-------- RUN 'perl -x resume.txt' TO CHECK RESUME AUTHENTICITY -----*-- DAVID MERTZ, Ph.D. Gnosis Software, Inc. 99 Second Street Turners Falls, MA 01376 mertz@gnosis.cx 413-863-4552 OBJECTIVES [09/2002] I am only passingly seeking work at this time. I have ongoing commitments but could be lured by the lustre of lucre into a short-term consulting arrangement. WHO I AM Primarily, I am a writer about programming topics; but I write as a practical experienced programmer rather than either as a disinterested journalist or as a theoretical computer scientist. However, in writing, I am neither swayed by marketing pressure nor shy to introduce abstract concepts where appropriate. My ongoing _Charming Python_ column is probably the mostly widely read discussion of the Python programming language worldwide. Articles and columns I write on other topics are also well known and well received. Aside from writing, I enjoy programming projects, particularly in a capacity of bringing comparative and analytic perspective to a broader goal. I can sling lines of code quite well, but I can also explain technologies and techniques to team members and collaborators. WHY THIS DOCUMENT IS AS IT IS The resume in front of you has a special form if it has not been tampered with--it is a fully working program in a scripting language. The content you are looking at should be preceded and followed by a few inconspicuous lines of code, such that if the resume file is run in the described fashion, it will produce a message about its own authenticity. If the displayed message is a warning, someone (e.g. a recruiter) has probably altered the resume in a manner I did not approve of. A current version of the resume for various languages will be at http://gnosis.cx/publish/resumes/. I have created versions for numerous programming languages; if challenged I could learn a new language well enough to create a version for it, probably within hours. WHAT I KNOW & WHAT I HAVE DONE - I have published hundreds of articles and column installments with IBM developerWorks, Intel Developer Services, Webreview.com, and other publishers. Many of these articles appear in the first few links that search engines show to users interested in the techniques and technologies I discuss. - My book _Text Processing in Python_ will be published by Addison Wesley, at early in 2003. - Before writing about computer programs, I was a college professor who taught and wrote about non-computer academic topics in the humanities. An older curriculum vitae detailing these other areas can be found at the same parent URL as this resume. - Programming work: * Senior system analyst and project lead on commercial business systems. I understand project development group dynamics and programming methodologies. I have worked with version control systems; am comfortable with mainframe data interfaces and requirements; and am able to assume project lead role and facilitate workflow. * Web-based "thin-client" applications for insurance-industry training systems. Earlier, client/server applications to accomplish the same business needs. * Languages I know well: Python; C; xBase dialects (Clipper, Foxpro, Fivewin, XBase++); SQL (and database design); HTML; XML; Unix text tools (sed, awk, grep, tr, etc). Other languages I have programmed in: Ruby; Perl; JavaScript, Pascal; Fortran; Paradox PAL, Alpha Four; DBase, Delphi, Basics; C++; REXX; Java; VB/VBA; PHP; TCL; Bash; SmallTalk; Haskell * Hypertext CBTs and information/reference tools. Also experienced in creating company/unit web sites, including graphic-creation and look-and-feel design. * Experience with many operating systems: Linux; FreeBSD; OS/2; Win31/95/98/NT; MacOS (1.0-10.1.5); BeOS, DOS; Ultrix; 386BSD; Solaris; VMS; Multics. - Developed a certification exam for Python, used by a major testing company (Brainbench). I have a background in testing and training design--and with general educational issues. - I have produced technical documentation on many programming projects, including database specifications, pseudo-code structures, ER and flow diagrams, purpose and project statements, and interface specifications. EMPLOYMENT - Gnosis Software. Jan 1998-Currently. Consultant/Developer. - Tenco/Westtech Publishing. Apr 2000-Currently. Writer/Columnist. - Future Measures, Inc (MA). Jan 1999-Currently. Consultant/Developer. - Lindsey Software (AR). Jul 1999-Nov 1999. Consultant/Developer. - MetLife (SC). Jan 1998-Dec 1998. Senior Systems Analyst. - VMI Communications and Learning Systems (Toronto). Oct 1997-Mar 1998. Projects Consultant. - Educational Training Systems (MA). April 1997-Jan 1999. Consultant/Developer - Human Technology Partnership (MA). April 1995-September 1997. Lead Programmer/Developer. See http://gnosis.cx/publish/resumes/ for more details. PUBLICATIONS See http://gnosis.cx/publish/ for details. --*-------------------------------------------------------------------- #!/usr/bin/perl open(ME,$0); read ME, $_, 9999; /--\*--.*--\*--/s; if (5242 != length $&) {print q/Some ne'er-do-well has altered this resume/,"\n" } else {print q/This resume seems to be healthy and intact/,"\n" } __END__ THIS RESUME DOES NOT WISH TO BE IN A PROPRIETARY FORMAT, DON'T ASK!