Jakob is available for hire
Hire JakobJakob Laegdsmand
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
The Hague, Netherlands
Toptal member since August 31, 2022
Bio
Jakob is a web developer and solution architect with broad expertise, 15+ years of work experience and excellent communication skills. An artisan and a purist, he strives to consistently deliver pristine code. Enabling sustainable and creative organizations to achieve their goals and build tools/dashboards to help them accomplish their tasks is what he does best. Jakob works independently and functions well in a team. He founded his own SAAS product called “Roots of Me”.
Portfolio
Roots of Me
TypeScript, React, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Electron, MobX...
Freelance
Ruby, Ruby on Rails (RoR), TypeScript, Sass, HTML5, Devise, React, PostgreSQL...
Globld International
Scrum, PHP, React, Three.js, Unity, Laravel, PostgreSQL, PostGIS, Docker, Git...
Experience
- HTML5 - 10 years
- Sass - 10 years
- JavaScript - 10 years
- Ruby - 10 years
- Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 10 years
- Automated Testing - 8 years
- React - 8 years
- TypeScript - 6 years
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
MacOS, Ruby on Rails (RoR), TypeScript, Sass, HTML5, Unit Testing, E2E Testing, Git, Git Flow, PostgreSQL
The most amazing...
...application I’ve developed is a desktop application that enables health professionals to create complete, beautiful, and inclusive genograms.
Work Experience
Owner | Full-stack Developer
2019 - PRESENT
Roots of Me
- Architected and developed an app used by health professionals and therapists to create beautiful, inclusive, and complete genograms.
- Managed an independent software firm and released a successful SaaS application.
- Created a training platform to educate and train people online.
Technologies: TypeScript, React, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Electron, MobX, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Sass, ActiveAdmin, Devise, Automated Testing, REST, APIs, OAuth 2, PostgreSQL, NPM, Yarn, Git, Git Flow, Amazon Web Services (AWS), jQuery, Bootstrap, Hybrid Frameworks, Architecture
Owner | Full-stack Developer
2012 - PRESENT
Freelance
- Developed websites for many different companies of varying sizes as a freelance developer.
- Provided helpful advice as a technological and architectural sparring partner for numerous clients.
- Successfully managed an independent business and gained new clients through networking events.
Technologies: Ruby, Ruby on Rails (RoR), TypeScript, Sass, HTML5, Devise, React, PostgreSQL, NPM, Yarn, Git, Git Flow, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Scrum Master | Tech Lead
2017 - 2018
Globld International
- Recruited, managed, and facilitated a scrum team consisting of different disciplines.
- Architected and developed a 3D-visualization tool to inspect buildings and properties from point-cloud data.
- Mentored a junior developer to become a skilled front-end developer.
Technologies: Scrum, PHP, React, Three.js, Unity, Laravel, PostgreSQL, PostGIS, Docker, Git, Git Flow, GitLab
Scrum Master | Developer
2015 - 2016
RTL Nederland
- Developed and maintained a high-availability website with hundreds of thousands of visitors every month.
- Migrated a legacy back-end system written in .NET to a more modern Node.js architecture.
- Maintained and distributed an internal JavaScript tooling library available to departments within the company.
Technologies: JavaScript, React, Node.js, Sass, Automated Testing, Express.js, NPM, Git, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Front-end Developer
2013 - 2014
1% Club
- Developed templates and front-end components for the 1% Club website.
- Developed components for an open-source framework for crowd-funding websites.
- Developed front-end code for a social initiative website for Booking.com employees as part of a pressure-cooker Scrum team.
Technologies: HTML5, Sass, JavaScript, Python
Developer
2010 - 2012
MagStream
- Developed a standalone digital magazine for iPad featured as "App of the Month" in the Apple App Store.
- Developed the in-house framework to convert magazines created in a proprietary format to HTML5 for tablets.
- Converted, developed, and released many commercial digital magazines for iPad.
- Developed custom micro games and campaigns for usage alongside digital magazines.
Technologies: Ruby, JavaScript, HTML5, Sass
Developer
2009 - 2010
Code
- Developed numerous custom websites from Adobe Photoshop designs and mock-ups.
- Designed and built components for the in-house CMS framework.
