Paul Sweatte

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read this information.

My name is Paul Sweatte, and I am a web developer with extensive front-end and server-side scripting experience. I started this website to document my experiences and research into the tools that I use for personal and professional use. Below is a listing of my past projects. My resume is also available at the above link. Research for my current projects is tracked under Research. The most frequently updated sections include Syntax, JavaScript Idioms and Gotchas, Usability and CSS Tips.

E-Commerce Website Development

Business Needs:

A front-end developer to implement, troubleshoot and own new features of a large scale e-commerce site

Web Design:

Produced static demos based on style guides to match Photoshop comps

UI Development:

Developed cross-browser CSS code and worked with back-end developers to integrate server-side and AJAX functionality by resolving browser specific JavaScript issues

Server-Side Development:

Created logic for CSS variables using JSP and Tiles, in addition to keeping local Apache and Tomcat settings configured properly to emulate configuration changes on remote development servers and databases. Also developed several shell scripts to automate repetitive processes for syncing code across several branches of the version control system.

Project Management:

Worked with offshore development team to setup meetings and communication standards for resolving integration issues and resolving bugs in client and server-side scripts that affected the user interface

Performance Optimization:

Removed redundant HTML markup and unused CSS selectors

Programming Languages:

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, YUI, JSP, Tiles, shell scripting

Development Tools:

Komodo Edit, Aptana Studio, Irfanview, cvs, putty, vim, VirtualPC 2007, Firebug, Web Inspector, WinMerge

Screenshot:

Web Branding and Marketing

Business Needs:

A technical architect to design, develop, test, and produce a cost-effective site for editorial services and book marketing for a freelance writer

Web Design:

Prototyped the site layout, color scheme, and typography and progressively enhanced it over several iterations to meet the needs of the client.

UI Development:

Designed and coded a clean UI using semantic HTML and cross browser CSS

Server-Side Development:

Configured the entire LAMP architecture, including MySQL database schema, Apache .htaccess security settings, Bazaar source control repository, Linux cron jobs, and PHP templates. Wrote form validation and email generation functions in PHP. I also wrote scripts to dynamically convert the XML sitemap to HTML and XML metadata to SEO keywords and description info for each URL.

Performance Optimization:

Minimized bandwidth usage through the implementation of dynamic caching and compression of HTML and CSS in addition to cropping, resizing, and optimizing images for the web

Programming Languages:

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, XML, XSLT, XPath

Development Tools:

Komodo Edit, Irfanview, ImageMagick, Bazaar

Screenshot:

Sample Code

Sample PHP Form Validation
Sample PHP Form Response
Sample PHP Application Template
Sample HTML Page
Sample CSS Stylesheet

E-Commerce Web Application Development

Business Needs:

A senior web developer to lead maintenance and enhancement of a third-party web application used for corporate accounting of shipping costs

Web Design

I participated in requirement analysis, feature specification, and technical documentation for all core business requests.

UI Development:

I consolidated and rewrote numerous Javascript form validation functions into a single library to reduce development time and bug counts when making code changes to enforce new pricing structures and postage rates on the frontend. I also wrote cross browser Javascript code to replace obsolete IE DOM specific code.

Server-Side Development:

I implemented bugfixes, made algorithm improvements, and added new business rules which applied credit and debit logic to several types of transactions within the web application. In addition, I wrote redirection scripts to pass data to affiliated websites and stored procedure calls to trigger automated database updates upon the completion of a transaction.

Database Development:

I analyzed and optimized complex SQL queries used to generate transaction history logs within the reporting module of the web application in order to address scalability issues with the existing code.

Performance Optimization:

Removed redundant function calls throughout numerous Javascript, Java, and Coldfusion files. Leveraged underused Java classes and Coldfusion components in addition to building a reusable Javascript form validation function to replace spaghetti code throughout the application.

Programming Languages:

Coldfusion, PL/SQL, JavaScript, Java, JSP, Struts, Tiles

Development Tools:

Eclipse, Toad, Tora, Putty, PVCS

Screenshot:

Social Web Application Development

Business Needs:

A user interface developer to quickly develop production quality code for a Facebook app.

Web Design:

I researched the Facebook API and built CSS templates from scratch based off the Photoshop comps, then modified code based on feedback from usability testing.

UI Development:

I sliced PSDs and wrote CSS, HTML, and Javascript code from scratch to create a working cross-browser prototype, then rewrote everything to work within the Facebook environment.

Performance Optimization:

Rewrote jQuery code in pure Javascript for modal dialog, auto-suggest, and accordion widgets to solve Facebook integration issues

Programming Languages:

Javascript, jQuery, CSS, Facebook API

Development Tools:

Homesite, Photoshop, Fireworks, Firebug, Bugzilla

Screenshot:

Marcom Site Redesign

Business Needs:

A web developer to implement a UI redesign, implement new features, and solve existing browser compatibility issues.

Web Design:

I researched CSS and Javascript solutions to implement cross-browser DOM effects, AJAX widgets, and language-specific typography.

