About Me
A resourceful and self-directed full-stack engineer with a proven ability to architect, build, and deploy complete, end-to-end solutions. Expertise lies in developing custom C# (ASP.NET) RESTful APIs for complex backend tasks, including user authentication, secure content delivery, and dynamic task automation. Highly proficient in PowerShell for creating automated data pipelines (ETL) and managing server environments. Complemented by strong front-end skills in vanilla JavaScript, specializing in practical, user-focused Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). A natural systems thinker who excels at integrating disparate technologies to deliver robust, finished products.
Core Skills
Backend & API Development
- C# & ASP.NET: Custom backends and RESTful APIs using .ashx handlers.
- PHP: Server-side scripting for secure form processing (CSRF).
- Authentication & Security: User auth, IP-based access control, secure API gateways.
- Data Processing: Expert parsing and transformation of complex XML & JSON data.
Frontend Development
- Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+): Clean, efficient, and modern JS without framework dependency.
- Progressive Web Apps (PWA): Installable, offline-capable apps with Service Workers.
- HTML5 & CSS3: Advanced responsive design (Flexbox, Grid, Transforms).
- Interactive Web Tech: Three.js, Leaflet.js, and Video.js.
DevOps & Systems Admin
- PowerShell Automation: Scripts for data pipelines (ETL) and task scheduling.
- Windows Server & IIS 10: Full configuration and administration of a web server environment.
- Microsoft SQL Server: Database design, setup, and security management.
- Media Server Management: Real-time transcoding and HLS re-streaming with FFmpeg.
Strategy & E-commerce
- Local SEO: Technical and content-based search engine optimization.
- Google Ecosystem: GSC & Google Business Profile management.
- nopCommerce: Full deployment, customization, and administration.
- Payment Gateway Integration: Implementing and testing live payment APIs (PayPal).
Methodologies & Tools
- AI-Assisted Development: Proficient in using LLMs (e.g., Gemini) as a force multiplier for rapid prototyping, debugging, and code generation in an expert-led workflow.
- Project Management: Full lifecycle project ownership from concept to deployment.
- Problem Solving: Advanced diagnosis of complex, real-world technical issues.
Project Showcase
This Portfolio & 3D Globe
A custom-coded, responsive portfolio website designed to showcase a diverse range of technical projects, featuring a unique, interactive 3D hero element built with Three.js.
Key Features & Technologies:
- Static Site Architecture: Built with clean, semantic HTML5 and modern CSS3 (Flexbox & Grid) for maximum performance, security, and SEO-friendliness.
- Interactive 3D Showcase (Three.js): Developed a custom 3D scene featuring a rotating Earth with a live weather map texture, an accurate moon orbit, and interactive, clickable "satellite" elements representing other projects.
- Full Server Deployment: Deployed on a self-hosted Windows (IIS) server, including subdomain configuration and a free, auto-renewing SSL certificate via WACS (Let's Encrypt).
- Design & UX: A clean, single-page layout with a focus on readability, scannability, and a professional, consistent brand identity.
IPTV Content Delivery & Management Platform
A complete, end-to-end platform built from scratch to automatically ingest, process, and securely deliver IPTV content. The system includes an automated data pipeline, a secure API, and a PWA front-end for users and administrators.
Key Technical Achievements:
- Automated Data Pipeline (ETL): Engineered a robust backend process using **PowerShell** to:
- Automatically scrape and ingest EPG data from multiple (7+) external sources.
- Parse, filter, and normalize raw XML/JSON data.
- Dynamically generate a unified, composite XMLTV program guide.
- Automate the creation of `.m3u` playlist files by recursively finding root stream URLs.
- Secure API & Access Control (.ashx): Developed a custom **C# (ASP.NET) API** (`playlistscervice`) to act as a secure gateway for all content.
- Implements password-based user authentication.
- Features an IP-based session control system, locking user access to a single IP address for a 48-hour period to prevent unauthorized sharing.
- Effectively protects `.m3u` playlists from being directly accessed, copied, or played in external players like VLC.
- API-Driven PWA Front-End:** Built a Progressive Web App (`myguide`) for end-users to browse available playlists and view the live EPG. The PWA is driven entirely by the secure backend API.
