Elwin's Portfolio

About Me

Short Version:
As a Full Stack Developer and DevOps enthusiast, I leverage my comprehensive knowledge of software development, systems administration, and Agile methodologies to create cutting-edge solutions that impact people's lives and revolutionize industries. My continuous drive for learning, ability to solve complex problems, and commitment to community success define my journey in this fast-paced tech industry.

Longer Version:
As an accomplished Full Stack Developer, DevOps enthusiast, and AI aspirant, I hold a B.A. Honours in Information Technology and a minor in Business Administration from York University. My experience spans across software development, systems analysis, and project management, bolstered by a robust technical skillset in web development, system administration, networking, and database creation and management. My hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, REST APIs, and Git, along with my proficiency in Java, Python, PHP, and other programming languages, form the backbone of my technical abilities.

One of my areas of expertise lies in managing the reliability, security, and integrity of large, cloud-based Linux infrastructures. I've also successfully designed, developed, and managed databases, demonstrating my comprehensive understanding of system administration and networking tasks. My knowledge extends to building web servers on platforms like Raspberry Pi, further exhibiting my commitment to finding innovative solutions to complex problems.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a desire to make a difference, I continually explore the transformative power of AI and advanced technologies. I am committed to staying abreast of industry trends, learning through attending conferences, networking with peers, and independently exploring new technologies. This continuous learning, coupled with my deep understanding of tech infrastructures and database management, enables me to contribute significantly to the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

My career journey is marked not only by my technical skills but also my ability to solve complex problems, determination to succeed, and focus on creating value for customers, colleagues, and the community. I am a natural collaborator and thrive in cross-functional teams, leveraging my strong communication skills to ensure project success. Whether leading challenging software projects or participating in AI research initiatives, my goal remains to make a positive impact, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

My ambition is to leverage my expertise to create better, more effective technologies that can benefit people worldwide, within dynamic organizations. I am driven to build an incredible, profitable company that positively impacts our customers, our employees, and our stakeholders, while also giving back to our communities. As I forge ahead in this exciting industry, I am guided by a simple mantra – always learning, always improving.

Skills

Data Analysis
Business Intelligence Data Collection Data Visualization Data Warehousing Excel Machine Learning Matlab Python Statistical Analysis

Database Management
Relational and Non-Relational DB Design Database Design Database Administration Microsoft Access MySQL Oracle DBMS phpMyAdmin PostgreSQL SQL

Networking
CDN Management DHCP Management DNS Management Firewall Management IPv4/IPv6 Management Network Security Reverse Proxy Management Router And Switch Management SSL Configuration And Renewal Samba/ Network Shares VPN Management Virtual Hosts Management

Project Management
Agile Development Project Planning Project Management Methodologies Risk Management

Public API's
Cloudflare Google OpenAI PubMed Riot Games Spotify Twitter

Software Development
Bash Scripting C# GO (Golang) HTML/CSS Java JavaScript Node.js PHP PowerShell Scripting Python React

Web Development
Back-End Development Front-End Development Responsive Web Design User Experience Design User Interface Design Web Application Development Web Design Web Development Frameworks

Other
Ability To Adapt To New Technologies And Trends Backup Management CRON Management Group Policy Management JSON Linux CLI Linux Services Management Regex Remote Systems Management

Other
Strong Verbal And Written Communication Skills Systems Designs And Architecture Troubleshooting Skills UML Web Server Management Webscraping Windows PowerShell/CMD XML

Tools

IDEs
Eclipse JupyterLab NetBeans VS Code Visual Studio

Productivity Tools
Adobe Suite Google Workspace Microsoft Automate Microsoft Office Microsoft SharePoint NPM (Node Package Manager) WordPress

Operating Systems
Android OS Linux MacOS Windows

Version Control
Git GitHub

Virtual Machines
Docker Kubernetes Oracle VirtualBox Windows Sandbox Windows Subsystem For Linux

Other
Adobe Suite Apache Apache Tomcat Autodesk Fusion 360 Blender Nginx OTRS Ticketing System PuTTY Unity Wireshark

