Jim is available for hire

Jim Idle

Verified Expert in Engineering

Software Developer

Hopkins, Stann Creek District, Belize

Toptal member since March 15, 2024

Expertise

Software Development Linux Java C NoSQL Unix Python Git Golang Cybersecurity Docker SaaS Jira

Bio

Jim is a staff-level developer adept in multiple technology stacks, from operating system layers to application architecture and design. He has developed a SimpleDB/Dynamo-like NoSQL database, an array of compilers and transpilers, malware detection solutions, and AWS SaaS products. Jim has also contributed to parsing technologies, JavaFX compiler front-end development, crafted a code generator for the Java compiler, and engineered ANTLR Go code generators and their runtime environments.

Portfolio

Freelance

Go, OpenAI GPT-3 API, OpenAI GPT-4 API, Office 365, Google, Python 3...

Gather Stars

Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), ANTLR, Go, AWS SDK, SaaS, Web, Office 365...

Helios Data

Python, Go, C, AWS SDK, BREW, NoSQL, PySpark, Docker, Docker Compose, Jenkins...

Experience

Java - 20 years
Abstract Syntax Trees (AST) - 20 years
C - 20 years
ANTLR 4 - 20 years
JetBrains IDE - 10 years
Go - 9 years
OpenAI GPT-3 API - 3 years
OpenAI GPT-4 API - 2 years

Preferred Environment

OS X, Linux, JetBrains IDE

The most amazing...

...thing I've built is a massively scaling, AWS-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) that uses ML to detect zero-day malware threats in emails and email attachments.

Work Experience

Staff Programmer | Developer

2023 - PRESENT

Freelance

Developed an Amazon API Gateway based SaaS to execute ML models on communication data for an electronics logistics firm, incorporating ChatGPT, AWS Lambda functions, Amazon Cognito, AWS Step Functions, Amazon S3, and Amazon SNS.
Designed architecture and wrote code to implement a solution in Go from scratch.
Utilized a domain-specific language (DSL) and language conversion tooling with ANTLR in Go.
Transformed and managed ETL streaming of large datasets, converting millions of telephone call records into Amazon Neptune and Parquet formats for Amazon Athena querying.
Developed and integrated software using Go, AWS, Java, Python, and Bash, managed version control with Git and Git Flow, and utilized Docker for containerization and local builds.

Technologies: Go, OpenAI GPT-3 API, OpenAI GPT-4 API, Office 365, Google, Python 3, Statistics, Machine Learning, ANTLR 4, Idyll, Data, Clang, GCC, JetBrains IDE, Data Visualization, Python, AWS SDK, BREW, Docker, CI/CD Pipelines, Geospatial Data, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Amazon Web Services (AWS), ETL, Web, Graph Databases, Amazon EC2, Leadership, Software, Software Design, APIs, REST, Compilers, Pick D3, Unix, Message Queues, Git, Git Flow, OS X, Linux

Chief Architect | Developer

2021 - 2023

Gather Stars

Implemented an AI/ML-based analytics system for analyzing logistics communications.
Developed integrations for Office 365 and G Suite platforms.
Analyzed communication content in real time using large language models (LLMs) and populated the Amazon Neptune database through streaming ETL.
Developed REST and streaming API using API Gateway.
Created lambda functions for email processing, from receipt to Amazon S3 storage, triggering SNS notifications, and executing Step Functions for analysis and Amazon Neptune database loading.

Technologies: Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), ANTLR, Go, AWS SDK, SaaS, Web, Office 365, Startups, APIs, REST, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Neptune, Graphs, Graph Databases, JetBrains IDE, ANTLR 4, Data, Data Visualization, Python, BREW, Docker, CI/CD Pipelines, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Amazon EC2, Leadership, Software, Software Design, TypeScript, JavaScript, Unix, Message Queues, Git, Git Flow, OS X, Linux

Principal Software Architect

2021 - 2022

Helios Data

Integrated a database system using raw data from the Geonames project, with Go and Python interfaces, processed via PySpark for worldwide data point mapping.
Designed and wrote a personally identifiable information (PPI) detection system for documents using Python and Go.
Headed a team and managed the Scrum process, including sprint planning and review sessions.
Networked to generate sales leads and crafted demo projects using clients' actual data.

Technologies: Python, Go, C, AWS SDK, BREW, NoSQL, PySpark, Docker, Docker Compose, Jenkins, CI/CD Pipelines, Geospatial Data, Scrum, Jira, Jira Administration, Agile, SaaS, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Amazon Web Services (AWS), ETL, GCC, JetBrains IDE, Google, Python 3, Machine Learning, Data, Apache Maven, Web, Graph Databases, Amazon EC2, Leadership, Cassandra, Software, Software Design, Startups, APIs, REST, SQL, Unix, Git, Git Flow, OS X, Linux

CTO

2018 - 2020

XREX

Implemented a cryptocurrency exchange platform utilizing AWS, Java, Spring Boot, and relational databases.
Designed and wrote a cross-border electronic transfer system for tether and cryptocurrencies using Go, Java, SQL, Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS), and lambda functions.
Assembled and managed a technical team of 30 team members, overseeing interviewing, salary negotiation, performance reviews, and planning for both team and product roadmaps.
Participated in fundraising, board meetings, and corporate strategic planning.
Managed product development, conducted evaluations, planned features, and designed user interfaces.

