Rainy Sundays

Linux

Is your fridge running (Linux)? Then you'd better go and catch it. Er, Linux.

Linux is a pretty broad category. There're hundreds of variants ("distributions") that can in some regards be thought of as the designs that come with a Lego set: they're largely built with similar components that work well together and mostly just represent a recommended starting place for your system.

Once you've got that race car in your hands, there's absolutely nothing stopping you from attaching a ray-gun to the bonnet and putting a llama in the driving seat.

While Linux does have a "Windows-like" interface - in fact it's got several - it's an operating system that does benefit very much from the ability to use the terminal to achieve things.

As well as being the basis for Android phones - and the UI for some white goods like fridges - most stats have Linux's share of web server usage at something like 80%. Being able to configure and debug a Linux setup is, I would say, an essential part of being a "full-stack" developer.

Personally I'm pretty familiar with Debian-based distros like Ubuntu, Mint or DietPi, although I'm also very happy in Fedora or Amazon Linux 2 - I would say a must when working with EC2.

I've been using Linux since May 2012 (13 years).

Engagements using Linux

Senior PHP Developer

ASL Holdings Ltd

May 2012 - Feb 2020

For ASL I developed several long-lived and high volume telemetry systems. These processed large amounts of data and delivered it for rendering in charts and tables on a daily basis.

Senior Software Developer

Patchworks

Jan 2022 - Jul 2022

Full-stack Developer / Devops Engineer

Hidden

Jul 2022 - Jul 2023

At Hidden, I filled the role of an API Developer as well as a Devops Engineer. I updated and expanded existing legacy code to run on AWS Lambda functions for increased efficiency, and created Jenkins build servers for the Unity development team.

Contract Senior Full-stack Developer

Eido Healthcare

Feb 2024 - Jun 2024

Successful resurrection of a mothballed legacy Craft CMS project without documentation or input from the original developer; planning and provisioning of AWS infrastructure to support the software based on Docker images.

Contract Senior Full-stack Developer

STS Commercial

Feb 2025 - Aug 2025

Development of high-precision bespoke analytics and diagnostic modules on a Laravel base to surface opportunities and weaknesses in extremely high-volume, fast moving Fintech data and fine-tune performance for emerging markets. Innovative and intuitive modelling of data, completely revolutionizing how stakeholders analyse performance.