Work & Projects

My professional journey and personal projects in software engineering and platform development.

Software Development Engineer II

Amazon.com, Inc Seattle, WA
October 2018 - September 2022
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As an SDE II at Amazon, I took on a broader scope of engineering work, leading efforts to build and maintain backend services, distributed systems, and operational tools that supported merchandising content at global scale. I transitioned from a front-end specialist to a full-stack and backend engineer, contributing to services that handled millions of requests per day across Amazon's retail platforms.

Key Achievements

  • Led engineering efforts on a global merchandising content service, optimizing for scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency, serving millions of customer requests daily.
  • Developed RESTful APIs and asynchronous services in Java to support dynamic, data-driven customer experiences and integrations with partner teams.
  • Migrated services and infrastructure to AWS solutions, including Lambda, S3, CloudFormation, and IAM, for improved scalability and maintainability.
  • Built new business intelligence data pipelines using Apache Spark, closing critical gaps in customer and merchandising metrics.
  • Enhanced system observability with custom metrics, logging, and real-time performance monitoring, enabling faster detection and resolution of service issues.
  • Reduced infrastructure costs by 20% through performance analysis, load testing, and architectural optimizations.
  • Developed automated tooling to identify and resolve high-severity service errors, reducing on-call burdens and improving system reliability.
  • Created on-call debug features and emergent issue modes to accelerate root cause analysis during production incidents.
  • Mentored junior engineers and collaborated closely with leadership to provide technical guidance and architectural input.

Technologies

Java
Primary backend language for developing services and APIs that powered global merchandising tools. Used extensively to build scalable, asynchronous systems with strong reliability and observability.
JavaScript
Used across the stack for building asynchronous UI behavior and contributing to internal tooling. Supported service debugging workflows and browser-based tools.
TypeScript
Used to modernize frontend tooling and increase type safety in JavaScript applications. Helped reduce runtime errors and improve maintainability.
HTML
Developed accessible, semantic markup to support dynamic content and interactive merchandising features.
CSS
Styled responsive and accessible UIs within merchandising tools, using modular design practices.
Apache Spark
Built data pipelines with Apache Spark to extract and aggregate merchandising metrics, improving visibility into campaign performance and customer behavior.
AWS
Migrated legacy infrastructure to AWS-native services to improve scalability, reduce operational overhead, and align with modern best practices in cloud architecture.
Lambda
Used AWS Lambda for lightweight, event-driven workflows that augmented core service functionality and simplified integration with internal tooling.
S3
Leveraged Amazon S3 for durable storage of campaign assets and service artifacts in support of global merchandising operations.
CloudFormation
Used AWS CloudFormation to define and manage infrastructure as code, enabling reproducible and auditable deployments across environments.
IAM
Managed fine-grained permissions using AWS IAM to secure access between services, Lambda functions, and developer tools, with a focus on least privilege.
CI/CD
Established CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and linting to enable safe, frequent deployments to production with minimal manual overhead.
Observability
Improved system visibility by integrating metrics, structured logging, and dashboards for key service performance indicators.
Error Tracking
Instrumented production services with tooling to surface high-severity errors, reducing time to resolution during incidents.
Accessibility (a11y)
Applied accessibility best practices in markup and interaction design to meet Amazon's internal a11y standards and improve customer experience.
UX Collaboration
Partnered closely with UX designers to iterate on dynamic interfaces and improve usability of internal tools and customer-facing features.
Data Quality
Closed gaps in campaign metrics through the introduction of new data pipelines and validation tooling.
Service Modernization
Led efforts to refactor and migrate legacy services to AWS-native architectures and event-driven patterns.
Metrics Instrumentation
Integrated detailed performance metrics into production services to track availability, latency, and error rates in real time.
Developer Experience
Delivered internal tooling and debug features to support faster iteration, root cause analysis, and production readiness for partner teams.
RESTful APIs
Designed and maintained REST APIs supporting asynchronous frontend interactions and integrations with partner teams across Amazon retail.
Distributed Systems
Built and maintained high-reliability distributed services, with a focus on performance, consistency, and graceful degradation under load.
Campaign Management
Built backend services to support the scheduling, targeting, and delivery of merchandising campaigns across global retail platforms.
Internal Tools
Built browser-based developer tooling to aid debugging of merchandising services and improve operational efficiency for partner teams.

Web Development Engineer

Amazon.com, Inc Seattle, WA
October 2016 - October 2018
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As a Web Development Engineer at Amazon, I specialized in building and enhancing customer-facing web experiences for Amazon Retail. My focus was on developing scalable, performant front-end applications that improved product discovery and merchandising on a global scale.