Technologies: Algorithms, Go, Java, Spring Boot, REST, Amazon EC2, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Leadership, JetBrains IDE, Python 3, ANTLR 4, Data, Apache Maven, HTML, Python, AWS SDK, BREW, Docker, CI/CD Pipelines, Jira, Jira Administration, Agile, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), ETL, Web, Software, Software Design, TypeScript, JavaScript, Startups, APIs, SQL, Custom Protocols, Databases, Git, Git Flow, OS X, Linux

Chief Software Architect of Advanced Development

2013 - 2018

Proofpoint

Explored advanced development concepts through innovative 'blue sky' thinking to address both longstanding and emerging problems.
Designed and developed the first commercial ML/AI-based system for detecting malware-infected documents.
Developed a highly fault-tolerant email delivery front end with 99.9% availability, serving Apple, Amazon, and numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Technologies: Java, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cassandra, REST, Go, ANTLR, Python, Apache Maven, Machine Learning, Software Design, Cyber Defense, Cybersecurity, SaaS, Jira, JetBrains IDE, Google, Python 3, ANTLR 4, Data, BREW, Jenkins, CI/CD Pipelines, Agile, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Amazon EC2, Leadership, JavaScript, APIs, SQL, Databases, Compilers, Unix, Windows, Message Queues, Git, OS X, Linux

Chief Software Architect

2011 - 2013

Armorize

Relocated to Taiwan to lead a research and development department of a startup that specializes in cybersecurity and malware detection.
Developed a massively scalable system to execute rule-based detection algorithms.
Designed and implemented a scripting language from scratch.
Facilitated the acquisition of our Taiwan-based startup, Armorize, by Proofpoint in 2013.

Technologies: Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), ANTLR, Java, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Go, C, IP Networks, Security, SecOps, Startups, Lean Startups, SaaS, Google BigQuery, Parsers, GCC, JetBrains IDE, Google, Python 3, ANTLR 4, Data, Apache Maven, HTML, Python, Docker, Jenkins, CI/CD Pipelines, Jira, Jira Administration, Agile, Web, Amazon EC2, Leadership, Software, Software Design, Cybersecurity, JavaScript, APIs, REST, SQL, Python 2, Custom Protocols, Databases, Compilers, Unix, Windows, Message Queues, Git, Linux

Owner | Contractor

2002 - 2011

Temporal Wave, LLC

Operated as a sole proprietor and worked as a contractor for notable companies like Sun Microsystems, Oracle, IBM, State Farm, and others in the US.
Developed the C code generation and runtime libraries for ANTLR.
Invented a new algorithm for parsers to perform error recovery after syntax error detection.
Wrote the JavaFX compiler and contributed to Java compiler code generation.
Crafted a compiler and code generator for an embedded system microcode engine from scratch, including configuring standalone embedded Linux and U-Boot.

Technologies: Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), ANTLR, APIs, Embedded C, Microcode, Embedded Linux, Java, JavaFX, JavaFX Script, Compilers, Domain-specific Languages (DSLs), C, C++, Assembly Language, C#, ASP.NET, VBScript, VB.NET, SQL, Transact-SQL (T-SQL), Algorithms, BASIC, jBASE, Microdata, VoIP, Python 2, Das U-Boot, Firmware, IP Networks, Custom Protocols, Clang, GCC, JetBrains IDE, LLVM, Python 3, ANTLR 4, Data, Apache Maven, HTML, Python, Jenkins, CI/CD Pipelines, Jira, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ETL, Web, Amazon EC2, Software, Software Design, JavaScript, Startups, REST, Databases, SQL Query Engine, Pick D3, MultiValue Database, Unix, Windows, AIX, IBM MQ, Message Queues, Git, Linux

Development Lead

2000 - 2002

InterSystems

Oversaw the creation of bug-for-bug compatibility between the InterSystems Cache database and the jBASE and MultiValue database (Pick).
Developed an on-the-fly transpiler to convert Pick database queries into custom parameterized SQL queries.
Created data mappings between InterSystems Cache and Pick databases.
Developed an interpreter for the Pick scripting system, known as Proc.

Technologies: C, C++, SQL, NoSQL, Databases, Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), SQL Query Engine, Java, Perforce, Compilers, Caché, jBASE, Pick D3, MultiValue Database, Unix, Windows, AIX, HP-UX, Tru64, GNU Make, Code Generators, Microdata, UniData, GCC, LLVM, Data, Apache Maven, HTML, Jenkins, CI/CD Pipelines, Leadership, Software, Software Design, Assembly Language, BASIC, Python 2, Custom Protocols, Message Queues, Git, Linux

CTO

1999 - 2001

Temenos SA

Managed the transition of the Temenos software suite to jBASE, including the implementation of UTF-8 for internationalization and localization.
Designed the integration of a message queuing system into jBASE, enhancing the Temenos software suite.
Assisted the tier-1 international sales team as a pre-sales tech consultant, providing demos and technical presentations.
Supervised the adaptation of jBASE for IBM Z mainframes and the IBM AS/400 systems.