Experience

Time Active:
01/2020 - PRESENT

Responsibilities

Achievements

Engineered, launched, and presently maintain a bespoke web server for the organization, leveraging my skills in server architecture, system administration, and management
Developed and consumed RESTful APIs for seamless data integration across microservices
Designing and managing relational and non-relational databases, ensuring data consistency, integrity, and security
Built and maintained a Kubernetes-based compute platform, streamlining deployment processes and practicing the principles of containerization technologies in a production environment
Practiced continuous delivery, ensuring efficient, reliable, and safe value delivery to users
Participated in a flexible on-call rotation, managing, and troubleshooting all types of issues
Performed routine system maintenance, upgrades, and migrations while maintaining system reliability and integrity
Managed the reliability, security, and integrity of the organization's Linux infrastructure, demonstrating my ability to operate in a cloud-based environment
Worked on the continuous improvement of the developer experience by providing tools, libraries, automation, services, and establishing efficient software engineering practices
Played a lead role in project milestones, and features, showcasing my skills in project management and my ability to contribute to the cultural, process, and changes within the team
Utilized my strong communication skills to mentor other team members, write comprehensive documentation, and actively participate in meetings to ensure effective knowledge transfer
Collaborated with others across the organization to solve problems and build better processes, systems, and software, enhancing the efficiency of cross-functional teams

Maintained a strong understanding of web development trends and best practices
Earned high user satisfaction, reflecting superior user experience design and website functionality
Consistently delivered clean, robust code, demonstrating a strong grasp of programming principles
Built and managed a web server from scratch, showcasing my technical proficiency and understanding of cloud-based Linux infrastructure
Enhanced website performance through optimal coding strategies, ensuring fast load times and a smooth user experience
Effectively eliminated repetitive tasks through the development of automation scripts, enhancing operational efficiency
Successfully led multiple projects to completion, contributing to the organization's growth and user satisfaction

Time Active:
09/2020 - 05/2023

Responsibilities

Achievements

Assist customers in finding and purchasing merchandise
Communicate effectively with team members and managers
Maintain a clean and organized store environment
Maintain knowledge of store promotions and events
Process transactions accurately and efficiently using POS systems
Provide exceptional customer service to all patrons
Recommend and sell books, music, and other products to customers

Achieved a high average of Plum Plus sales per quarter by consistently promoting the benefits of the program to customers and highlighting its value
Consistently met or exceeded sales goals and performance targets
Demonstrated exceptional teamwork skills by collaborating with coworkers to provide seamless customer experiences
Maintained a thorough knowledge of the store's inventory and effectively recommended products to customers
Received multiple customer commendations for outstanding service and recommendations
Successfully resolved customer complaints and issues, resulting in high customer satisfaction ratings

Time Active:
12/2016 - 06/2019

Responsibilities

Achievements

Communicated effectively with customers and team members to ensure a positive dining experience
Maintained a clean and organized work environment, adhering to safety and sanitation guidelines
Managed delivery orders and maintained timely delivery schedules
Operated cash registers and processed customer orders with accuracy and efficiency
Performed maintenance and repairs on equipment and machines as needed
Prepared food items according to company standards and recipes
Trained new employees on company policies, procedures, and safety standards
Worked efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of customer service

Consistently maintained high productivity and efficiency in all assigned tasks
Received multiple commendations from customers and management for outstanding customer service
Recognized as a top-performing crew member and selected for leadership training program
Successfully resolved equipment malfunctions, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operations
Successfully trained and mentored several new crew members, who went on to become high-performing employees