Key Achievements

  • Designed and developed several customer-facing merchandising 'widgets' and content modules, deployed across Amazon's global marketplaces to enhance product discovery
  • Collaborated closely with UX designers and product managers to translate high-level requirements into intuitive, responsive web interfaces
  • Contributed to the creation and evolution of Amazon's internal front-end component libraries, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and maintainability across experiences
  • Led front-end development for merchandising graphics pipelines, enabling dynamic visual content across Amazon's retail pages
  • Championed cross-browser and cross-device compatibility, ensuring a consistent and performant experience across diverse user environments
  • Increased unit test coverage and implemented front-end metrics and logging for better observability and debugging in production

Technologies

JavaScript
Primary language used to build dynamic client-side behavior and maintain complex UI interactions across Amazon retail tools and customer-facing pages.
TypeScript
Used to improve safety and maintainability of JavaScript applications, especially in larger React codebases with shared components and asynchronous behavior.
CSS
Used modular CSS and utility classes to build responsive, visually consistent UIs in alignment with Amazon's design guidelines.
React
Core frontend library for building interactive merchandising experiences and internal retail tooling. Utilized component-based architecture for UI reuse and maintainability.
Frontend Frameworks
Worked with various frontend frameworks including React and legacy AngularJS to deliver responsive, accessible user experiences and modernize older interfaces.
ARIA
Applied ARIA roles and attributes to enhance accessibility of custom components, ensuring screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation support.
Semantic HTML
Wrote standards-compliant, semantic markup to improve accessibility and enable better screen reader and SEO behavior.
WCAG Standards
Adhered to WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards in markup, styling, and interaction design to ensure legal and usability compliance.
Unit Testing
Developed frontend unit tests for components and utility functions to ensure reliability, prevent regressions, and support CI/CD workflows.
Linting
Used ESLint and other static analysis tools to maintain code consistency, catch early errors, and enforce frontend coding standards.
Performance Optimization
Optimized load times, script execution, and rendering behavior using profiling tools and best practices for critical path rendering.
Cross-browser Compatibility
Tested and resolved inconsistencies across browsers and devices, ensuring functional parity and visual consistency for all users.
Responsive Design
Designed and implemented layouts that adapted to various screen sizes and devices, supporting mobile-first and accessibility-first principles.

Software Engineer

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Kent, WA
April 2015 - April 2016
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At REI, I contributed as a front-end and full-stack engineer, primarily focused on building customer-facing and internal applications that supported REI's outdoor programs and digital experiences. This role gave me hands-on experience in an agile, product-driven environment where engineering was closely aligned with design and business strategy.

Key Achievements

  • Led front-end development for REI's Outdoor Programs and Adventures booking application, delivering an improved user experience for customers registering for outdoor classes and events
  • Worked closely with design teams to implement REI's redesigned component library, ensuring a consistent and accessible design language across the company's web properties
  • Participated in the incremental delivery and testing of production features, implementing continuous improvement in performance, usability, and visual polish
  • Collaborated across disciplines to enhance monitoring and reliability of customer-facing services
  • Improved internal engineering workflows through thoughtful UI development and clear communication with cross-functional teams

Technologies

JavaScript
Used extensively to build a single-page application (SPA) for REI's outdoor programs and classes, forming the core of the customer-facing experience.
Java
Gained exposure to Java-based backend systems using SpringMVC and Spring Boot while collaborating on service interfaces and REST API contracts.
SASS
Authored and maintained modular, themable stylesheets using SASS during SPA development to ensure visual consistency and maintainability.
LESS
Maintained legacy styles written in LESS and gradually migrated components to SASS as part of refactor efforts.
Backbone.js
Used Backbone.js as the primary front-end framework for state management, templating, and routing in the outdoor programs booking SPA.
Bootstrap
Incorporated Bootstrap components and grid system to expedite layout and UI development, particularly in responsive contexts.
Spring MVC
Worked closely with backend engineers using Spring MVC to define API contracts and integrate frontend views with backend services.
Webpack
Used webpack to bundle JavaScript modules and manage build configurations for development and production environments.
Gulp
Used Gulp for asset pipeline automation tasks such as compiling stylesheets, transpiling code, and watching files during development.
Git
Used git for version control, branch-based workflows, and team collaboration in both feature and maintenance branches.
Selenium
Collaborated with QA to write and maintain Selenium-based UI tests, ensuring consistent behavior across user flows and browsers.
Accessibility
Ensured the booking experience met WCAG standards through semantic HTML, ARIA roles, and keyboard navigation support.
Performance Optimization
Improved front-end performance through asset bundling, DOM profiling, and reducing render-blocking requests for faster load times.
Agile Development
Worked in an iterative, agile environment with sprints, demos, and cross-disciplinary standups to align on goals and deliver value quickly.
Component Libraries
Authored and maintained modular front-end components to promote reuse, clarity, and visual consistency within the SPA.
Front-end Development
Led front-end implementation of REI's outdoor classes booking app, focusing on SPA architecture, accessibility, and responsive behavior.
Full-stack Development
Worked across the stack on integration tasks, REST API development, and client-server coordination in a Java/Spring environment.
Cross-functional Collaboration
Partnered with designers, QA engineers, and backend developers in an agile environment to deliver cohesive and accessible digital experiences.
User Experience Design
Contributed to user-centric front-end design by collaborating closely with UX designers, ensuring designs translated well into interactive interfaces.

