Fault analysis: three engagement types, one deliverable—a proven root cause.
Show-stopper response
A defect is blocking a release, upgrade, or rollout. I join the front line, triage by consequence, and root cause the bug.
- Trigger
- Release-blocking defect
- Output
- Root cause + fix per defect
Deep fault investigation
The intermittent crash, the occasionally wrong value, the unreproducible hang. Worked until reproducible, explained, and fixed.
- Trigger
- Weeks spent, no answer
- Output
- Detailed fault report
Concurrency & memory review
A targeted read of legacy or high-risk code for lock-ordering hazards, data races, lifetime errors, and boundary mismatches.
- Trigger
- Before a major change
- Output
- Ranked hazard list
Every debugging engagement delivers
Science into software, and back again.
Scientists and developers often talk past each other: one side speaks in equations and experimental intent, the other in data structures and edge cases. I have a good grasp of mathematics and physics and years of practice sitting in the middle.
Scientific application development
A scientist needs software. I work from the model or the method directly and build a sound, science-accurate application.
- For
- Researchers and labs
- Output
- Working, tested application
Requirements translation
Your developers have a scientist’s requirements and aren’t sure what they mean. I read both sides, resolve the ambiguities with the scientist, and hand the team specifications they can build against.
- For
- Dev teams working with domain experts
- Output
- Actionable software specs, test criteria
Make the computer do the work.
I've worked with small-businesses and non-profits to create custom tools, websites, and more.
Chess trainer
My son was having trouble learning chess openings from books and videos. I built him a Leitner flash card system for chess openings over a weekend.
- Need
- Custom learning tool
- Result
- Robust, theory-based learning app
Speed-friending
A friend asked me to put together an application for a speed-friending/speed-dating event. That application can be quickly customized for the needs of each event.
- Need
- Custom multi-user application
- Result
- Robust, flexible
Web enhancements
I have built websites from the ground up (including this one). I have added tools and features to existing websites.
- Need
- New website or modification to an existing site
- Result
- Well-documented, usable web enhancements quickly