Education

Graduation Date:
2021

Degree:
B.A., Honours Major

Experience

Takeaways

Acquired knowledge and skills in areas such as database design and management, web development, networking, and security
Acquired knowledge of web server management and troubleshooting
Developed a strong foundation in programming and software development principles and techniques
Developed an understanding of knowledge management principles and practices, including knowledge acquisition, storage, retrieval, and dissemination
Development of technical writing and presentation skills
Experience with version control tools like Git and GitHub
Experience with virtual machines and containerization using Docker and Oracle VirtualBox
Explored the impact of information technology on organizational behaviour, including the effects of IT on organizational culture, structure, and strategy
Gained experience working on group projects and collaborating with peers
Gained exposure to various project management and team collaboration tools
Gained knowledge and skills in the design and development of enterprise systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM), and business intelligence (BI)
Learned about project management principles and practices as applied to information technology projects, including project initiation, planning, execution, control, and closure
Learning about human-computer interaction principles and practices, including user interface design, usability testing, accessibility, and user experience (UX) design
Studied the principles and practices of information technology security, including threat analysis, risk management, access control, cryptography, security policies, and security audits

Communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences
Database design and management skills, with the ability to design and implement complex database systems
Enterprise systems design and development skills, with the ability to analyze business processes and design and implement enterprise systems to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness
Experience working with various programming languages such as Java, Python, PHP, HTML/CSS
Human-computer interaction design and development skills, with the ability to design effective and efficient user interfaces and evaluate their usability and user experience
Knowledge management skills, with the ability to design and implement effective knowledge management systems
Knowledge of database management systems including Oracle DBMS, and Microsoft Access
Knowledge of various operating systems including Linux, Windows, and MacOS
Problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex problems and develop effective solutions
Programming skills in languages such as Java, Python, and PHP
Project management skills, with the ability to manage projects from initiation to closure, and to effectively manage project teams
Skills in data analysis using tools such as Excel, MATLAB, and Python
Skills in using various software tools like the Microsoft Suite, and Wireshark
Understanding of systems design and architecture, as well as UML diagramming

Graduation Date:
2021

Degree:
B.A., Honours Minor

Experience

Takeaways

Broad understanding of how businesses operate and how to manage different aspects of a business
Examining the fundamentals of management, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling
Exploring various marketing concepts such as segmentation, targeting, positioning, branding, and promotion
Learning about the principles and practices of accounting, including financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
Studying the basics of finance, including the time value of money, financial analysis, and risk management

Create and manage a budget, assess investment opportunities, and analyze financial risks
Designed and implemented effective marketing strategies that target specific customer segments
Management skills of people and resources to achieve organizational objectives
The ability to analyze financial statements and use financial ratios to evaluate a company's performance

Personal Projects

A small selection of my previous projects. While these are the only projects/ scripts listed, it is by no means my only experience

This website and the server it's hosted on is an amalgamation of everything I've ever learned in regards to IT.
The start of my full-stack developer journey. It is completely built from scratch and every bit of it is hand coded by me.
The web server is hosted on a server running Apache. It features SSL encryption, automated certificate renewal,
dynamic DNS so that there is minimal downtime, as well as Cloudflare CDN and caching services.
It is also reactive so no matter what display or device you are using, you will have a pleasant experience.

Unfortunately most of the work is done behind the scenes so it is not directly visible to the end user, so I have to try and detail it here.
Most of the code for the website is also available on my GitHub if you are interested.
However, parts of it are not due to privacy and security reasons (i.e. SQL connection forms, and certain server files).

Other features of my servers are: htaccess configurations, automatic redirects (including error 4XX),
game servers (Minecraft, Terraria, one-off spin ups), other subdomains, reverse proxy services for public network facing devices,
an OpenVPN connection for remote access, Samba network shares, and virtual hosts for running other servers ( Plex, OctoPrint, and PiHole).

I also host my families public servers utilizing virtual hosts, but those can not be shared due to privacy reasons.

This server was my first foray into the Linux environment and I have amassed a great amount of knowledge in terms of
but not limited to, design, developement (full-stack and otherwise), system administration/ management (users, CRON, group policy),
network management (DHCP, CDN, DNS), backup management, and best security practices.

Cloudflare services are also used to hide sensitive data from bots and crawlers, as well as their proxy and firewall services.
Once again, while a majority of my experiences have been detailed here, it is by no means all of it.
Several hundred hours of designing, developement, troubleshooting, and general labour have been put into all of this.