Staff Engineer

Formidable Labs Seattle, WA
July 2014 - December 2014
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At Formidable Labs, I worked as a Staff Engineer, delivering high-quality front-end frameworks and style guides for enterprise clients. This consultancy role emphasized craftsmanship, rapid delivery, and tight collaboration with client teams to build scalable and maintainable UI systems.

Key Achievements

  • Delivered custom CSS frameworks and front-end architecture for clients such as Walmart and Ookla, helping standardize and scale their design languages across multiple applications
  • Developed componentized, reusable UI patterns that enhanced consistency, accessibility, and developer experience for client engineering teams
  • Consulted directly with client stakeholders to translate brand and UX requirements into practical, scalable front-end solutions
  • Employed modern web standards and responsive design practices to ensure cross-device compatibility and performance
  • Contributed to Formidable's culture of technical excellence, rapid prototyping, and client-focused delivery

Technologies

CSS Frameworks
Used and extended CSS frameworks to accelerate layout development and enforce consistent visual design during client engagements.
Responsive Design
Delivered front-end solutions that adapted seamlessly across devices and screen sizes, using mobile-first principles and flexible layout systems.
Web Standards
Emphasized semantic HTML, proper ARIA roles, and standards compliance to ensure compatibility and long-term maintainability.
Accessibility
Applied WCAG and ARIA standards in client projects to ensure inclusive and compliant experiences for all users.
UI Patterns
Implemented consistent and reusable UI patterns that improved usability, development velocity, and alignment with design guidelines.
Rapid Prototyping
Collaborated with clients to rapidly prototype UI solutions, helping teams validate product ideas and gather early user feedback.
Front-end Architecture
Designed scalable and maintainable front-end structures for client applications, with an emphasis on modularity, reuse, and long-term extensibility.
Design Systems
Worked with clients to develop and document design systems that standardized branding, interaction, and layout conventions across multiple properties.
Component Libraries
Built reusable UI component libraries using modern front-end tooling to streamline development and align cross-team implementation.
Client Consulting
Partnered with engineering and product teams across industries to assess needs, recommend technical approaches, and deliver high-impact front-end solutions.

Contract Web Developer

Amazon.com, Inc Seattle, WA
November 2013 - July 2014
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As a contract web developer at Amazon, I contributed to the development of new shopping experiences and merchandising systems within the retail organization. This role allowed me to deliver front-end solutions that improved product visibility and provided internal teams with better tools for managing visual merchandising.

Key Achievements

  • Led front-end development for a merchandising graphics pipeline, enabling scalable creation and delivery of marketing visuals across Amazon's retail pages
  • Designed and implemented a configurable user metrics insights dashboard, providing merchandising teams with clearer visibility into the performance of visual campaigns
  • Collaborated with product managers and designers to prototype and build new customer-facing shopping experiences, enhancing product discovery pathways
  • Applied best practices in front-end engineering, including performance optimization, responsive design, and maintainability

Technologies

Performance Optimization
Profiling and optimizing render paths, asset loading, and JavaScript execution to ensure fast, reliable page loads at scale.
Responsive Design
Designed UI components that adapt across screen sizes and devices, ensuring consistent functionality and layout integrity on desktop and mobile.
Production Code
Delivered production-grade JavaScript and HTML/CSS code as a contract engineer, following Amazon code standards and peer review processes.
Large-scale Engineering
Collaborated with internal stakeholders to ship features that reached global customer audiences, emphasizing maintainability, observability, and fault tolerance.
Merchandising Systems
Worked within Amazon's global retail merchandising tools to enable dynamic content display, campaign targeting, and customer-facing promotions.
Graphics Pipeline
Maintained and extended an internal graphics processing pipeline responsible for rendering and distributing thousands of images used across Amazon storefronts.
User Metrics Dashboard
Built an internal reporting dashboard to expose customer interaction metrics to stakeholders, enabling faster product iteration and campaign planning.
Visual Merchandising
Delivered visual merchandising experiences through client-side code, enabling marketing teams to deploy and update rich visual content in real time.
Shopping Experiences
Developed features for Amazon's global shopping surfaces with a focus on clarity, visual appeal, and ease of use for millions of customers.
Front-end Development
Focused on building and maintaining web interfaces for high-visibility retail shopping pages, balancing performance, usability, and scalability.

