Axonify is a cloud-based, employee training platform utilizing spaced repetition and gamification. I joined Axonify to gain experience with cloud-based web development and because I was aligned with the vision of changing the way people learn.My first major project at Axonify was to introduce closed captioning support into their video processing pipeline. I determined that the existing video implementation was not suitable for adding closed captions, so I was tasked with coming up with a completely new solution.After further iterations and prototyping, the final design I landed on resulted in a number of pivotal changes to the code base that would change how we’d address problems from that point forward:- Redesigned the media processing system so other existing and new forms of media could be easily added.- SQS (message queue) was introduced, and a framework (https://github.com/SpencerHaan/queuebacca) built around it, that would allow us to process requests asynchronously and on demand.- Introduced a new standard for implementing back-end functionality.This established a niche for myself within the team. Most of my work following this project was addressing performance, scalability and code architectural concerns. Some high level examples of aspects of the code I worked on:- Redesigned abstractions around file management to simplify working with both local file systems and S3, with the flexibility to include others.- Optimized data synchronization multi-threading implementation.- Redesigned core learning algorithm to both optimize its performance and simplify it.- Introduced various tools/frameworks to assist with unit test implementation.- Explored alternative approaches to caching data.

- Played a key role in developing a new application for managing collection routes for waste pickup. I was tasked with designing and developing a new persistence layer, introducing a new component for visualizing and manipulating data in a table, and reimagining UI design elements with new UI components. - Designed and developed a lightweight service platform for rapid service development.- Developed with Java, SQL Server, Oracle, NetBeans and GlassFish/OpenESB.- Developed prototypes for experimental functionality.- Evaluated installation solutions, developed new installers for all products (install4j), and customized the installers beyond what they provided by default.- Lead development effort to upgrade a products Java platform from 1.2 to 1.7.- Overhauled various features to improve performance and usability.- Investigated, resolved, and tested bugs.- Participated in team discussions regarding development and design direction.

MD Physician Services develops a patient management software solution used by many clinics and hospitals in Canada.My second co-op term working on a team responsible for tracking down and fixing bugs (defects) in a patient management system. In contrast to my first co-op term where we were strictly creating something new, this term exposed me to the nuances and strategies of maintaining a larger and older (a lot of organic growth) code base.This experience helped me hone my skills in debugging and code analysis, as well as how to modify and adapt legacy code and patterns to make the code more testable while also fixing the bugs.

My first two co-op terms were working with one of my professors as a lead applied research assistant. The project I was assigned to was tasked with creating a digital clipboard application, that could be used on a tablet or from a kiosk, that would replace the existing analog method for collecting patient information.As the only full-time member of my team I was effectively the lead, requiring me to organize and delegate work for three other part-time team members.Our first task was to conduct research into the viability of different technologies and devices. We devised a number of test suites using different technologies with a backend to collect the results. Unfortunately, before we could begin collecting data, our industry partner was acquired and, after being restructured, decided to back out of the project.Conestoga College kept me on the project to continue the work alone, with the research component being dropped in favour of developing a more general clipboard form generation framework.Using GWT (Google Web Toolkit) I designed and implemented a framework that could take in a simple XML format for defining input fields, pages, etc, render it as a web application, and output the data as a report.