I offer a variety of software consulting services. If you're interested, e-mail me at and we'll start a dialogue. My rates vary depending on a whole slew of variables, so I won't bother posting them here. I should also mention I'm fully insured.
First, here's a little "about me" page I wrote: About Me
Here's a page of some work examples. I am trying to get permission from my various clients to post more, unfortunately this is a difficult and sometimes hopeless process: Work Examples
Why hire McClennen Software, LLC for your software needs?
I write good quality software. If you want your software to be usable and useful to your users, you've found the right company. I must give a word of warning, however. Writing quality, bug free software requires not only good programmers, but good testing as well. I can't stress this highly enough. If you want software without testing, I'm not the programmer you're looking for. Most places I've worked that didn't have a QA team, I've tried to appoint at least one or two people. My current client, SAP, I managed to recruit at least ten. This is important for several reasons:
- Programmers overlook simple bugs in their own software. It's a demonstrated fact. Sometimes it's simply a misspelled word, other times it's a complete program crash on a button we haven't clicked on in a while.
- Testers ALWAYS have usability suggestions that come in handy. When possible, recruit the people who are actually going to use the program or used previous versions of it. Right away they'll be giving you good suggestions to make it better.
I have experience. Here's my resume: resume. I've been doing this more than 14 years professionally, and worked in many, many different types of environments. Large corporations, Small corporations. Private offices, cubicles, very long tables with lots of programmers. I'm often a one-man team. My best clients are customers who have absolutely no experience in software, and don't want to hire a whole team. Twice I've been hired to start a software department from scratch.
I'll also say that while I prefer offsite contracts, I often work out of my clients office, provided it's in the Philadelphia area. I have a family after all, and it doesn't make much sense having a job to support them if I can't see them.
What are my specialties?
- GUI design and Usability. These topics are hot, hot hot. People don't always understand that a sexy GUI is the most important part of the program when attracting a user base. The program has to work, of course, and do what it was designed to do, but human nature requires it to look professional while it's doing it's thing. If you don't believe me, ask anyone in Hollywood. Not that many ugly actors out there...but some of the most famous actors aren't that good at the acting part.
- Demos and Proof of Concept. I get a lot of requests for Demos and Proof of concepts. For those that don't know, these are little light-weight programs that aren't fully functional, but get the point of what the intent of the program is across to the customer. A Proof of concept goes one step farther and demonstrates that the originators claim will work, given enough time to finish the project.
- Software Process. I've pretty much followed every software process there is. Iterative, Agile, Spiral, Waterfall, RUP, etc. Which one do I like best? For my own personal projects, I prefer Spiral or Iterative, because they tend to lead to less bugs later. This doesn't always work in a team.
- Software Due Diligence. Because I've been around, I've seen companies that failed, companies that have succeeded, and know a lot of the ins and outs of the business. Evaluating companies for investing is something that fell in my lap, and sometimes I'm asked to do it quite a bit. Because I'm a consultant, I'm often hired to fix legacy software, and this requires me to come up to speed quickly in someone else's code. This translates easily to evaluating the quality of software and software process for investors.
- If you can imagine it-- I can write it. I have yet
to be hired for a task that wasn't doable. Try me!
What Technologies I use?
A better question would be, which ones DON'T I use? It's hard to count, but I've programmed in about 25 programming languages if you count all the dialects of Machine Language. I'm also count personal projects, not just professional. Right now I don't do Cobol, though a local client was trying to convince me to learn it. They are VERY local to my house (about 3 miles), so I'm considering it. I bought the book, anyway.
I have extensive experience in OO design, and regularly use C++, C#, and Java. My C++ and C# are just about dead-even at this point, and I often switch between the two. I have used C++ in both Unix and MS Windows. I also use Java when platform independence is a must. Sometimes I now substitute C# for Java when it's a web application, but that depends on the server available, and Weblogic is a much easier server to configure for special applications then
I like to write apps for simplicity, so when I'm working for clients that want easy installs, and only Windows (or Unix), I use C++ because it doesn't require all the overhead of the .NET Framework that C# does.
I've written and debugged lots of different types of applications, Web (.Net Framework, Java, ASP, Javascript), MS-Windows, Unix, X-Windows (Motif and Xlib). Front end, Back End, Middle Tier.
I'm also quite familiar with both SQL Server and Oracle.
If you don't see it listed here, don't assume I don't know it, ask!
Who are some of my past clients?
I've written software for:
SAP, Lockheed Martin, GlaxoSmithKline, Bank One, JP Morgan, Magnavox, ESPS, General Atronics, University of Pennsylvania, Clariti Wireless Messaging, Integrated Data Corp, Maxum Specialty Insurance Group.
Why don't I write my own software and sell it?
Who says I'm not? I'm currently working on a project that I will be looking for funding in the near future. I don't really believe in IP Patents, but since many VC's do, I will be applying for a patent shortly (Summer 2006). Until then I can't talk about it. Of course, given that I also work 40-50 hours for a client at the same time, this is a very slow process.
I am also a programmer, not a marketing guru, so I'll need help when the time comes.
How can I be contacted?
E-mail me here:
This is a bitmap to avoid auto-spammers. Sorry! You'll have to type it in.
My contact number is:
. Again, another
bitmap.