Hi there! My name is Michael West and I'm an experienced web developer currently residing in New York City, NY but originally from Brisbane, Australia. I have a great passion for programming and all things Information Technology related and build web applications that have a high level of usability with a clean and effective approach.

Information Technology is my number one passion in life. Ever since I got my first computer back in 1992 (when I was 7), I've always enjoyed playing around and teaching myself anything I could get my hands on. First it was learning MS-DOS, Windows 3.0 and BASIC programming early on after getting that first computer and that evolved into learning to create some websites using HTML in the mid to late 90s when the internet was starting to become mainstream.

During 2003 - 2006, straight after graduating from high school, I attended Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia and studied Information Technology - majoring in Software Engineering. This not only helped me learn additional programming languages like Java, C and C++ but also gave me the tools to self teach myself languages like PHP and JavaScript.

After university, I worked for simPRO software and helped develop simPRO which is a job management system allowing companies in the trade industry to track, schedule and invoice their jobs. simPRO was originally written back as early as 2000, so in 2010 the software was rewritten using newer technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, jQuery / jQuery UI and PostgreSQL. Working in a senior role in developing this rewrite helped me learn those new skills as well as improve my current skills.

These days, my focus still remains on web development. I enjoy building websites and web applications using HTML5 and CSS3 but also do a bit of game development using HTML5 Canvas, WebGL and the Unity Game Engine.

Outside programming, I also enjoy playing video games, playing / watching sports, working out and writing.

Here's a list of my qualifications and skills that I have acquired over the years:

Formal Qualifications

Bachelor of Information Technology
Griffith University - Brisbane (2006)
Major - Software Engineering

Strong Knowledge

  • PHP
  • JavaScript
  • jQuery, jQuery UI
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • HTML5 Canvas
  • WebGL
  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Windows
  • DOS
  • Microsoft Office, OpenOffice

Good Knowledge

  • Java
  • Flash, ActionScript
  • Photoshop
  • 3ds Max
  • Unity Game Engine
  • Linux
  • Mac OS
  • SVN

Intermediate Knowledge

  • C
  • C++
  • Visual Basic .NET
  • Illustrator
Here's a list of some of the projects I have worked on in recent times:
  • simPRO
  • simPRO

    simPRO is a job management system that allows businesses in the trade industry to track all aspects of their business.

    simPRO has a long list of features including creating quotes / jobs / invoices and tasks, scheduling employees, ordering / tracking stock, transferring transactions to accounting packages and mobile support.

    As a senior software engineer, I worked on implementing a number of features in version 10 of the system as well as writing a large percentage of the code during the 2010 - 2012 version 11 rewrite.

  • 8 Ball The Game
    (under development)
  • 8 Ball Game

    8 Ball The Game is an under development game written in HTML5 Canvas.

    The game focuses on all the major cue sports and will feature game modes such as 8 ball, 9 ball, snooker, a trick shot challenge mode and time trial modes.

    Once released, the game will allow users to either practice their skills against the computer or go against another player in the multiplayer mode.

  • RuneHead
  • RuneHead

    RuneHead is a service I created back in 2005 that allows clans in the game of RuneScape to create a memberlist to display their members.

    RuneHead communicates with the RuneScape servers to update each memberlist with up to date stats for each player to provide the RuneScape community with an up to date list of almost every clan in the game.

    To this day, RuneHead still remains the only major memberlist service available for RuneScape.

  • Low polygon 3d Models
  • Low polygon 3d Models

    I enjoy creating low polygon and accurate 3d models in my spare time.

    Over the last few months I've created a few sporting arenas and a number of other items used across a number of sports.

    • 1. Snooker Table
    • 2. Baseball Field
    • 3. Football Field
    • 4. Hockey Rink
    • 5. Miscellaneous items
  • Tip.It Calculators / Planners
  • Tip.It Calculators / Planners

    Tip.It is the first ever RuneScape help site that assists players by providing detailed information about all aspects of the game. During 2005 - 2006 I worked as part of the Website Crew.

    During this time, I worked on maintaining and updating the current set of calculators and well as introducing a number of new calculators and skill planners.

    Those calculators and skill planners are still used quite regularly today among all the other features available on the Tip.It website.

If you would like to contact me with any questions, comments or even just to say hello, I'd love to hear from you. Just fill out the form below and I'll be sure to reply.