Technical College (now closed)
Studied Networking & Systems Administration (Program Unfinished)
Gained foundational training in operating systems, network protocols, and server administration. Continued education independently after program closure.
Independent Learning & Practical Application
N/A
Focused on full-stack web development, Linux system administration, homelab networking infrastructure, and self-hosted software solutions.
I built a queue-based image generator using Laravel, Inertia.js, and Vue 3 that gives users real-time updates while they wait. It handles requests smoothly and asynchronously - perfect for heavier jobs like interacting with external AI APIs.
I wrote Bash scripts that connect to the Cloudflare API to keep my home servers reachable, even on a residential IP. I also use Cloudflare Access to lock down my admin panels and internal tools.
I've deployed Laravel, Jekyll, and Flask apps on my own Linux servers. I manage everything; Apache configs, MySQL, domain routing, Let's Encrypt SSL, and Cloudflare DNS. Everything's hand-built, secure, and stable.
I've worked on customizing Aureus ERP, stripping out unneeded modules, tightening up permissions, and creating roles that make sense for the people using them. It gave me hands-on experience with RBAC in a real-world business tool.
My personal site runs on a Jekyll theme I built from scratch - modular, retro-styled, and CRT-themed. It uses YAML data files, GitHub Actions for deployment, and includes thoughtful UX touches like animated greetings and responsive layouts.
Over the years I've built up a huge set of Bash aliases and helper functions to speed up my work - from Laravel and Git to SSH and system tasks. I also run cron jobs for DNS updates and backups, keeping everything tidy and automated.
I run a Fabric-based Minecraft server on an old Dell R720xd. It's tuned for performance with port forwarding, UFW firewall rules, and a Flask-based status dashboard I coded myself. My kids and I use it all the time.
I built a Flask app that wraps the Ollama API and lets me chat with AI in real time over WebSockets. It has markdown rendering and a retro terminal-style UI. Full-stack from backend to front, all coded by hand.
I've made CLI scripts for Git changelogs, project setup, and Laravel tasks. These tools make my workflow faster, especially when jumping between machines or OSes.
I try to write code and documentation that my future self (or a teammate) would appreciate. I've written full README files, internal wikis, and project documentation using MkDocs and Markdown.
My Laravel projects are set up to run smoothly across dev, staging, and production with `.env` files, custom deployment scripts, and alias-driven workflows.
I set up SSL with Let's Encrypt behind Cloudflare's proxy, using Apache virtual hosts and DNS validation. It works across my Jekyll site, Laravel apps, and internal tools.
I care about clean, accessible layouts. I use semantic HTML, Tailwind CSS, and always test on mobile. Everything I build should be readable and easy to use.
I've gone deep with Inertia.js - handling transitions, form validation, queue job polling, and more. I love how it keeps things reactive without building a full SPA.
I created a Laravel-focused Bash toolkit to speed up things like running Artisan commands, resetting databases, and managing queues. It's part of my everyday workflow now.
I use Git tags, hooks, and branches to stay organized. I wrote a script called `generate_changelog.sh` that creates structured changelogs based on version tags.
I'm learning Rust and have built a few small CLI tools with it. It's been a great way to understand systems programming concepts like ownership, lifetimes, and concurrency.
I used MkDocs (with the Material theme) to document internal projects like Whiskers and Wheels. Complete with setup guides, styling references, and deployment steps all in one place.
My homelab is made up of Ubuntu servers running apps, games, and tools for my family and my projects. I manage local DNS, IP assignments, and routing myself. It's my playground and my proving ground.
I've built fully reactive forms in Vue 3 tied into Laravel's form requests. They support real-time validation and error handling without the complexity of a full SPA.
I set up GitHub Actions to automatically build and deploy my Jekyll site when I push to `master`. It includes steps for building, checking, and publishing - no manual work needed.
I've been in IT for over 25 years, and I've taught myself full-stack web development while working full time and raising two teenage boys. I do this because I love it - and I believe in always learning, building, and improving.
Designed and built a modern RandomX CPU miner in Rust with auto-tuning, TLS stratum, an embedded HTTP dashboard, Prometheus-style metrics, and a transparent, configurable dev-fee scheduler. Delivered cross-platform releases, GPG-signed artifacts, and a matching Astro + Vue config-generator site with brand-consistent UI components.
Engineered a full-stack mail-ops platform: Rust/Actix Web API with SQLx and JWT auth, Swagger/OpenAPI via Utoipa, and a Vue 3 + Inertia + Tailwind front-end with a multi-step Setup Wizard. Integrated Cloudflare DNS/SSL, Apache vhosts, and Bash helpers for Postfix/Dovecot, DKIM, and backups to streamline self-hosting.
Shipped a faithful recreation of classic Windows Notepad with modern touches: custom icons, encoding dialogs, portable single-file packaging, and release automation through GitHub Actions with CodeQL scanning and GPG-signed releases.
Implemented end-to-end CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions spanning matrix builds, artifact checksums, CodeQL, GPG signing with subkeys/YubiKey, and human-readable release notes. Enforced repository protection with rulesets, required reviews, CODEOWNERS, and signed commits to maintain supply-chain integrity.
Deployed production-grade static sites and documentation (MkDocs, Jekyll, Astro) on Cloudflare Pages with Zero-Trust Access policy by email, proxied DNS, flexible SSL, and edge caching for performance and safety.
Authored in-depth guidance and automation for secure key management: offline master keys, signing/encryption subkeys, revocation certificates, hardware token storage (YubiKey), and loopback pinentry for headless systems.
Provisioned and maintained Apache and MySQL on separate VPS nodes with UFW hardening, certbot/Let's Encrypt, phpMyAdmin/Webmin on isolated subdomains, and Cloudflare DNS. Performed MySQL 8 tuning on low-memory hosts.
Designed and shipped a custom splash screen with 1990s-inspired aesthetics, packaging assets for easy installation.
Created cohesive design systems across dashboard and website: neumorphic palettes, hero components, share/copy-link icons, and accessible, responsive layouts that preserve brand consistency.