Error Ferret

AI-Powered Code Review Tool with Microservices Architecture
August 2025 - Present
View on GitHub

Error Ferret is an AI-powered code review tool that provides line-by-line feedback using OpenAI's GPT models. Built as a modern, scalable microservices application, it demonstrates advanced architectural patterns including event-driven processing with NATS JetStream, containerized deployment, and Kubernetes autoscaling. The system processes code reviews through an asynchronous worker pipeline, allowing for reliable and scalable AI-powered code analysis. This project showcases full-stack development skills across multiple technologies and deployment strategies, from local development with Docker to production-ready Kubernetes manifests.

Key Features

  • Built a full-stack AI-powered code review platform using TypeScript, React, and Astro with a microservices architecture
  • Implemented an event-driven processing pipeline using NATS JetStream for reliable, scalable code review processing
  • Created a monorepo structure with pnpm workspaces for shared packages and multiple applications (API, worker, web)
  • Developed a hybrid frontend architecture combining Astro for static content and React SPA for interactive code review functionality
  • Integrated OpenAI's GPT models for intelligent code analysis with customizable reviewer personalities (security, performance, clarity)
  • Built a robust API using Fastify with comprehensive request validation using Zod schemas
  • Implemented asynchronous job processing with worker nodes that can scale based on queue depth
  • Designed Kubernetes manifests with KEDA for automatic scaling based on NATS JetStream lag
  • Set up comprehensive development environment with Docker Compose for local NATS and development tooling
  • Created a modular component architecture with shared UI components and type definitions across the monorepo

Technologies

TypeScript
Used throughout the entire codebase for type safety and better developer experience across all services and shared packages
React
Primary frontend framework for the interactive code review SPA, providing component-based UI architecture and state management
Astro
Static site generator used for the landing page and team information, with React integration for serving the SPA at /app route
Fastify
High-performance Node.js web framework used for the API server, handling review creation, status polling, and worker callbacks
NATS JetStream
Message broker and streaming platform used for reliable job queuing and processing, enabling asynchronous code review processing
Tailwind CSS
Utility-first CSS framework used for styling the entire application with consistent design patterns and responsive layouts
pnpm
Package manager used for monorepo management with workspace linking and efficient dependency installation across multiple packages
Zod
TypeScript-first schema validation library used for API request/response validation and ensuring data integrity across services
OpenAI API
Integrated GPT models for intelligent code analysis, generating structured feedback and providing AI-powered code review capabilities
Docker
Containerization platform used for local development environment setup, particularly for NATS JetStream service
Kubernetes
Container orchestration platform with manifests for production deployment, including KEDA autoscaling for worker nodes
KEDA
Kubernetes Event-driven Autoscaler used to automatically scale worker pods based on NATS JetStream queue depth and processing lag
Cloudflare
Edge platform used for deployment and hosting of the Astro-based web application
Microservices Architecture
Designed system with separate services for API handling, background processing, and web presentation, enabling independent scaling and deployment
Event-Driven Processing
Implemented asynchronous job processing using message queues, allowing for reliable and scalable AI-powered code review generation
Monorepo Management
Organized codebase using pnpm workspaces for shared packages, enabling code reuse across multiple applications while maintaining clear separation of concerns
Type Safety
Enforced strict typing throughout the application using TypeScript and Zod schemas, reducing runtime errors and improving developer experience
Message Queue Pattern
Used NATS JetStream for reliable job queuing and processing, enabling decoupled communication between API and worker services
Worker Pattern
Implemented background processing workers that consume jobs from queues and perform AI-powered code analysis asynchronously
API Gateway Pattern
Centralized API server handling all external requests and coordinating with background services through message queues
Hybrid Frontend Architecture
Combined Astro for static content with React SPA for interactive functionality, optimizing for both performance and user experience
AI-Powered Code Analysis
Integrated OpenAI GPT models for intelligent code review, providing structured feedback on code quality, security, and performance
Asynchronous Processing
Built scalable job processing system that can handle multiple code reviews simultaneously through worker node scaling
Multi-File Code Review
Support for reviewing multiple code files in a single session, with aggregated feedback and comprehensive analysis results

Obsidian RAG

Python Developer & RAG Systems
August 2025 - Present
View on GitHub

A Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system that transforms Obsidian vaults into searchable knowledge bases using semantic similarity. Built with modern Python tools, the project demonstrates vector embeddings, similarity search, and CLI application development. It provides both index building capabilities for vaults and natural language querying with direct Obsidian integration.

