About

My name is Mark. I’m a software engineer, consultant, and founder of preddytech, the small Oregon company represented by this website.

I’ve been writing software for most of my professional life. I’m experienced in all aspects of the development cycle, from architecture and design to code-authoring, documentation, Windows deployment and the Linux DevOps pipeline.

Preddytech (formally Preddy Technologies, LLC) is itself the descendant of another small company I founded in 2005 that focused on Microsoft Windows-based C++ desktop application development for small businesses. Prior to 2005, I spent 15 years in the employment of industry players such as Rogue Wave Software and Trimble Navigation.

As it has for many wizened application developers, the paradigm shift to web-based solutions ushered in a sea-change to the traditional “heavy client” software model of the 1990s. I’m proud to say I go both ways — while web-based solutions offer great benefits, I remain sympathetic to client-side applications, freed from the ever-growing security and privacy problems intrinsic to the SaaS and mobile-happy business models.

I spend my time designing, building and administering full-stack infrastructure for clients — RESTful APIs, dynamic services and websites, custom CMS applications and hosting — with responsive, device-agnostic front-ends and SPAs for small businesses, non-profits, schools and individuals. If you represent one of these groups, and are seeking help on your latest project from a well-grounded expert, let me know. My obsession for all things software nearly guarantees you’ll pique my interest.

Projects

Zircon ISM

Academic Technologies (IS), Oregon State University – “Zircon” is an inventory and services management package written for Student Multimedia Services at Oregon State University. Over eight years running, Zircon continues to manage the disposition of thousands of units of multimedia equipment as well as media production-order auditing and points-of-service order management available to all University attendees.

Zircon accommodates a fluid specification cycle based on modules, adaptable to changes and additions, on-the-fly with no system downtime. It consists of 1) a desktop client, used at client-facing points-of-service stations to process orders in real-time; and 2) a web-based dashboard (served through a lightweight CentOS virtual machine) that is used to datamine, audit, and administer/manage backend database-facing process functions for the unit.

Zircon is battle-proven.

Relevant APIs/technologies:

  • C++/MFC (desktop client)
  • Ellucian Banner/Oracle 10g
  • SQL Server
  • Python/Flask (dashboard)
  • Gunicorn/Nginx (dashboard)

Orion

Preddy Technologies, LLC – “Orion” is a long-term personal project catering to my interest in mathematical cartography. Using OpenGL and lots of matrix interpolation, Orion is a Linux-based client-side app that renders shaded-relief topography based on data from NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (STS-99, Shuttle Endeavour). TIGER/Line shapefiles provide overlays for borders, roads, rivers, etc. Notably, this package is CLI-driven and renders off-screen to large-format image files, adapting to any memory constraint imposed by the host machine — an old 64-bit laptop that is otherwise underpowered for a resource-hungry OS such as Windows 10 is suitable for rendering these data-rich maps. Squeezing new life from old hardware is always exciting.

Relevant technologies:

  • C++/Python/Perl
  • OpenGL (OSMesa)
  • PostgreSQL/PostGIS
  • SQLite
brandon astrometrics

Brandon Astrometrics

Brandon Astrometrics – A startup specializing in equipment and services related to all things "astrometrics." WAN-facing site, design, hosting, and layout includes an inter-office LAN-facing dashboard with access to client data, job assignments, and equipment disposition.

Relevant technologies:

  • Python BE/jQuery FE
  • PostgreSQL
  • SQLite
audio graphing calculator

Audio Graphing Calculator

Viewplus Technologies, Inc – “AGC” (Audio Graphing Calculator) is a desktop calculator/grapher for Microsoft Windows that, in addition to standard scientific infix input, evaluates free-form algebraic expressions, linear algebra mathematics, regression analyses and raw-data graphing. AGC’s defining feature is an “audio playback” display that compliments its visual graphs.

Relevant technologies:

  • C++/MFC
  • Boost Spirit parsing
  • Applied Mathematics (aka the greatest of all human endeavors)