Developer (Special Projects)
2020 - PRESENTNamecheap- Built an app for handling premium high-end domain sales.
- Coded and designed UX/UI for a new marketplace.
Technologies: React, PHPFront-end Developer (via Toptal)
2016 - 2019Thumbtack- Built a help center from the ground up using Create React App.
- Built a Salesforce integration layer using Salesforce's Force.com platform.
- Built a dispute settlement application also with React and Redux.
- Effectively worked with a remote team in a distant time zone (US) while living in Vietnam.
Technologies: React, Redux, React Router, Create React App, Visualforce, ApexFront-end Developer (via Toptal)
2017 - 2017Airtable- Built three new blocks for their pro blocks feature, including the records block, description block, and chart block.
Technologies: ReactFront-end Developer (via Toptal)
2015 - 2016Homely.com.au- Implemented React components-based UIs for new product features.
- Created mobile-first, responsive interfaces.
- Utilized advanced ECMAScript 6 and 7 language features for more expressive, flexible code.
- Effectively worked with a remote team in a distant time zone (Australia) while living in the US.
Technologies: React, Node.jsFront-end Developer
2015 - 2015Namecheap- Worked on numerous small projects as a contractor, including rebuilding their blog, and creating a single-page app for receiving an app download link via SMS.
Technologies: WordPress, PHP, CSS, TwilioFront-end Software Engineer
2012 - 2014Yelp- Worked closely with the product team to build new features for the desktop and mobile site.
- Had a lead role on the small team that produced Yelp's first UI style guide, and then made it available to the public. The style guide precipitated an organization-wide push towards modular design.
- Completely rebuilt Yelp's most important page (the business page) from scratch, using advanced CSS features for layout and interaction.
- Led the development of a complete overhaul of all email templates, including Yelp Weekly, which is sent to millions of users per week.
- Gained unique experience working on a large-scale software project with hundreds of contributors. Learned extensively about release engineering, including testing and deployment, as well as common web security vulnerabilities.
Technologies: Python, jQuery, Google Clojure LibraryUI Designer/Web Developer
2011 - 2012Couchsurfing- Designed multiple experiments focused on optimizing user onboarding, using Optimizely's A/B testing platform.
- Had a fluid role within a startup environment, ranging from coding to graphic design and product management.
- Used Scrum.
- Redesigned the website's main navigation.
- Overcame challenges involved in modernizing the front-end of a seven-year-old codebase.
Technologies: PHP, jQueryWeb Developer
2009 - 2011Perch Design Studio- Turned beautiful Photoshop designs into WordPress sites.
- Built some Shopify sites.
- Learned how to use WordPress as a framework for general application development, not just for blogging and static content.
- Built mobile sites using both custom mobile stylesheets as well as media queries when they were still a new technology.
- Got to work with many local businesses in and around my home town of Portland, Maine.
Technologies: WordPress, PHP, jQuery
Benjamin Knight
JavaScript Developer in Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Member since November 13, 2014
Benjamin has over 10 years of industry experience, mostly in the Bay Area with many major tech brands, and has been building websites since the late 90s before web standards even existed. His expertise is focused on the intersection of design and engineering. Code and UI/UX quality is always priority numero uno. He has worked in many different environments, from large engineering teams of 200+, to small startups.
Benjamin is now available for hire
Experience
- JavaScript 15 years
- CSS 15 years
- User Experience (UX) 10 years
- PHP 10 years
- Python 8 years
- React 6 years
- Node.js 6 years
- TypeScript 2 years
Availability
Full-time
Preferred Environment
MacOS, Unix, Git, Google Chrome
The most amazing...
...and notable brand identity I've had a hand in is Yelp, spearheading the design of their public style guide and precipitating a company-wide change in approach.
Employment
Experience
- Thumbtack Help Center (Development)https://help.thumbtack.com
Built Thumbtack's help center as sole developer, using React and Redux on top of a Salesforce back end. Filled the UX and UI design role as well.
- Thumbtack Solution Center (Development)
I built a conflict resolution application as a sole developer using React and Redux. It uses a chat-like interface to guide the two parties step-by-step towards finding a resolution to project conflict, such as a refund or redoing the work. It supports media attachments, single sign-on authentication, and email notifications. The public front end is behind authentication but I can demo the app during interviews.
- Cocolist (Side project) (Development)https://cocolist.app
I made a directory app with Gatsby, Firebase, and AIrtable for finding eco-conscious businesses such as hotels and restaurants in different cities mostly across Southeast Asia.
- Personal Website (Development)https://benknight.me
My own Firebase-hosted personal website.
- Yelp Style Guide (Development)http://yelp.com/styleguide
I had a lead role on the small design team that created Yelp’s public style guide. The style guide precipitated an organization-wide effort toward modular design across all platforms.
- Portland Buy Local (Development)https://www.portlandbuylocal.org/
I built this WordPress site for the Portland Buy Local campaign, which is an independent alliance of local businesses in my hometown of Portland, Maine.
Skills
Languages
JavaScript, CSS, HTML, TypeScript, Python, PHP, GoLibraries/APIs
React, Node.js, GatsbyJSTools
Create React AppParadigms
Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Design, AgilePlatforms
Web, WordPress, Firebase, Unix, BlockchainOther
Airtable, HTML Email, Style Guides, React Hooks, Full-Stack Developer, Freelance Developer, User Experience (UX), Web UX, Rendering Performance, SAStorage
Cloud FirestoreFrameworks
Visualforce
Education
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Computer Science2005 - 2009Colby College - Waterville, Maine
