next generation Air Traffic Control system. File transfer, network management, fault tolerance, and internet addressing issues were included in the design.

Quadratron Systems, Inc. 1/85 - 4/86

As Director of Software Development I led the development of various software packages for use as UNIX and MS-DOS office automation software, including word processing, electronic mail using X.400 protocol, data base, and user interfaces.

Fortune Systems 5/83 - 1/85

As Manager of Office Automation Software I was responsible for the software development group designing and implementing office automation software for Fortune's UNIX-based office systems. This included word processing, record processing, and electronic mail.

Datapoint Corporation 3/81 - 5/83

As Manager of Software Development I directed a group responsible for a new product line, consisting of a new PBX Telephone Management System for CDR (Call Detail Reporting) and CASH (Call Accounting System for Hotels).

Prime Computer 1/78 - 3/81

As Senior Member of the Technical Staff I formed a new project developing applications software for interfacing Prime systems to office workstations. UNIX was used to quickly prototype different user interfaces which allowed users to access terminals on both local and remote nodes.

Digital Equipment Corporation 11/73 - 1/78

As Project Leader I was responsible for new releases of the RSX real-time OS with enhanced kernel and new device drivers to support new cpu's. I designed and implemented the communications front end for DECsystem-20, and wrote communications drivers for VAX to support Decnet.