UI Development:

• I developed and tested the CSS and Javascript used to generate a new site navigation bar with nested rollover menus as well as new sidebar menus with dynamically generated related links for each product category.
• I completed and released an existing prototype for a news module tab widget which used AJAX to switch between categories. I fixed the existing Javascript code to get XML data and created functions from scratch to parse, style, and update the headline and preview for each article once it was clicked.
• I wrote Javascript code for a news filter which appended a dropdown selection to the URL and displayed the chosen category.
• I debugged and tweaked Actionscript code that controlled the centering, fonts and colors of a streaming video player. I also implemented the Javascript API to call the player.
• I wrote the HTML, CSS, and Javascript code for an interactive quiz which displayed a video along with a questionnaire. It recorded the user’s answers and immediately displayed the correct responses.
• I wrote an email validation script for a marketing survey which accompanied a product preview.
• I wrote Javascript and CSS code to handle localization and usability issues and ensure consistent and readable typography for all supported languages
• Performed testing and debugging of browser compatibility issues on multiple versions of IE, Firefox, Opera, and Safari on both Windows and OS X

Server-Side Development:

• I converted XML navigation data to nested HTML lists using XSLT for a new site navigation menu. I also wrote the server side script which checked for the existence of sidebar data for each product category and dynamically generated the HTML for each page.
• Performed troubleshooting of vBulletin PHP sourcecode to resolve automated mailing issues for a user community forum
• I wrote the server side script which queried the location of the current URL within the site hierarchy and generated breadcrumb navigation for each page.
• I wrote server side code to record hits, impressions, and ad clicks generated from a streaming video player.
• I wrote the server side script to populate a news filter with categories as well as generate results within the selected category upon submission.
• I wrote code for a dealer locator which generated a list of local retailers worldwide along with the product lines they carried.

Database Development:

I modified existing queries to reflect changes on the frontend and updated old queries to prevent SQL injection.

Performance Optimization:

I did extensive testing and debugging on Mac and PC browsers to refine the consistency of the CSS layout and responsiveness of the Javascript code across multiple configurations.

Programming Languages:

Coldfusion, PHP, Actionscript, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Rico, jQuery, XML, XSLT, Oracle SQL

Development Tools:

Homesite, Tora, cvs, trac, putty, vi

Screenshot:

Sample Code

Sample AJAX News Module

Webmaster

Business Needs:

A web developer to perform server admin duties as well as satisfy feature requests for third party websites managed by a consulting agency

Web Design:

I did paper prototyping of interactive enhancements to static pages based off discussions of Photoshop comps. I analyzed the existing codebase for limitations to set realistic expectations for scheduling estimates as well as determine the feasibility of hacking the obsolete code versus rewriting the functionality in a more coherent fashion

UI Development:

Wrote Javascript form validation code for a marketing promotions signup page and HTML for email offers sent to customers upon completion. Customized the Activewidgets Javascript library to create a cross-browser widget for viewing CSV files as JSON data in a spreadsheet format. I also wrote CSS and Javascript from scratch that displayed the data in a printable view, with an accordion effect to dynamically display or hide details of each record.

Server-Side Development:

I built a unique offer code generator, created database tables and wrote server side form validation and database transaction scripts as part of an award winning promotional campaign for oaklandairport.com. In addition, I fixed a broken script which used database records to perform monthly updates to an authentication list for the California Water Environment Association. I also added session cookie tracking to a CMS used at claremontrug.com.

Database Development:

I created backup copies of an MS Access database to help migrate the data to a new web host and added new columns and tables to a SQL Server database to support new frontend features.

Performance Optimization:

Refactored existing code to the improve the business logic and speed of outdated algorithms.

Programming Languages:

Coldfusion, PHP, HTML, CSS, Javascript

Development Tools:

Apache, MS Access, MS SQL Server, Homesite, putty

Screenshot:

Large Scale Web Application Development

Business Needs:

A web developer to produce and maintain intranet tools for engineers and managers to standardize workflow processes and improve communication between teams within a large organization.

Web Design:

Analyzed requests from users to create rapid prototypes which led to the formulation of interface needs, database modifications, and feature priorities as well as a roadmap for future releases

UI Development:

I updated a static navigation menu so that the categories displayed were dynamically generated by a server side script based on the login credentials of each user. In addition, I wrote the UI for the bug tracking, action item, and slideshow components of an enterprise project management web application. I also developed a search interface which used Javascript to dynamically generate subcategories based of the main category chosen by the user.

Server-Side Development:

Wrote server side code as well as database tables for the bug tracking, action item, and slideshow components of the an enterprise project management web application. I also drove the integration and adoption of the Dokuwiki platform to enable realtime collaboration in the creation and maintenance of technical documents among teams.

Database Development:

I designed and implemented table schema for new modules I was solely responsible for as well as testing and optimizing all related queries which relied on the new data.

Performance Optimization:

Rewrote slow queries to reduce server timeouts and refactored code by separating queries and business logic from presentation code, moving static variables outside of loop structures, and replacing repetitive conditional logic with generalized function calls.

Programming Languages:

Coldfusion, Perl, PHP, XML, Oracle SQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript

Development Tools:

Homesite, SQL Plus, cvs, emacs

Screenshot: