Integration and System testing for a web site based on a replicated database. I wrote a web object comparison crawler in Perl. It takes two pages and compares the HTML structures. You can also specify objects such as graphics for binary comparison using MD5. I built a wiki-based test case catalog which ran in a frame while the site under test showed up in the same browser window.
I was responsible for software quality and customer satisfaction for Park City Group's ActionManager and Paperless Management product lines. I wrote automated tests using Rational Robot and unit tests in JUnit. I also wrote a lot of verification scripts in Perl. I used Perl and SVG to visualize labor projections. I developed test plans for both product lines.
My first assignment was to prove Novell Directory Services (NDS8) on Red Hat Linux. I had to set up a system and then run stress tests on it. I helped document the working set of Red Hat and NDS patches required for a working system. Next I was assigned integration testing for Excelerator 2.1 hierarchy cache features. These included CERN cache hierarchies and Internet Cache Protocol (ICP). Using RFC2186 I created a test tool that would interact with the Excelerator cache appliance to test ICP features. This tool automated the test cases for ICP and uncovered a couple of related defects. My assignment at Volera ended in November 2001.
My first job in a startup company only lasted four months, but it taught me a great deal. The pace was much faster than Novell and the focus was on getting the job done right, right away. I worked on some CA Jasmine ii applications, using the Java bindings. I also organized a Java study group and built some GUI components using Java 2D.
I worked on several teams at Novell. Starting with my hire at WordPerfect in 1989 I worked there for eleven years. My assignments included the following:
The Novell Small Business engineering team was a small group concentrated on delivering the best computer networking solution for the five to one hundred user network market. We created a simplified installation program for NetWare 5.1 and integrated several other products, including GroupWise and ZENworks. We released NSBS in five European and three Oriental languages. My primary assignment was to develop what became known as the POP Forwarding Agent or PFA. You can read more about this in The PFA Story. I also helped with internationalization issues, represented the team at trade shows, and presented our product to NetWare user groups.
I wrote cross platform API test automation for the GroupWise toolkit and engine. The tests were in C and ran on everything from DOS to Windows NT to HPUX. I served as the GroupWise liason to the Novell Superlab, organizing and running $50,000/week stress and scalability tests. I wrote test tools in Java including a POP3 client simulator. I was in charge of the GroupWise Test Lab for one year.
As part of the IS department at WordPerfect I was responsible for the computer systems in one building, serving about 300 end users. This included all the desktop computers, several mission critical file servers, and an odd collection of VAX computers and terminals, UNIX boxes, and network hardware including routers, switches and hubs.
I started out answering the telephones, providing information to current and potential customers about WordPerfect products. The upcoming release of WordPerfect 5.1 was a big deal at the time. I became known as the 'computer answer guy' and eventually set up and supported the computer systems for my department.
Before starting with WordPerfect I worked a variety of jobs including sales at RadioShack, computer lab assistant, groundskeeper, diskette labler, pick and pack, etc. In each assignment I came to be known as a capable, hard working employee.