Hello! My name is Chris Buckett. I am a software developer, or code sculptor depending upon your point of view. I am based in Maidstone, Kent, UK, and this page is a blatant plug for myself and my skills. By embracing agile techniques such as test driven development and iterative project lifecycle, I am able to react to those changes, and suggest improvements where appropriate. I have developed my skills over time to include the full design-development life cycle, with the ability to identify the correct solution to a given problem, whether that be a single-user embedded database application or utility, to a multi-tiered Client-server application with .net smart client, web services and database server back-end. For the last few years I have been coding using Microsoft .Net development and database technologies (specifically C#, VB.Net, Sql Server and the .net framework), although I spent the first 8 years of my development life using Borland Delphi. Skills Development skills:

• Using source control and continuous integration to ensure software quality,
• Documenting existing systems and recommending changes where necessary,
• Defining application requirements,
• Producing development implementation plans and documentation,
• Ensuring developed application meets quality control standards,
• Utilising iterative releases where appropriate,
• Maintenance and support of application post-release.

Programming skills:

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 & 2003 and VS 2008 beta (Orcas).
• Microsoft .net framework v1.1 & v2, v3 and v3.5 (currently in beta)
• C#,
• Borland Delphi versions 1 to 2005 for Win32 application development,
• Crystal Reports XI
• NUnit unit testing framework,
• Subversion and TortoiseSVN version control,
• ASP.net including Microsoft's AJAX implementation, databinding, website security & authorisation,
• Winforms & smart clients including databinding and presentation layout,
• WebServices including custom soap headers, exposure to WSE (specifically soap extensions), and debugging using localhost proxies,
• ADO.net including datasets, concurrency issues when updating remote data and diffgrams,
• LINQ to SQL - Microsoft's object to database query language currently in beta,
• Object orientated class design (e.g. creating an object model of a dataset for use by the business layer),
• Solid coding methodology, including separation of application layers (e.g. presentation, business and data), using separate modules where appropriate, maintaining commenting and source-code layout standards,
• Awareness of security when developing, including sql injection and session hijacking.
• Use of DevExpress third party presentation framework tools.

Database skills:

• Database design using of SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005,
• Table design approprate for the task (e.g. speed of selecting vs. speed of updating),
• Development of stored procedures and triggers,
• Creation and customising views to ensure best performance for the appropriate task,
• Hand coding TSQL where appropriate,

Technical skills:

• Windows 2000 / 2003 server implementation,
• Active directory security policies,
• VPN over ADSL and leased line implementation and TCP/IP routing strategies,
• Networking protocols and applications, including DNS, DHCP, WINS,
• Exchange 2000 Server implementation,
• SQL Server 2000 & 2005 implementation,
• Terminal Services implementation,
• Disaster recovery planning,
• Server and desktop virtualisation,
• Standard desktop support tasks (e.g. providing onsite and telephone support for Microsoft Office & Windows versions, networking hardware, email, internet, virus removal etc...),
• Server and desktop hardware maintenance, including hard drive installation, printer maintenance and general PC repairs and upgrades.

Software skills:

• Macromedia (now Adobe) Dreamweaver MX, Flash and Fireworks tools
• Adobe Photoshop & InDesign
• Sage Line 50

Other Interests I enjoy jogging and hiking, I play the melodeon for a morris-dance team, and I am an avid reader of textbooks. This is me at the top of Parlick Pike, Lancashire, 2005. Contact Me