Richard Giddings

Profile

Bristol, United Kingdom

Summary

An honest, hardworking and enthusiastic software developer. I am equally at home working as part of a team or as an individual and can quickly pick up new ideas and adjust to new work patterns.

Most recently I have been learning Python, Django and React. I have written a variety of applications such as an application for groups of friends to organise running races together and a tutorial on using Django Rest Framework with React-redux. These and other examples can be seen at https://www.richardgiddings.co.uk/cv/ as well as on my Github profile.

Languages:

English

Experience

Systems Analyst and Developer – Capita, Bristol, UK

October 2005 - February 2016

This role involved developing and supporting pensions software. In particular:

● Understanding complex business requirements to then write System Specifications.

● Writing high quality code to match specifications while meeting project deadlines.

● Reviewing of other people’s work to ensure their specification/code was both functionally correct and conformed to agreed standards.

● Unit and system level testing as well as assisting the Quality Assurance team with queries.

● Providing support to clients via email/telephone/web support portal. When required to I took ownership of support duties.

● Participating from the start in the migration of the company’s large standalone application to a web application, both of which are in use by clients.

● Adapting to a changing role as the company’s needs evolved. The role was originally programming but added support activities as the two teams were merged. I also took on extra responsibilities such as the development and support of the pension member access websites.

● Took ownership of ensuring the multiple server backups were successful and liaising with a company to store these off site.

● Mentoring of new starters.

The main programming was using PowerBuilder and JSP talking to Sybase databases. PowerBuilder was either used for a standalone application or deployed to a server (Sybase EAServer) and used in conjunction with JSP on Apache Tomcat. The developing of the JSP code also involved the use of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. In developing this software I also used XSL and XML and wrote SQL scripts to work in Oracle and Ingres. Outside the main development I also worked with Java to maintain a pension predictor applet and PHP for member access websites. Support activities included working on various Windows platforms as well as Unix and the installation/configuration of software on them.

Programmer – Kelston Group Ltd, Bath, UK

May 2004 – May 2005

● Creation of internet applications using a fourth generation language (HTML/OS) for areas including stock maintenance, insurance and property.

● Maintenance and support of internet applications.

● Participated in client briefings to gather requirements for software and to demonstrate work done.

● System analysis and software documentation.

Skills

Django, Django REST Framework, Git, Heroku, PostgreSQL, ReactJS, Web Development