David J. Blood
geekd@yahoo.com
Professional Summary:
- More than 6 years experience in software and Internet development including:
- An extensive background designing and implementing web serving systems to handle millions of requests per day, including clustering and failover. Tasks included deciding on hardware and software purchases, and writing custom software in Perl and shell to automate configuration of clusters.
- Specific expertise includes C, C++, Perl, Linux/Unix, XML and database development.
TechnicalSummary:
- Languages: Perl, XML, C/C++, SQL, HTML, Tcl.
- Systems Administration: Linux, Unix, Windows NT, Apache, BIND, Sendmail, Samba, Appletalk, Firewalls, DHCP, Wireless LAN, CVS, MySQL, Oracle.
- People Skills: Experience giving tutorials and training to techs and non-techs, dealing directly with clients, and dealing with programmer egos as project leader
Experience:
August 1999 To Present: Vivendi Universal Net USA San Diego, CA
Software Engineer
Significant Projects include: Developing and maintaining MP3.com, MP4.com, Emusic.com, RollingStone.com, GetMusic.com and PressPlay
MP3.COM
- Designed and implemented web serving system for MP3.com to handle millions of requests per day, including clustering and failover, with no dependence on database uptime. This system uses local XML files that contain content, and local HTML templates that contain layout.
- Developed software to automate distribution of files across the clusters while ensuring data synchronization, web based administration tools, back-end software and database systems to update content of pages on demand, and software to monitor availability and notify engineers via SMS messaging and email when problems are detected.
- Wrote documentation for use and continue to maintain and support this system. The system serves millions of different web pages maintained by over 500,000 users worldwide.
- Responsible for administration of servers used in project, including OS and software upgrades, ssh trust relationships, and web server uptime.
- The 60 servers are dual Intel Xenon running Red Hat Linux 6.2 (since upgraded to 7.2), Apache, and mod_perl.
- Software is written in Perl, SQL, and Bash, databases are Sybase and MySQL.
- Clustering is done with BigIP. This project took 2 engineers 4 weeks to design, implement, test and roll out in its original form.
- Scaled up to twice its original number of servers and handles 5 times its original capacity.
- Web pages served via this system are MP3.com's most popular pages, including the daily charts: http://genres.mp3.com/music/ and artist pages : http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/193/madonna.html
PRESSPLAY.COM
- Designed and implemented web-based content administration system for PressPlay, including DRM. This system allows content managers from Universal Music and Sony to supply media (song files) and meta data (song name, band name, etc.) for use in the PressPlay subscription music service.
- System also alters attributes for this content. Attributes include: where songs can be played (which countries); permission to burn unto CDs; Changing song ownership (bands or CDs); etc.
- The system constantly and automatically validates all content and flags problem media for further investigation.
- System created by a team of 6 engineers over a period of 3 weeks. It runs on Red Hat Linux 7.2, Apache and mod_perl. Software is written in Perl, SQL and C with Sybase Database backend.
Additional:
- Designed and implemented automated system for 3rd party developers to get content data in XML format from MP3.com databases. This is used by Verizon and various ClearChannel radio stations for "Artist Of The Day" and "Song Of The Day" promotions.
- Wrote documentation and gave tutorials to 3rd party developers on this system.
July 1998 To August 1999: AirVirtual Web Hosting El Cajon, CA
Lead Engineer
- Responsible for developing and maintaining e-commerce, web publishing and email systems for a variety of clients.
- Designed and implemented web site for sale of books in electronic format, including user login, shopping cart, taking payment via credit card and electronic check, art and design, in Perl, HTML and Java Script on Windows NT with IIS.
- Designed and implemented delivery system for purchased books via HTTP and FTP, including DRM and customer verification.
- Designed, implemented and maintained company network, including DNS, firewall, mail server, web server, file servers for clients including Windows 98, NT, Linux, and Apple Macintosh.
- Responsible for 24/7 availability of company network and web sites, including email and remote access. Software used was Bind, sendmail, ProFTP, IIS, Windows NT and Red Hat Linux 5.2.
Education:
- Computer Science major; Bradley University, Peoria IL
On-going education including:
- Tutorials at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention:
- Programming with Iterators and Generators (Perl), Mastering Regular Expressions, Perl Testing, Perl Progra Repair and Red Flags (2002)
- Secrets of the Wizards in the Ivory Tower - Perl (2001)
- USENIX 2000:
- Advanced Perl Programming
- Linux World Conference and Expo 1999: Object Oriented Programming with Perl; Firewalls for Linux with IP Chains
Hobbies:
- Game programming in C, C++ and Tcl for PC (Linux) and Gameboy Advance.
- Home LAN providing file and print sharing and Internet access to Linux, Windows, Mac and QNX clients, including wireless access to neighbors.
- Bass player for original rock band "The Experiments"