- Maintained direct contact with clients and operated autonomously.
Technologies: PHP, JavaScript, CSS, MySQL, MooTools, Subversion (SVN)
Tridion Developer
2007 - 2009
Leiden University
- Developed a large website with over 20,000 pages and many subsites.
- Developed a media bank for use by the university subsites.
- Developed on a rebuild of the part of the site engine in PHP and MySQL.
Technologies: Tridion, VBScript, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, MySQL, CodeIgniter
Java Developer
2005 - 2007
Sogeti
- Worked on-site for clients as a representative of Sogeti on varying assignments.
- Passed initial examination as a “Sun Certified Programmer” and “Sun Certified Developer” within three months.
- Completed a business course which included public speaking at the University of Athens (Ohio) as part of the initial training.
Technologies: Java, JavaScript, CSS, HTML
Experience
Roots of Me
Created an Electron based desktop app for making genograms. It is written in TypeScript using Electron, and has a Ruby on Rails back end and api. I am the founder of this company and the main developer. I architected and developed the app, and developed an API for it. It is an SaaS app using a subscription model. The main goal is to enable health professionals to create complete, beautiful, and inclusive genograms.
It consists of:
• An electron based desktop application
• REST APIs
• A dashboard for subscription management
• A complete training environment
It consists of:
• An electron based desktop application
• REST APIs
• A dashboard for subscription management
• A complete training environment
Commercial Website for a Broadcasting Company
https://www.rtl.nl/Developed a React application with a Node.js back end. The app served high-density traffic. It is the commercial website of one of the top five broadcasters in the Netherlands, containing fragments and teasers as well as programming from the linear TV channels. My role was Scrum Master and Full-stack developer.
• I helped migrate an existing codebase from Angular to React and built a Node.js API.
• I managed and developed an internal JavaScript tooling library used by many departments inside the organization. We hosted this using semantic versioning.
• I helped architect and implement a complete CI system based on Jenkins and Git to bring the code changes into staging and production.
• I helped migrate an existing codebase from Angular to React and built a Node.js API.
• I managed and developed an internal JavaScript tooling library used by many departments inside the organization. We hosted this using semantic versioning.
• I helped architect and implement a complete CI system based on Jenkins and Git to bring the code changes into staging and production.
Online Learning and Visual Feedback Application
Developed a Ruby on Rails based visual feedback application. I had the role of full-stack developer, as well as serving as technical advisor to the CEO. This application served many courses and is used by universities and private instructors alike. It is a linear learning platform, but also includes an elaborate visual feedback tool for instructors to provide students with usable and concrete feedback on their creations.
• I developed many new features for this application.
• I improved performance for peak hours, when a big group of students would follow a course and submit their work all at once.
• I upgraded the codebase from HTML and Angular to React in one month in a major rewrite.
• I developed many new features for this application.
• I improved performance for peak hours, when a big group of students would follow a course and submit their work all at once.
• I upgraded the codebase from HTML and Angular to React in one month in a major rewrite.
Certifications
AUGUST 2015 - AUGUST 2017
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
OCTOBER 2005 - PRESENT
Sun Certified Java Developer
Sun Microsystems
SEPTEMBER 2005 - PRESENT
Sun Certified Java Programmer
Sun Microsystems
Skills
Libraries/APIs
React, MobX, Devise, Playwright, jQuery, Three.js, Node.js, MooTools
Tools
RSpec, NPM, Git, Zsh, Tridion, GitLab, Subversion (SVN)
Languages
JavaScript, Ruby, TypeScript, Sass, HTML5, Dart, Java, PHP, Rust, Python, CSS, VBScript, HTML, Bash, Swift
Frameworks
Ruby on Rails (RoR), Electron, Capybara, Jest, Yarn, Bootstrap, Unity, CodeIgniter, Cypress, Express.js, Koa, Laravel, OAuth 2, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Flutter
Paradigms
Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Functional Programming, Test-driven Development (TDD), Automated Testing, REST, Scrum, Unit Testing, E2E Testing
Platforms
MacOS, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Heroku, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker
Storage
MySQL, PostgreSQL, PostGIS
Other
ActiveAdmin, Git Flow, Architecture, Hybrid Frameworks, Scrum Master, App Store, APIs
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