On the left are a few of the projects that we have been architects on since 1981 when we delivered our first commerical system. This 1981 system stayed in production until 1999 when the hardware was found not to be Y2K compliant.

When reviewing the project, keep in mind the state of technology at that time to understand why these were often cutting edge architectures that were successfully implemented. The synopses also are reflective of the types of problems we have tackled and how we resolved issues.

Since 1999, we have often worked with or for Dennis Cozart in diverse roles such as Product Manager, Development Manager, Architect and Developer.

All ends are covered

Today, most developers tend to become specialists. I have resisted this trend and have a heavy, diverse and long pedigree that is summarized below. Recently it has been dominated by SQL Server 2008, but I tend to keep a hand in keeping current with trends in other products. This experience results in a Lateral Enterprise Architect approach rather than a Vertical approach. Needless to say, Edward de Bono has been actively read since the 1970's.

• Did my MSc database courses in 1979, System R was what was available (and very cutting edge). 
  • Prof actually wrote database emulators for Hierarchical, Relational and Network database for the students to use...
    • One of the required readings was C.J.Date's book
    • Examine questions were actually doing proofs! (which I greatly appreciated in hind sight, because it taught analysis discipline).
• VSAM from 1979-81 to build my own relational database system to do equipment bookings, delivery and substitutions for Canada's 3rd largest school system. Stayed in production until 2000 (HW was not Y2K Compliant)
• Started using Oracle in 1983, Version 3. Acquire my own home-version with Oracle 5 (many floppys to install!). Taught an Oracle course at UW in 1989.
• Heavy user of SAS starting in 1979, SPSS since 1974, used FOCUS in the early 1980's. Early adapter of SAS/OR (Operations Research)
• DB2 from 1987-91 using TelCo customer databases etc.
• Used a neo-database product called Javelin from 1984-2000 to create and evolve a Just In Time manufacturing systems that predicted sales and updated new production plans (EOQ).
• Microsoft SQL Server since 1991 of Microsoft SQL Server 4.2 on Microsoft OS/2, heavily involved with stressing and performance testing of SQL 6 during the alpha and beta stages.
• And of course, non-mainframe products: Condor, MySQL, Thunderbird, DBase II (Apple), Dbase III on words, Firefox, Access, DBFast, FileMaker Pro

In terms of languages, we have (besides the languages in the databases above) taught or coded commercially:

• Classic: AlgolW, WatFor, WatFive, Apl/360, Assembly, COBOL, PL/1
• Basic (since 1974), Apple Basics, GW Basic, Visual Basic (since 1.0), VBNet
• B (Father of C), C, C++, C#
• GPSS, Simula (Father of C++).
• Pascal, Modula, Java
• Level 5 Object, Lisp, Prolog, Forth
• LiveScript, JavaScript

And played with items like PHP, Python, F#, SmallTalk etc