Also known as: michaelsmanley
Since , I've developed or managed the development of software for embedded microprocessors, desktop operating systems, online and mobile. For the last years, I've used open source technology as my primary development platform to build large-scale, BC web applications in publishing and marketing. I enjoy leading teams of smart people to build new products. As an architect, I believe users' needs, rather than a programmer's view of the world, should shape software's functionality. From initial marketing experiments to architecture and design to implementation and launch, I enjoy iterating on commercially successful applications that people find useful and engaging. As a programmer, I prefer to work by the precepts outlined in The Pragmatic Programmer and the Agile Manifesto. I believe that while each programmer may prefer certain tools (mine Linux, PostgreSQL, vi, Git, PHP, Javascript, Ruby, Python, Lua), good programmers try other languages, methods and tools and take ideas from each back to their work. As a team lead, I prefer the "servant leadership" philosophy of management. I try to provide resources and remove obstacles for my people so they can do their best work. I aim for sustainable pace, practical skill development and clear objectives for my team. I've grown high-functioning teams with product and project managers, front-end, back-end and QA developers, operations personnel and business analysts working together. I believe the best products synthesize the perspectives of technical, marketing, support and executive stakeholders. Ive brought development and project management processes to each of my employers, learning the particulars of the business and adjusting the development playbook specifically for that situation.I prefer lightweight, collaborative methods such as Scrum and Kanban, though I think there are no silver bullets for the process of software development, every company has its own set of concerns and requires its own solution.