Scott Nichol
463 Hidden River Road
Penn Valley, PA 19072-1112
snichol@computer.org

Resume Page 1

Previous Work Experience

1998

Stores Automated Systems, Inc.

Retail Back Office Intranet Prototype

Java, Visual Basic, VBScript, HTML, NT, IIS, MTS, Active Server Pages (ASP).

Designed and coded a prototype for an intranet retail back office accessing the existing FoxPro database files. User interface is generated from pure HTML templates. Business logic written in Java and Visual Basic resides in MTS packages. Prototype architecture supports multiple Web servers, application servers (e.g. ASP, Java servlets), database connections (ADO and JDBC) and enterprise environments (MTS and Enterprise JavaBeans).



1996-1997

Pep Boys

Retail Manager’s Workbench

Visual Basic, Java on Win32; sybperl, Sybase on SCO UNIX.

Responsible for all aspects of creating this new application, which focuses retail store managers on actionable business activities by providing complete, consistent, accurate and timely data that is relevant to operation of the store. Its target audience may be extended to district operations managers and corporate managers who will monitor multiple sites simultaneously.

Distributed Support and Management Console for Retail

Visual Basic, C++, ISAPI on Win32; sybperl on SCO UNIX.

Responsible for all aspects of creating this new suite of applications designed to improve the quality and responsiveness of the store systems support team. The applications have two key capabilities: real- time notification of remote events and distributed real-time monitoring of specific subsystems. The back end is extensible via a CGI-like interface; the front end creates a dynamic UI based on metadata.

Embedded Application Management Framework

C++ on Win32, AIX, SCO UNIX.

Created an extensible C++ framework for embedding Web-based management into applications. Incorporated it into an existing daemon which integrates multiple application systems in real-time.

Architecture Plan

With the VP of MIS, created a plan for multiple aspects of the organization’s IS architecture. This included a statement of general architecture principles and enumeration of current themes driving the architecture, as well as specific frameworks for development and deployment of applications.

Browser Interface to Application Event Log

Cold Fusion, JavaScript, WebSite on Win32; Sybase on SCO UNIX.

Designed and coded a browser interface to a multi-application trouble management database.



11/95-2/96

The Vanguard Group

IIS Data Warehouse

Sybase on AIX.

Performed a project review that led to the creation of a performance measurement team. The team conducted a schema review, created a testing/measuring methodology and performed the tests. The results were presented to the Assistant Vice President responsible for the warehouse project.

COTS Architecture Reviews

Evaluated several proposals for COTS product acquisition, considering impact to operations, scalability, integration with existing systems, adaptability and company standards. Applications included general financial (A/P, A/R, G/L), sales force automation and financial services specific.


3/94-10/95

Pep Boys

Real-Time POS to Back Office Integration

C++, Sybase SCO UNIX; C++ on Win32.

Responsible for all aspects of creating this application integrating point-of-sale to various back office application systems in real-time. The application creates class instances based on input data. The class persistence mechanisms then updates the database tables used by the back office applications.

Retailer Host Controller

C, sockets, ONC RPC on SCO UNIX, AIX; Visual Basic, C, Winsock on Windows, Win32.

Responsible for all aspects of reengineering existing C code to a multi-tier client/server architecture. The UI and database access were replaced by Visual Basic code on the client. Application logic and raw data files were accessed on UNIX servers by remote procedure calls. Master data stored in Sybase. More details available here.

Automated File Transfer

C, sockets on SCO UNIX, AIX; C on iRMX.

Designed and code on-demand file extraction and transfer software.



10/93-3/94

Bottino’s IGA

Retail Host System

Access, Visual Basic, C++, Use Cases, S-Designor AppModeler on Windows.

Electronically replicated a single headquarters-based data source to in-store processors, providing data accuracy and near instantaneous updatability for competitive pricing, etc. Store-generated data is also uploaded to the host for financials and decision support. Store-based software agents also detect exceptional conditions and notify the host, allowing proactive treatment.



4/93-9/93

Stores Automated Systems, Inc.

Embedded Point-of-Sale Controller

C on proprietary multitasking kernel.

As part of a team creating embedded controller software to integrate cash register, credit card reader, gas pump and POS controller, designed and coded a script-driven state machine to coordinate multiple tasks devoted to individual hardware elements.

Internet Gateway

Created security plan, installed software and configured host computers and router.