Technologies: Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), ANTLR, BASIC, Bash, C++, C, Java, Compilers, SQL, IBM MQ, Message Queues, Pick D3, NoSQL, GCC, Data, HTML, Leadership, Software, Software Design, APIs, Microdata, Custom Protocols, Databases, MultiValue Database, Unix, Windows, AIX, Linux

Founder | CEO | CTO

1989 - 1999

jBASE

Founded a company and assembled a team to create a modern variant of the Pick/Microdata operating system for Unix and Windows, moving away from proprietary hardware.
Crafted and developed a transpiler to convert programs written in BASIC into the C programming language.
Achieved significant performance enhancements in CPU and database response times.
Established a business that transitioned application software companies from their proprietary systems to jBASE and open systems.
Sold the jBASE company to Temenos, a fintech software firm that adopted the technology for their banking suite, transitioning from older systems.

Technologies: Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), Databases, NoSQL, SQL, C++, C, Java, Unix, Linux, jBASE, Pick D3, Compilers, GCC, Data, HTML, Jenkins, ETL, Leadership, Software, Software Design, Startups, APIs, Assembly Language, Microcode, BASIC, Microdata, Firmware, Custom Protocols, SQL Query Engine, MultiValue Database, Windows, AIX, IBM MQ, Message Queues

Experience

ANTLR 4 Go Code Generation and Runtime

https://github.com/antlr4-go/antlr

Developed ANTLR 4 code generation and runtime for Go. ANTLR is a potent tool for generating parsers that can read, process, execute, or translate structured text or binary files. It is popular for creating languages, tools, and frameworks. It uses a defined grammar and produces a parser capable of constructing parse trees. Additionally, it generates a listener interface or visitor pattern for easy reaction to identified meaningful phrases. I revamped an underperforming Go runtime and code generator, achieving a 500 to 5,000 times boost in performance and a significant reduction in resource usage.

Idyll: Interactive Essays and Explorable Explanations Made Simple

https://github.com/idyll-lang/idyll

Idyll is a development system that allows you to create explorable explanations and interactive essays hosted on a static HTML page or the web. It is a fantastic system for making presentations using data visualization, custom React components, and many other off-the-shelf plugins.

I added support for TypeScript-based React plugins where only JavaScript plugins were previously supported. Also, I fixed general bugs and incompatibilities and added new features.

JWZ Email Threading in Go

https://github.com/gatherstars-com/jwz

A JWZ Threading algorithm written in Go. This is an open-source Go implementation of the widely known JWZ message threading algorithm initially written by Jamie Zawinsky.

An example of implementing the interface(s) needed to operate this package is provided in the '/examples/visualize' directory, and usage is documented in the Godoc with a 'visualize' example.

ANTLR 3 C Code Generation and Runtime

https://www.antlr3.org/api/C/main.html

Wrote the fastest C runtime implementation for ANTLR 3 from scratch. I synchronized C runtime updates with Java runtime releases, ensuring concurrent new version releases for both with each tool update.

The ANTLR 3 recognizer generation tool is written in Java but allows the generation of code targeted for a number of other languages. Each target language provides a code generation template for the tool and a runtime library for use by generated recognizers.

Skills

Libraries/APIs

React, PySpark

Tools

GCC, ANTLR, ANTLR 4, Character User Interface (CUI), Apache Maven, AWS SDK, Jira, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), Git, Perforce, IBM MQ, Docker Compose, Jenkins, GNU Make

Languages

Go, Python 3, Java, C, Python, JavaFX Script, Domain-specific Languages (DSLs), Assembly Language, BASIC, Python 2, Embedded C, Microcode, SQL, Transact-SQL (T-SQL), SQL Query Engine, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, C++, C#, VBScript, VB.NET, Bash

Platforms

OS X, Linux, Amazon EC2, Pick D3, Unix, AIX, Docker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Embedded Linux, JavaFX, BREW, Web, Windows, HP-UX, Tru64

Storage

NoSQL, Databases, MultiValue Database, Graph Databases, Caché, Cassandra, UniData

Industry Expertise

Cybersecurity

Frameworks

Spring Boot, ASP.NET

Paradigms

Scrum, Agile, ETL, REST

Other

JetBrains IDE, Clang, OpenAI GPT-3 API, OpenAI GPT-4 API, jBASE, Parsers, Abstract Syntax Trees (AST), SaaS, APIs, Leadership, Software, Software Design, Microdata, Compilers, Message Queues, Git Flow, LLVM, Office 365, Idyll, Amazon Neptune, Graphs, Security, Firmware, Custom Protocols, Google, Statistics, Machine Learning, Data, Algorithms, Data Visualization, CI/CD Pipelines, Geospatial Data, Jira Administration, Startups, Cyber Defense, IP Networks, SecOps, Lean Startups, Google BigQuery, VoIP, Das U-Boot, Code Generators

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