Ryan Linn, Developer in Portland, ME, United States
Ryan is available for hire
Hire Ryan

Ryan Linn

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Developer

Location
Portland, ME, United States
Toptal Member Since
February 15, 2022

Ryan is an iOS app developer specializing in mapping tools, geographic data, and custom data storage structures. Ryan has combined his passion for wilderness recreation with his skills in app development to create FarOut guides, formerly Guthook guides, an app for long-distance backpackers on trails like the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

XcodeiOSMapKitSwiftUser Interface (UI)Objective-CFastlaneModel View ViewModel (MVVM)Core DataNode.js

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Xcode, Parse Server, Parse SDK, iOS, Swift, Objective-C, MapKit

The most amazing...

...thing I've developed is an iOS app to guide hikers on months-long backpacking trips around the world. It has been ranked #1 in the App Store's travel category.

Work Experience

Founder, Chief Technical Officer, Lead iOS Developer, Senior Advisor

2012 - PRESENT
FarOut Guides
  • Developed an app for navigating and sharing information on long-distance hiking and biking trails such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Camino de Santiago, which over 90% of hikers use on many of these trails.
  • Designed and developed a system to keep data synchronized between the device and the cloud database for offline use, including handling editing data while offline to be synced once reconnected to the network.
  • Developed MacOS applications for internal company use to view and manage cloud-based data and product information, user accounts, purchase histories, sales data, user-comment moderation, data analysis, and promo codes.
  • Developed, fostered, and maintained ongoing relationships with over 20 partner organizations and guided writers worldwide to integrate their trail data and guides into the app.
Technologies: Swift, Objective-C, Parse SDK, Parse Server, Apple Maps API, User Interface (UI), SwiftUI, Model View ViewModel (MVVM)

FarOut Guides

http://www.faroutguides.com
A mobile app used by long-distance hikers and cyclists on trails worldwide for navigation, guide information, and communication.

I created the iOS app Circa 2011 and was the sole iOS developer until around 2020. I also designed our cloud back-end system for iOS and Android using the Parse server and wrote much of the cloud code for data validation and server-side functions.

Until around 2019, I handled all iOS-related customer support interactions directly with customers and continued to handle more complex support situations until 2021. I created a macOS app for internal company use as a content management system, customer support tool, and account management tool.

I continue to advise our current developers and aid in systems development as a part-time developer while pursuing other projects.

Languages

Swift, Objective-C

Frameworks

MapKit, Core Data, SwiftUI

Libraries/APIs

Parse SDK, Apple Maps API, Node.js

Tools

Xcode, Fastlane

Platforms

iOS, Parse Server

Paradigms

Model View ViewModel (MVVM)

Other

Communication, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, User Interface (UI)

2002 - 2006

Bachelor's Degree in History

Vassar College - Poughkeepsie, NY

Collaboration That Works

How to Work with Toptal

Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.

1

Share your needs

Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2

Choose your talent

Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3

Start your risk-free talent trial

Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.

Top talent is in high demand.

Start hiring