Quality code and lots of coffee

Tag: Javascript

Nick Infinity Islands – API & Back End

I was approach by Peg Digital to help with a new project they were working on for Nickelodeon. The new project would be a series of games for the Infinity Islands. As part of this game there would be an option for players to upload an image as part of a “Scoreboard” and Nickelodeon requested that these images be saved to a database, and be retrieved at a later point and displayed at user request.

The approach I took was to build an API and incorporate their current use of JavaScript by giving them my own JavaScript Client library to hit the PHP API in the back end. The API had to handle various tasks, passing back relevant information to the front end for the site to use, such as saving and retrieving images, getting gallery’s and in later days, serving reports on user interaction with the API. As well as this I also had to set up the Amazon Web Services host which runs this back end. This all had to be done with regular communication to the client, keeping everything secure to adhere to data protection when using the API, and overcoming new challenges when requirements changed or were added in.

The project faced it’s own challenges, after the API was set up to handle image capturing the storage space on the host server starting to reach it’s limit, and after live release the RAM limitations of the server meant some quick refactoring and code redesign needed to be implemented in order to get the server running smoothly.

The project was delivered on time, with positive feedback from the client.

Metro Excuses

metroMetro Excuses was a JavaScript webpage I designed to tech myself some of the fundamentals of the language.

The project takes a satirical look at some of the excuses that Tyne and Wear Metro have given commuters in the past and allows users to create some of their own.

The basis of the system is that there are 3 categories to an excuse, a degree of failure, an affected part or piece of the system and an attribute of that part or piece that has failed. Hard coding generic values into arrays meant that users were able to create combinations as well as using a randomise function to create random combinations.

Design North

Design North Logo

Commissioned by the University of Sunderland Design Department I was part of a team building a website on which the University could showcase student work. The project was originally undertaken by a group of students but abandoned the project after graduating. Our job was simply to pick up where they left off.

The site was built in HTML and PHP with a MySQL database behind it. The University wanted a platform where they could upload student work for each specified course, providing a brief description of the piece and information on the student. This meant allowing users to a management window where the items could be edited and updated, while providing a public gallery and information space for guest users.

My main responsibilities were to convert the existing PHP scripting to a newer format, and add new functionality as requested by the client. This included uploading video files and producing thumbnails, an email contact page, database redesign and robust navigation linking, all to be done in time for the deadline set by the client.

The project was delivered on time in March 2015.

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