- Administrative Dashboard:** Created a custom admin page that provides real-time monitoring of connected users, their IP address, and their current playlist, demonstrating full-stack system visibility.
Automated Live Stream Capture & Delivery System
A full-stack application designed to allow authenticated users to browse a live TV guide, book specific events, and trigger an automated backend process to record and re-stream the live broadcast as an HLS feed.
Key Technical Achievements:
- Custom C# (.ashx) Booking API: Architected and built a robust, multi-endpoint RESTful API to serve as the core of the system. The API handles user authentication, EPG data requests, and manages the entire event booking lifecycle.
- Dynamic Task Automation (PowerShell & Windows Task Scheduler): Engineered a powerful backend process where the API, upon receiving a booking request, dynamically creates and registers a new task in the **Windows Task Scheduler**. This task is precisely timed to the event's start and stop time.
- Live Stream Transcoding & Re-streaming (FFmpeg): The scheduled task automates the execution of **FFmpeg** to capture the source stream, transcode it in real-time, and re-package it as a standard, high-quality **HLS (.m3u8) stream** served directly from the local IIS server.
- API-Driven PWA Front-End:** Developed a user-facing Progressive Web App (PWA) that consumes the custom API to display a live, searchable Sky Sport program guide with a "Live" filter and a "Book Event" functionality for authenticated users.
- Full-Stack Integration:** Successfully integrated a complex chain of technologies: a user-facing front-end, a C# API, the Windows operating system's Task Scheduler, a PowerShell execution layer, and the FFmpeg media server.
Self-Hosted E-commerce Platform (nopCommerce)
A complete, end-to-end deployment and customization of a powerful ASP.NET-based e-commerce platform, demonstrating deep server administration and theme modification skills.
Key Technical Achievements:
- Full Server Deployment: Successfully installed and configured the entire software stack on a self-hosted **Windows Server (IIS)**, including setting up the **Microsoft SQL Server** database.
- Advanced Troubleshooting: Diagnosed and resolved complex, deep-level server issues, including IIS/SQL permission conflicts and a critical **SPN authentication failure** (Kerberos/NTLM).
- Theme Customization & Overrides: Performed surgical edits on theme files (`.cshtml`) and authored a custom CSS override file to create a fully branded, consistent user interface and a unique 3-column header layout.
- Payment Gateway Integration: Successfully integrated and configured the live **PayPal Commerce API**, including managing sandbox environments, API keys, and solving localization bugs.
- Full Platform Configuration:** Methodically configured all core aspects of the platform, including SEO, shipping, tax, order management, and product attributes for creating complex, configurable products.
NZ TV Signal Finder - PWA
A Progressive Web App demonstrating proficiency in sensor integration, real-time geo-computation, and robust mobile event handling to solve a real-world antenna alignment problem.
Key Technical Achievements:
- Advanced Mobile Debugging: Diagnosed and engineered a robust solution for a persistent **Mobile Touch Event Race Condition** ("phantom click") that caused functional failure on specific iOS devices, utilizing advanced event flow control (`e.stopPropagation()`).
- Device Sensor Integration: Implements the `DeviceOrientationEvent` to provide real-time compass bearing, enhanced with a custom **EWMA Smoothing Filter** for signal stability and dynamic **Magnetic Declination Compensation**.
- Real-Time Geo-Computation: Utilizes the **Haversine Formula** in JavaScript to perform precise, on-device calculation of distance and bearing to TV transmitter sites from the user's live GPS location.
- PWA Core Architecture: Built as a fully installable, offline-capable Progressive Web App using a **Service Worker** for a reliable, network-first caching strategy.
- Core Technologies: Advanced **Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+)**, HTML5, CSS3, Custom Data Parsing (JSON).
In-Car Media Hub - Progressive Web App (PWA)
A specialized PWA designed as a distraction-free media and navigation hub for Android car head units, demonstrating advanced geolocation, API integration, and modern UX patterns.
Key Features & Technologies:
- Advanced Geolocation & Mapping (Leaflet.js): Implements a battery-efficient, event-driven GPS (`watchPosition()`) and a custom "heading-up" map display by rotating the entire map container with CSS transforms while keeping the user's marker icon stationary and upright.
