Scott Robert Ladd

Technical Background and Expertise
 

2316 Americus Drive, Clearwater, Florida, 33763-4503 USA
scott.ladd@coyotegulch.com
http://www.coyotegulch.com
+1 727 631 5935 (cell)

Competencies

  • C, C++, Python, Fortran 95, Java
  • Linux (since before it was trendy), Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Solaris
  • OpenMP, MPI, POSIX threads, Win32 threads & processes
  • gcc, Intel C++ & Fortran, Eclipse, make, autocof/automake, MS Visual Studio(.Net), Cygwin
  • QT, GTK, Swing, MFC, .Net Forms
  • PNG, TIFF, TWAIN, PDF, and many other imaging formats
  • XML (and related), SQL, MS Access, custom-programmed, GIS/GPS
  • SMTP, NNTP, Sockets, HTTP, NTP, FTP, HTML, Javascript, Java applets
  • GNU Scientific Library, Gnu Multiple Precision Library, Euler, Maxima, Grace, others
  • Gentoo Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Xfce, XFree86, Gnome, KDE
  • LATeX, Microsoft Office 2003/7, KOffice, OpenOffice, Gnumeric, Abiword, NEdit, GIMP, Mozilla
  • Adobe Acrobat (PDF), MathType, Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro
  • COM/DCOM/COM+/ActiveX, DDE, MFC, ATL, Microsoft .Net Platform
  • CP/M, MS-DOS, Windows 3.1/95/98/ME/NT, VAX-VMS, plotters, AutoCAD 12, Cobol, Modula-2, J++, Object Pascal, Visual Basic, Prolog, Lisp

Publications

Books

Guide to Parallel Programming (Springer, 2004)

Java Algorithms (McGraw-Hill, 1998)

Active Visual J++ (Microsoft, 1997) translated into German and French, 1997

Genetic Algorithms in C++ (M&T Books, 1996)

C++ Simulations & Cellular Automata (M&T Books, 1995) translated into Japanese, 1996

C++ Templates & Tools (M&T Books, 1995) translated into Japanese, 1995 / second edition, 1996

C++ Components & Algorithms (M&T Books, 1992) second edition, 1994 / third edition, 1996

C++ I/O Stream, Contains, and Standard Classes (M&T Books, 1996)

C++ Techniques & Applications (M&T Books, 1990) translated into Korean, 1990

Turbo C++ Techniques (M&T Books, 1990)

Applying C++ (M&T Books 1992)

Web Site

Founded in 1996, I've written articles about topics ranging from artificial life and emergent behavior to algorithms and programming languages. The site also includes reprints of articles I've written about homelessness, indigenous peoples' rights, and astronomy.

Columns

Cing Clearly
Micro Cornucopia Magazine, 1988-1989
C programming language & tools

Objectively Speaking
Computer Language Magazine, 1988-1990
Object-oriented programming theory and tools

Articles

Since 1988, I've written for many publications, both technical and mainstream. My work appeared in C/C++ User's Journal, Dr. Dobb's Journal, Wild Earth, PC Techniques, PC AI, Infoworld, Native American Smoke Signals, Trilogy, The Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, Software Development, PC World, The Silverton Standard and Byte.

Editorial

I was the Project Editor for a special, C-focused issue of Dr. Dobbs Journal, published in February 1989. I also worked as a technical book and product reviewer for McGraw-Hill, Henry Holt & Company, Dr. Dobbs Journal, and Computer Language Magazine.

Education

Lodi Junior-Senior High School, Lodi, Wisconsin
Graduated 1 years early (mid Junior year) through accelerated credits

University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Majored in Physics and Computer Science
Degree unfinished due to opportunities in private industry

Future Goals
To find the time and financial freedom required for completing a formal degree in Computer Science and Astronomy.

Experience

Independent Contractor, Consultant, and Writer

Coyote Gulch Productions
August 2006 - present (Clearwater, Florida, USA)
Custom software development and consulting, with a focus on scientific and high-performance applications. Currently contracted to write a book about invasive species in Florida, and maintaining/selling my own software products (see remainder of web site)

Senior Software Engineer

Savista (now Torex)
December 2005 - July 2006 (Clearwater, Florida, USA)
Worked in C and C++ for the developer of point-of-sale systems (cash register) used by McDonald's Corporation restaurants. Worked remotely, from home offices in Florida, with travel to Savista Offices in Chicago and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tasks completed with people on four continents, using state-of-the-art communications. Position ended due to acquisition of Savista by Torex.

Coyote Gulch Productions
May 2002 - November 2005 (Clearwater, Florida, USA)
Custom software development and consulting, with a focus on scientific and high-performance applications. Projects for clients include development of a cross-platform video codec, the creation of a Java mopnitoring system for a Fortran 95 cluster application, and a vertical market cataloging system in Java/Swing, using custom web server and peer-to-peer technologies for database sharing.

Senior Software Engineer

Maximal Systems, Inc.
May 2000 - April 2002 (Clearwater, Florida, USA)
Responsible for analysis, design, and programming of a portable data mining engine for Enterprise Report Management (ERM/COLD) applications; included development of visual components (C++, Windows-specific, COM/.Net) for designing data mining projects, and the creation of high-performance, server-side processing (C++, portable code, Windows/Linux) components. Additional projects included analysis of multiprocessor platforms, integration with client databases, and providing general expertise in many areas of computing.

Director of Software Development

Conquest Softworks, LLC
August 1998 - April 2000 (Durango, Colorado, USA)
Directed small team of developers in the analysis, design, and implementation of a document imaging and storage system for Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) documents. System involved TCP/IP client-server architecture, centralized document imaging, workflow and verification, database management, and 24/7/365 reliability. Software installed state-wide by Wisconsin and Colorado; client software distributed to hundreds of banks nationwide. Also completed development of a case and trial tracking system for the Ute Tribal government in Ignacio, Colorado.

Freelance Writer & Consultant

Coyote Gulch Productions
September 1987 - July 1998 (Gunnison and Silverton, Colorado, USA)
Focused on writing books and articles about computer programming and advanced concepts. Also, custom software development and consulting. Clients included Microsoft, Borland, Symantec, Interplay, British Telecom, and many small businesses. Projects ranged from evaluating products and designing benchmark suites to developing web-based Java games and speaking at software development conferences.

Programmer Analyst

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior
June 1982 - August 1987 (Denver, Colorado, USA)
Jack-of-all trades, developing COBOL and Fortran systems on VAX and CDC equipment, working wit AutoCAD, writing small applications in Turbo Pascal, installing and maintaining a 100-node Netware LAN, and evaluating software systems. Programming tasks ranged from developing financial software and property management systems to performing analysis on dam structures and hydroelectric systems.

Programmer Analyst

Majestic (now World) Savings and Loan
May 1979 - May 1982 (Denver, Colorado, USA)
Programmed applications for loan evaluation and tracking; created some of the first software for managing debit cards and interest-bearing checking accounts.

Affiliations & Activities

Associations

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO)
Amnesty USA

Hobbies

Astronomy, reading, philosophy, exploring, general science, theology, evolutionary biology, robotics, auto racing (as a spectator!)

References

Provided upon request; to protect peoples' privacy, I do not publish their names, addresses, or phone numbers online.