Key Features

  • Built a semantic search system for Obsidian vaults using vector embeddings and similarity search to find relevant notes by meaning rather than exact text matching
  • Implemented ChromaDB vector database integration for efficient storage and retrieval of text embeddings with metadata linking back to source files
  • Designed and implemented a CLI application using Typer framework with Rich console output for building search indexes and querying notes using natural language
  • Created automatic text chunking and processing pipeline that splits Markdown content into manageable chunks for embedding generation and storage
  • Developed configuration management system using TOML files for vault paths and automatic detection of Obsidian vaults for seamless integration
  • Implemented direct Obsidian integration with clickable links that open notes directly in the application using obsidian:// protocol
  • Built a modular architecture with separate packages for index building, querying, configuration management, and console utilities
  • Provided both standalone deployment and automatic configuration options with comprehensive error handling and user feedback

Technologies

Python
The primary programming language used to build the RAG system, CLI application, and vector processing pipeline with modern Python 3.11+ features and type hints
TOML Configuration
Used for defining vault configurations and project settings, providing human-readable configuration for the RAG system and automatic vault detection
Typer
The CLI framework used to build the command-line interface, providing argument parsing, help text generation, and command structure for build_index and query operations
Rich Console
Integrated Rich library for beautiful console output including progress bars, status updates, markdown rendering, and formatted search results
Sentence Transformers
Implemented Hugging Face sentence-transformers for generating vector embeddings using the all-MiniLM-L6-v2 model for semantic text understanding
ChromaDB
The vector database used to store and query text embeddings, providing efficient similarity search capabilities and persistent storage for the RAG system
Hugging Face
Integrated with Hugging Face model hub for downloading and caching the embedding model, providing access to pre-trained transformer models
RAG Architecture
Implemented the Retrieval-Augmented Generation pattern to enhance information retrieval with semantic understanding and vector similarity search
Vector Database Pattern
Built a system that converts text to vector embeddings and stores them in a specialized database for efficient similarity-based retrieval
CLI Application Pattern
Designed a command-line interface with separate commands for building indexes and querying content, following modern CLI application best practices
Text Chunking
Implemented intelligent text processing that splits Markdown content into meaningful chunks for embedding generation while preserving context and readability
Semantic Search
Built similarity search capabilities that find relevant content using vector embeddings rather than traditional keyword matching, enabling natural language queries
Configuration Management
Implemented automatic vault detection and configuration persistence using TOML files, providing seamless user experience without manual configuration
Error Handling
Built comprehensive error handling and validation for vault paths, file operations, and model loading with user-friendly error messages and graceful degradation

Uptime Monitor

Go Developer & Kubernetes Operator
July 2025 - Present
View on GitHub

A comprehensive uptime monitoring service built in Go with Kubernetes operator capabilities. The project demonstrates advanced Go programming, Kubernetes custom resource definitions (CRDs), controller patterns, and Prometheus metrics integration. It provides both a standalone monitoring service and a full Kubernetes operator for managing uptime checks as native Kubernetes resources.

Key Features

  • Built a lightweight uptime monitoring service in Go with configurable HTTP endpoint checking and response time tracking
  • Implemented Prometheus metrics integration for comprehensive observability including uptime status, response durations, and failure counts
  • Designed and implemented a Kubernetes operator using controller-runtime framework with custom resource definitions (CRDs)
  • Created a custom UptimeCheck resource type with validation, status tracking, and declarative configuration management
  • Developed a reconciliation loop that manages CronJob resources to execute uptime checks at specified intervals
  • Implemented proper Kubernetes RBAC permissions and resource lifecycle management for production deployment
  • Built a modular architecture with separate packages for monitoring logic, API server, configuration management, and controllers
  • Provided both standalone deployment and Kubernetes-native deployment options with comprehensive YAML manifests

Technologies

Go
The primary programming language used to build the monitoring service, API server, and Kubernetes operator with its strong concurrency support and standard library
YAML Configuration
Used for defining monitoring targets and Kubernetes manifests, providing human-readable configuration for the service and operator
Controller Runtime
The framework used to build the Kubernetes operator, providing the reconciliation loop and resource management capabilities
Prometheus Metrics
Integrated Prometheus client library to expose metrics for uptime status, response times, and failure counts at the /metrics endpoint
HTTP Client
Implemented HTTP requests to check endpoint availability with configurable timeouts and response validation
Kubernetes
The container orchestration platform where the operator runs, managing custom resources and providing the deployment environment
RBAC
Configured proper Kubernetes role-based access control permissions for the operator to manage custom resources and CronJobs
Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs)
Extended the Kubernetes API to define custom UptimeCheck resources that can be managed declaratively like native Kubernetes objects
Kubernetes Operator Pattern
Implemented the operator pattern to extend Kubernetes functionality and manage application-specific resources
Reconciliation Loops
Built reconciliation logic to continuously ensure the desired state of UptimeCheck resources matches the actual cluster state
CronJob Management
Created and managed Kubernetes CronJobs programmatically to execute uptime checks at specified intervals
Status Management
Implemented status tracking for uptime checks including last check time, response status, and uptime percentages