St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church
St. Mary's Admin

This was created as a volunteer project for my local church to:
Give back to my community and to expand my own knowledge. Everything was created by me from scratch.
I actively work on the website to make changes as per the requirements of the members and maintain it as necessary.

This webpage is displayed in a kiosk style environment at the church (also set up and managed by me as needed).
It features a sleek and responsive page. There are three carasouls, one is for the rotating images, the second
is for the information display (Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, and Sponsors), and the third is for the News section at the bottom.

The images, information display, and news all get their content via a connection to a MySQL database.
I also created an admin panel so that the administrative members can access it to add or edit the data.
The sponsors data is updated weekly before the Mass so it is vital that the website retrieves the newest data as soon as possible.

The admin panel features a login using properly encrypted users in a database with hashed and salted values.
While there was originally a sign-up page created which featured the ability for anyone to create an account,
it was not necessary as the website is not open to the public. So it was later removed.
Cookies are used that time out automatically so that the user is not logged in permanently (security reasons).
It features a simple interface so that anyone of varying ages will have no trouble using it.

One of the major challenges I encountered when building this website was retrieving the accurate dates as the requirements
of the church was to use dates starting from Sunday to Saturday, where MySQL functions retrieve it as Monday to Sunday.
I had to create my own functions for this specific need as there were no alternatives (at least at the time).

For the admin panel, I have created a guest user that connects to a mock database that can showcase the abilities of the main one.
However as is was not meant for production, it is not entirely polished and not fully functional
(i.e. changes made are not visible anywhere else but the admin panel). It is still able to display what the real one can do.
While this goes against all proper security practises, I believe in an isolated environment, this will be okay,
the username and password are both "guest" Please use this account if you are interested in seeing the admin panel.

Rick Roll (Link is not active yet)

This page was purely created as a joke. It features an embedded YouTube video of a timer countdown,
and a button that lets you stop the JavaScript function that will activate at the end of the video running in the background
that will automatically redirect the page to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up

GitHub

A simple program created for my personal use.
It was made so that I can convert all my local music files into a JSON format so that I can upload the list
to a website and have it import all the songs onto a YouTube or Spotify (amongst others) playlist.

It originally started out as a simple python script,
but I decided to make a GUI so that I can share it with others who are not as versed in Python and programming/ scripting.

GitHub

Python script that uses the (old) Twitter API to read tweets from an account,
and then uses the OpenAI (Chat GTP) API to classify the tweets.

In this specific script, it determines if tweets from the specific account contains sales promotions in the forms of “deals”

This was a simple script to showcase my ability to use different API’s.

GitHub

This collaboration project was created for Toronto Hacks 2022.
It is used to calculate CO2 emissions for users based on data provided by the user.
It can be used to plot the data on a graph so that the user can keep track of it all.
It can also be used compare with other users.

This project was completed in 24 hours.
We had to overcome many challenges and it was a first-time experience for many of us.
A video is included in the repo showcasing what this project is about.

This project is a relatively new upgrade to my server setup. It runs on enterprise hardware.
Some highlights on this project are the use of ACL’s, ZFS, Snapshots, Docker Containers,
Reverse Proxy with Traefik, VPN Management, DNS Management, and SSL Encryption/ Renewal Policies.

It is an overall upgrade to my previous server in almost everyway, from capacity to performance and security.
It also features GUI management and network shares only allowed by LAN and VPN managed clients.

Furthermore, it extends and improves the capabilities of my old server by integrating Dynamic DNS services better
as well as integrating with Cloudflare and Let’s Encrypt in a more professional manner.
It also features automation in regard to updating components as required.

This server is used in conjunction with my old ones to improve reliability and service.

As a passion project, I have begun development on a video game in the Unity engine.
It is still in early stages and there is no minimum viable product to show,
but I have gained valuable experience in planning, designing, and programming in regard to video games and it's development.

It is a top-down isometric game with a pixel art style. The game uses C# and it is a cooperative project.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Elwin M

GitHub: Elwin M

Phone: +1 647-921-6841

Location: Ontario, Canada