1/93-3/93

Philadelphia District Attorney

Paperwork Automation

Access, Visual Basic, C++, ERwin on Windows; Paradox, C++ on DOS.

Off-loaded repetitive clerical tasks from Assistant DA’s, providing more time for coordination with police and witnesses, leading to an increased conviction rate. Analyzed existing paperwork and electronic data sources. Added support for new work processes made possible by time savings.



4/91-12/92

Pep Boys

Data Warehouse Feasibility Study

Sybase on SCO UNIX; ERwin on Windows.

Measure load and query metrics for a retail sales database to determine feasibility of moving the data from DB2 on MVS to Sybase on SCO UNIX.

Distributed Application Event Log

C++, Sybase on SCO UNIX, AIX; Visual Basic on Windows.

Created a framework for enterprise-wide error logging and system management. Applications use a simple API to log messages, with guaranteed delivery to a corporate Sybase database. A simple front end to query the database has since been expanded into multiple special-purpose notification agents.

Sybase Transition

ERwin on Windows; C, JAM, Sybase on SCO UNIX.

Transition UNIX application systems using file-based databases, e.g. db_Vista and c-tree, to Sybase. Designed database schema and wrote DB-Library code.



10/90-3/91

Landhope Farms

Retail Host Controller

C++, Paradox, 5250 API on DOS.

Designed and coded a retail host controller. Pulled files from a communications controller, supported data entry and edit, and transferred results to existing S/36 financial applications.



4/90-9/90

Malvern Scale Data Systems, Inc.

Scriptable Host Interface

C, HLLAPI, 5250 API on DOS.

Wrote specification, designed and coded a scriptable interface between a DOS-based shipping system and various host (CICS and 5250) systems.



1/90-3/90

Pep Boys

Automated File Transfer

C on SCO UNIX, iRMX.

Designed and coded an automated file extract and serial transfer application.



1985-1989

Stores Automated Systems, Inc.

Multi-OS Dynamic Libraries

C, x86 assembler on iRMX, DOS.

Designed and coded memory resident dynamically linked libraries and executable loader for iRMX and DOS. Operating system and vertical market specific code was included in libraries to make application executable files smaller and platform independent.

Multitasking Executive

x86 assembler on DOS.

Designed and coded cooperative multitasking executive running over DOS, including support for blocking and non-blocking I/O, intertask synchronization and communication, multithreaded applications and loading of both DOS and iRMX STL executable formats.

Communications Drivers

C, x86 assembler on iRMX, DOS.

Designed and coded parameter- and script-driven multithreaded communications software for credit card dial-up verification and 3780 bisynchronous file transfers. Real-time analysis and design, task synchronization and communication, protocol implementation and hardware interfacing.

Retail Back Office and Corporate Office

C on iRMX.

Led a team of 3 to 5 developers that designed, coded, documented, tested and installed a large suite of programs (80 applications, 200 source modules, 70 header files) for point-of-sale database and document communication. Structured analysis and design, and heavy interaction with executives, customers, marketing, sales and support staff.

File Transfer

C on iRMX; FORTRAN on Prime.

Designed and coded asynchronous and 3780 bisynchronous file transfers between iRMX platform and System/38 and Prime minicomputers and S/390 mainframe.



1984

DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc.

Design Management System

DCL, FORTRAN and MACRO-11 assembler.

Wrote specification and coded menu-driven design management system for VAX/VMS. System provided application integration, data sharing, security, classification, automated workflow and report generation.

Structural Analysis System Modeling Enhancement

FORTRAN on VAX, Control Data, Floating Point Systems and ComputerVision.

Wrote specification and coded overlay in FORTRAN to extend modeling and plotting capabilities and generate detailed fabrication specifications. Integrated complete application with a design package from another vendor. Work completed at customer site in England.

Structural Analysis System Port

Ported FORTRAN structural analysis system to Floating Point Systems hardware. Presented paper at Floating Point Systems user conference.


Summer 1981

Westinghouse Electric Corp

Structural Analysis System Port

Ported large (1 million lines) structural analysis application to FORTRAN 77 on Cray and Control Data supercomputers. Restructured algorithms to benefit from superscalar, pipelined hardware architecture. Wrote monthly work summaries.

Copyright © 1998-2000 Scott Nichol.
05-Oct-2000