HyperTagBrowser

macOS File Browser with Advanced Tagging System
September 2024 - Present
View on GitHub

A sophisticated macOS file browser application built with SwiftUI that provides advanced file organization through a comprehensive tagging system. The app features intelligent file indexing, metadata management, and powerful search capabilities, allowing users to organize and discover files through descriptive tags, attribution metadata, and custom work queues.

1. The file browser is relatively intuitive, mirroring the Finder's layout and behavior.
2. Item selection using mouse or keyboard navigation
3. Multi-item selection supported using mouse or shift + arrow keys
4. ⌃+F opens the Refinements panel, which can be used to filter the file browser by tag, date, and more.
5. Refinements can be applied to the file browser, including filtering by tag, date, and more.
6. Individual refinements can be toggled as inclusive or exclusive.
7. The Tag Stash panel can be used to build sets of tags to be applied simultaneously to multiple items.
8. The Search Sheet has more free-form search capabilities, with a simple DSL for building complex queries across tags, dates, creators, and filenames.
9. ⌘+T displays the 'Tag Sheet' for an item, presenting a UI for managing item tag associations including a search field for finding existing tags and a keyboard-scrollable list of the current tag associations. Pressing ↵ toggles a tag association, allowing users to construct the set of tags for an item or items, with changes only being applied when the user exits the sheet.
10. The Tag Sheet supports editing associations for multiple items at once. Only common tag associations are shown, and any edits to the tag associations are applied to all selected items. Item's unique tags (omitted from the Tag Sheet) are preserved.
11. The item detail screen shows the item's metadata, including tags, dates, and more.
12. HyperTagBrowser supports dark and light mode.
13. The item detail screen supports renaming the item.
14. The item detail screen supports a variety of actions, including renaming, moving, and deleting the item.
15. The item detail screen supports recategorizing a tag association, essentially changing the the meaning of the tag association (eg, a keyword association, a creator association, etc.)
16. Various actions on a tag or tag association can be performed from the context menu.
17. The Tag Sheet is also accessible from the item detail screen.
18. The Settings screen showing some general user preferences.
19. The Settings screen supports changing the app's appearance.
20. A help screen showing the keyboard shortcuts.

Key Features

  • Built a native macOS application using SwiftUI and AppKit with a modern, responsive interface featuring grid and table views for file browsing
  • Implemented a sophisticated tagging system with multiple domains including descriptive tags, attributionmetadata (artist, creator, owner), creation dates, and work queues
  • Developed a robust file indexing service using GRDB (SQLite) for persistent storage of file metadata, tags, and relationships
  • Created an intelligent file identification system using extended attributes to maintain unique content IDs across file operations
  • Integrated macOS system services including QuickLook for thumbnail generation, Spotlight for search, and file system monitoring for real-time updates
  • Built a comprehensive search system supporting complex queries with tag-based filtering, date ranges, and full-text search capabilities
  • Implemented a work queue system for batch operations and task management with visual progress tracking
  • Designed a modular architecture with dependency injection using Factory framework for maintainable and testable code
  • Added advanced features including drag-and-drop support, keyboard navigation, context menus, and customizable UI panels
  • Integrated with macOS system features like clipboard operations, file operations (rename, move, trash), and volume management

Technologies

Swift
The core programming language used throughout the application for type-safe, performant code with modern language features
SwiftUI
The primary UI framework used to build the modern, responsive interface with declarative syntax and automatic state management
AppKit
Used for macOS-specific functionality including window management, system integration, and native controls not available in SwiftUI
GRDB (SQLite)
The database layer providing persistent storage for file metadata, tags, relationships, and search indexes with type-safe query building
QuickLook
Integrated for automatic thumbnail generation and preview capabilities for various file types including images and documents
Spotlight
Leveraged for advanced search functionality including full-text search, metadata indexing, and system-wide content discovery
Core Data
Used for managing complex data relationships and providing a robust object graph for the application's data model
Uniform Type Identifiers
Utilized for file type identification and categorization to enable proper handling of different content types
Factory (Dependency Injection)
Used to implement a clean dependency injection system for better testability and modular architecture design
File System Monitoring
Implemented to watch for file system changes and automatically update the database when files are modified, moved, or deleted
Extended Attributes
Used to store unique content IDs on files to maintain identity across file operations and enable robust file tracking
macOS System Integration
Integrated with various macOS system services including clipboard, file operations, volume management, and system preferences
Thumbnail Generation
Built a custom thumbnail service using QuickLook and caching to provide fast, efficient image previews for the file browser
Search & Filtering
Developed a sophisticated search system with tag-based filtering, date ranges, and complex query building for efficient file discovery
Tag Management
Created a comprehensive tagging system with multiple domains (descriptive, attribution, creation dates) and drag-and-drop support
Work Queues
Implemented a queue system for batch operations and task management with visual progress tracking and background processing
Keyboard Navigation
Added extensive keyboard shortcuts and navigation support for power users to efficiently browse and manage files
Drag & Drop
Integrated native macOS drag-and-drop functionality for intuitive file operations and tag management

