Services
From the business person's perspective, I take an idea online by building the necessary software. In most cases, my client has a need for something that must be custom-built by hand because it is too unique to fit into existing software applications, because a quality is required that is beyond the reach of mass-produced templates, or simply because the client is too busy doing his or her job to also want to do mine.
For the techies: I specialize in Open Source tools, using primarily XHTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL in Linux/Apache environments, producing well-commented, robust applications that can grow with the need.
- XHTML/CSS (Web Page) Coding:
- Since 1998, I have hand-coded scores of sites to standards from HTML 3.2 onwards. In 2006, I am working with XHTML 1.x to produce solid modern web pages that download fast, rank high and display with grace and reliability.
- Everything is written manually. I can read XHTML and CSS source code as fluently as I do English prose.
- I have an established history of success. Please request my portfolio list by using the form above. No record of your email will be kept; this autoresponder will send you our latest project record for review or printing.
- I have experience coding CSS-controlled sidebars, banner areas, overlapping and uniquely-positioned layouts.
- I stress complete separation of structure and presentation, allowing the site to be re-skinned repeatedly over the years without reformatting of content.
- I have often worked successfully with third-party artists, including Flash integration.
- I have substantial experience creating robust and agile database-driven, dynamically generated pages.
- I am skilled at creating and modifying graphics for use on the Internet.
- Database Design:
- Logical, efficient, effective data objects
- Experience tracing relationships through hundreds of associations
- Past successes include:
- For Nick Selby: associating tens of thousands of airports, destinations and businesses into an interdependant structure capable of supporting lightning searches and dynamic web page generation. This database included 97 tables storing data related to over 21,000 US airports, including hundreds of geographical locations, 145,000 hotels and thousands of points of interest and local events. Totaling 200 megabytes of data spread over 1.3 million rows, the system was optimized with carefully designed indices in such a way that no noticeable delays were encountered even though several queries were run against it with each page load.
- For Rhonda Graham: a directory of area businesses that supported dynamic page generations for over 500 local businesses from over 200 categories. Lean and fast, the structure also facilitated integration of the site with phpAdsNew to create a custom-tailored banner system. Normalized to support easy, dependable web-based management by non-technical office staff while minimizing opportunities for complications.
- For Anthony MacMurray: a data structure for an online MLS-type service to include automatic billing and web-based administration. Only about 24,000 rows at last check, the database design included extensive normalization to maximize storage efficiency in an effort to support seamless automated rebilling of system users. Member accounts cross-referenced listings and supporting data using a low-byte indexing approach that stepped smartly along during searches by web site users.
- Designs optimized to support minimizing server loads in shared environments
- Practiced at turning client ideas into workable databases
- PHP & Perl Scripting:
- Experience coordinating dynamic generation of web pages based on large databases of diverse content
- Experience writing applications thousands of lines long from the ground up
- Modular Object-Oriented application designs support long life and ready expansion
- Professionally commented and organized
- Targeting stand-alone apps or those integrated with 3rd-party applications
- MySQL database manager integration a specialty
- Web-based administration applications a specialty
- Past successes include:
- Several MLS-style realtor back ends
- Online forms: single- and multiple- paged, advanced error detection, email and database submission handling
- Scores of database-driven, dynamically generated web sites
- Web-based administrative systems for office personnel, realtors, site users, store managers and more!
- Site and database search tools
- Site management systems for many different needs
- Integration of third-party PHP applications such as osCommerce, phpAdsNew and phpMyAdmin
Please note that I have been working with Darrell King and the Web Center for the past 3 1/2 years with regard to my web programming needs. As I initially found Darrell through a search engine and without any references, and because he was far from our base of operations, I was a bit hesitant to use his services. Those concerns quickly faded however when I began to realize that quality and my complete satisfaction were Darrell's only concern on every step of my projects. I had worked with other programmer's before who were obviously bright and could talk a good game, but who never quite succeeded in finishing projects, or in handing over a final product that resembled the original goal. As I have only a minimal technical understanding of some of the issues involved in our projects, Mr. King 's ability to explain the processes involved is much appreciated. The bottom line is that our work is completed on time, successfully and at reasonable cost. The net result is that the applications built by Mr. King have enabled our business to be more efficient, grow and compete with the big boys. And the fact that Mr. King is not in our neighborhood is a non issue as he is extremely responsive to email communication which has worked quite well for us. If you need sophisticated web programming and reliability, Darrell King and the Web Center are strongly recommended.