- Live Data Enrichment: Utilizes the **OpenStreetMap Nominatim API** for real-time reverse geocoding to display current street-level location data.
- PWA Core for Head Units: Employs a **Service Worker** and a **Web App Manifest** to create a fully installable, full-screen, native-like application experience on Android car stereos.
- Safety-Focused UI/UX: Features an **automatic day/night mode** using `prefers-color-scheme` detection with a time-based fallback to ensure optimal readability and reduce driver distraction.
- Core Technologies: HTML5, CSS3 (Transforms, Modern Units), **Vanilla JavaScript**, HLS.js, **Leaflet.js**, REST API Integration.
NZ Freeview EPG - Progressive Web App (PWA)
A high-performance PWA built to deliver a reliable, native-like live television experience. This project showcases full-stack proficiency, focusing on front-end user experience, resilient video delivery, and back-end data automation.
Key Features & Technologies:
- Front-End: Built with clean, modern HTML5, CSS3, and Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+).
- Intelligent Streaming: Utilizes Video.js with HLS and Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) control to optimize video quality for desktop and mobile, preventing buffering.
- Dynamic EPG: Asynchronously fetches and parses JSON data to build and continuously update the Electronic Program Guide.
- PWA Core: Employs a Service Worker for asset caching, enabling instant loads and a fully installable, offline-capable experience.
- Back-End Automation: Leverages PowerShell scripts for scheduled tasks, including fetching and transforming raw XML/JSON data feeds for the EPG.
- Server Environment: Deployed on a self-hosted **Windows Server with IIS 10**, including secure .ashx endpoints for user authentication and stream proxying.
Australian Freeview EPG - PWA
A robust, cross-platform Progressive Web App demonstrating real-time data processing, modern media delivery, and advanced responsive design to aggregate live Australian television streams.
Key Features & Technologies:
- Real-Time EPG Engine: Utilizes vanilla JavaScript to continuously parse raw **JSON broadcast data** from an external API, calculating live "Time Remaining" and "Next Program" metrics on the fly.
- Cross-Browser HLS Playback: Implements **HLS.js** for decoding streams on Chrome/Android, with a crucial fallback to **native HLS** for flawless performance on Safari and iOS devices.
- Advanced UX Solutions: Employs **hardware-accelerated CSS transforms** to create a fluid UI and solve complex mobile issues like the "phantom click," ensuring a predictable user experience.
- Modern JavaScript: Includes custom, Promise-based solutions to reliably handle browser **Autoplay Policy** restrictions.
- Core Technologies: HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox, Transforms), **Vanilla JavaScript**, HLS.js, REST API Integration.
Better Radio PWA - Smart Streaming & Metadata Engine
A resilient, installable Progressive Web App (PWA) designed for a seamless radio experience. It features a custom .NET Core API backend that acts as a unified brain for stream resolution, security, and real-time data aggregation.
Key Features & Technologies:
- Unified Real-Time Metadata: Engineered a "sidecar" metadata engine that aggregates and normalizes live "Now Playing" data from disparate external APIs (iHeart/NZME & MediaWorks/Rova). This delivers high-resolution album art and track information for over 90% of channels, regardless of the source format.
- Self-Healing Stream Resolver: The C# API proactively traces redirect chains server-side to resolve dynamic stream URLs. This ensures 100% uptime even when broadcasters rotate server nodes, effectively bypassing common ad-blocker lists and DNS sinkholes.
- Smart HLS Proxy & Security: Features a context-aware recursive proxy that intelligently engages only when specific browser bugs (e.g., Mobile Chrome session drops) are detected. This protects server bandwidth while ensuring stability on mobile devices.
- Advanced Audio Streaming: Integrates **HLS.js** with a native `HTMLAudioElement` fallback, ensuring maximum compatibility for live audio streams across all modern browsers and devices.
- PWA Core Architecture: Utilizes a Service Worker for instant loading and installability, with a responsive "Glassmorphism" UI that adapts to any viewport.
- Secure Authentication: Implements a custom authentication controller with secure, off-root credential storage to protect premium streams.
- Core Technologies: C# (ASP.NET Core Web API), HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+), HLS.js, IIS.