CWMoto Racing Team Website

Full-Stack E-commerce & Racing Team Platform
December 2023 - February 2024
View on GitHub Live Demo

A comprehensive website for CWMoto, a PNW-based professional road racing team and performance shop. The platform serves dual purposes: showcasing the racing team and sponsors while providing e-commerce functionality for motorcycle parts and services. Built with modern web technologies to deliver a fast, responsive experience that effectively funnels visitors toward the two primary revenue streams: race sponsorship and suspension services. This public repo is a case study snapshot that demonstrates the architectural patterns and components I authored.

Key Features

  • Built a full-stack e-commerce platform using Astro with TypeScript, integrating Shopify's Storefront API for product management and cart functionality
  • Developed a responsive, mobile-first design optimized for users accessing the site from race paddocks and mobile devices
  • Created a modular component architecture with reusable UI elements for consistent design patterns
  • Built a content management system using Astro Content Collections for blog posts, team information, and sponsor content
  • Implemented a sophisticated architecture with tRPC for end-to-end type safety and seamless frontend-backend communication, eliminating the need for traditional REST endpoints
  • Implemented user session management with Redis for secure authentication and cart persistence
  • Integrated calendar functionality to display race events and team schedules with automatic image association based on event location
  • Set up comprehensive testing with Vitest for unit tests and Playwright for end-to-end testing
  • Deployed with Docker containerization for consistent development and production environments
  • Configured automated deployment pipeline with Railway, including health checks and automatic restart policies for high availability

Technologies

TypeScript
Used throughout the codebase for type safety and better developer experience across frontend and backend
Astro
The primary static site generator and framework used for building the website with server-side rendering capabilities
tRPC
Implemented for end-to-end type safety between frontend and backend, providing RPC-style API calls with full IntelliSense support
Shopify Storefront API
Integrated for e-commerce functionality including product catalog, cart management, and checkout processes
Tailwind CSS
Used for styling the entire website with utility-first CSS framework for rapid development and consistent design
Alpine.js
Lightweight JavaScript framework for handling interactive elements on the frontend without the overhead of larger frameworks
Node.js
The runtime environment for the backend server and API endpoints
Nixpacks
Build system used by Railway to automatically detect and build the application from source code
Zod
TypeScript-first schema validation library used for form validation and API request/response validation
Playwright
End-to-end testing framework used for automated browser testing to ensure website functionality
Vitest
Unit testing framework used for testing individual components and utility functions
Redis
Used for user session management and cart persistence, providing fast in-memory data storage
Docker
Containerization platform used for consistent development and production deployment environments
Railway
Cloud platform used for automated deployment with built-in health checks and restart policies
Responsive Design
Mobile-first design approach ensuring the website works seamlessly across all device sizes
Mobile-First Development
Development methodology prioritizing mobile experience, crucial for users accessing the site from race paddocks
CI/CD Pipeline
Automated deployment pipeline that builds, tests, and deploys the application to production
GraphQL
Used for communicating with Shopify's APIs, providing efficient data fetching and real-time updates
Content Collections
Astro's content management system used for organizing blog posts, team information, and sponsor content
Server-Side Rendering
Implemented for optimal performance and SEO, with pages pre-rendered at build time where possible
E-commerce Integration
Complete integration with Shopify for product management, inventory, and payment processing

Personal Blog & Portfolio

Full-Stack Developer
January 2023 - Present
View on GitHub Live Demo

A modern, responsive personal blog and portfolio website built with Astro, featuring a clean design, fast performance, and excellent developer experience. The site showcases my writing, work experience, and technical projects while demonstrating modern web development practices.

Key Features

  • Built a performant static site using Astro with TypeScript, achieving perfect Lighthouse scores for performance, accessibility, and SEO
  • Implemented a content management system using Astro Content Collections for blog posts and work experience data
  • Designed a responsive, accessible UI with modern CSS and Tailwind CSS, ensuring excellent user experience across all devices
  • Created reusable components and layouts for consistent design patterns and maintainable code
  • Integrated dark mode support and optimized for various screen sizes and accessibility standards
  • Deployed with automated CI/CD pipeline for seamless updates and version control

Technologies

TypeScript
Used throughout the codebase for type safety, better developer experience, and catching errors at compile time
Astro
The primary static site generator used to build the blog, providing excellent performance and developer experience with component-based architecture
Tailwind CSS
The utility-first CSS framework used for styling components and creating responsive layouts with consistent design tokens
Responsive Design
Implemented mobile-first design principles to ensure the site works seamlessly across all device sizes
Accessibility
Built with WCAG guidelines in mind, including proper semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, and screen reader support
SEO Optimization
Implemented meta tags, structured data, and performance optimizations to improve search engine visibility
Performance Optimization
Achieved perfect Lighthouse scores through code splitting, image optimization, and efficient asset loading
Content Collections
Astro's content management system used to organize and type-safe blog posts and work experience data
Static Site Generation
The build approach that pre-renders all pages at build time for optimal performance and SEO

Cheatsheet

Desktop Keyboard Shortcut Manager
January 2022 - Present
View on GitHub

A modern Electron desktop application that helps users learn and remember keyboard shortcuts for their workflow applications. The app automatically detects the active window and displays relevant shortcuts, featuring a clean interface with search functionality, keyboard navigation, and export capabilities. Built with a focus on productivity and developer experience.

Key Features

  • Developed a cross-platform Electron application with automatic active window detection using electron-active-window for seamless workflow integration
  • Implemented a sophisticated state management system using MobX and MobX State Tree for complex shortcut data and UI state synchronization
  • Built a responsive React-based UI with styled-components, featuring theme support, keyboard navigation, and accessibility considerations
  • Created an intelligent search system that allows users to find shortcuts quickly and even create new shortcuts on-the-fly
  • Designed a modular component architecture with reusable card-based layouts for displaying shortcut categories and individual shortcuts
  • Integrated export functionality for sharing shortcut collections in multiple formats (PNG, SVG) with custom rendering capabilities
  • Implemented comprehensive keyboard navigation allowing users to operate the entire application without mouse interaction
  • Added multi-application support with automatic switching and always-on-top functionality for optimal workflow integration

Technologies

JavaScript
The primary programming language used throughout the application for both frontend and backend logic, leveraging ES6+ features for modern development patterns.
HTML5
The markup language used for structuring the application's user interface with semantic elements and accessibility features.
CSS3
The styling language used for layout, animations, and responsive design with modern CSS features like Flexbox and CSS Grid.
SCSS
The CSS preprocessor used for additional styling with variables, mixins, and nested rules to maintain consistent design patterns and responsive breakpoints.
Electron
The cross-platform desktop application framework that enables building native apps using web technologies, providing the foundation for the desktop window management and system integration.
React
The primary frontend framework used to build the component-based user interface with hooks and functional components for stateful UI logic.
MobX
The reactive state management library that provides observable state containers and automatic UI updates when data changes, ensuring real-time synchronization between the app state and UI.
Styled Components
The CSS-in-JS library used for component-scoped styling with theme support, enabling dynamic theming and responsive design patterns throughout the application.
Node.js
The JavaScript runtime used in the Electron main process for file system operations, window management, and system-level integrations.
Vite
The modern build tool used for fast development and optimized production builds with hot module replacement and efficient bundling.
Jest
The testing framework used for unit testing components and utilities with comprehensive test coverage and mocking capabilities.
Babel
The JavaScript compiler used to transform modern ES6+ code for compatibility with Electron's Node.js environment and enable JSX compilation.
Webpack
The module bundler used as an alternative build system for development and production builds with code splitting and optimization.
Cross-platform Development
The development approach that ensures the application works consistently across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems through Electron's abstraction layer.
MobX State Tree
The opinionated state management solution built on MobX that provides type-safe models, actions, and views for managing complex application state with built-in serialization and time-travel debugging.
State Management
The architectural pattern implemented with MobX State Tree for managing complex application state, user preferences, and shortcut data with predictable data flow.
Component Architecture
The modular design pattern used to build reusable UI components with clear separation of concerns, enabling maintainable and scalable code organization.
Keyboard Navigation
The accessibility feature that allows users to navigate and interact with the entire application using only keyboard input, improving productivity and accessibility.
Active Window Detection
The system integration feature that monitors and responds to changes in the active application window, automatically displaying relevant shortcuts for the current context.
Desktop Application Development
The specialized development discipline focused on creating native desktop experiences with system integration, window management, and offline functionality.