README for Chuck

I became “Chuck” in my first year of college. My roommate thought “Charlie” wasn’t cool. “Charlie” was given to me by my nanny when I was 6. She was an American exchange student from Southern California studying in Taiwan. She thought “Charlie” was a close-enough approximation for “Yi-Chih” and she thought the name was cool.

All the cousins in my generation on my father’s side had “Yi” in their name. “Chih” is the Kirin Dragon, used by a large Japanese beer company. I’m allergic to alcohol. While that’s not proven to be related to Kirin Beer company, the right lawyer might argue it’s also not proven to not be the cause.

At Cadence OneFive, my role is…

Application Engineer

Who am I? Non-work

I’m a people collector, not that I keep them in the basement chained to a boiler or a heat pump. I like to meet interesting people and I have collected a hodge-podge of characters. They all have great stories and provide me with interesting stories to tell at parties. Well, except for the stories I cannot share with strangers. I spent my twenties spectating at illegal gambling backrooms with this guy watching Saudi royalty playing poker against Russian gold chain enthusiasts.

My love of computers started with my Apple ][+ clone in 1984. I’m still very interested in the Apple computer, it’s the only group I actively follow on Facebook. I’m a Mac Fanboy. Someday I will purchase another Apple ][+, after I move into an apartment that can fit two computers.

I’m more of an entrepreneur than a programmer. Programming is only a means to an end, with the end being a piece of software that solves a real-world problem.

Work

I love the Laravel ecosystem. As much as people like to poopoo on PHP, it is still the code that powers the internet.

If I were stranded on a deserted island, these are the technologies I would bring:

  • M1 Mac

  • PHP

  • Javascript

  • Laravel

  • Vue.js

  • Nginx

  • MySQL

  • Livewire

  • Webpack

  • Node.js

  • Composer

  • VSCode in Vi mode

Vi Editor has a special place in my heart. I first experienced using it my first year at Tufts, Go Jumbos. Anyone who uses Vi Editor is ok by me. I would trust a stranger to house sit if they showed proficiency with Vi commands. A Jumbo is an elephant who spent his entire life as a circus animal then stuffed and given to Tufts as a mascot. Jumbo the elephant was consumed by a fire that some say was accidental and its ashes are forever stored in an old mason jar inside a gym locker. By all accounts, the beloved mascot Jumbo the Elephant, was “Lucky”.

What my crystal ball says

7 billion people on the planet. We need food, housing, medical care, and utilities. Most of these needs have dramatically reduced their requirement for labor. The labor force has shifted and today we have more start-ups/small companies/giggers than ever before. Instead of these traditional companies that provide all services ( ie GE ), we have smaller, more efficient companies that leverage computing to provide services.

Today we have self-serv app-based microservices that bring computation a-la-cart to everyday users. We have Airbnb, uber, and many tools that support the gig economy. At Cadence OneFive we use many “apps” to support the daily function of the company.

This project is part of that future. A building owner can use this software to prioritize the effort to manage and grow their investment.

I’m a big believer in this future. My goal is to join the thousands of developers who build these micro tools for other giggers. That’s my gig.

Career goals

I love learning and hacking and tinkering. However, I’m not a traditional programmer. I didn’t get a degree in Computer Science and I’m not interested in the academics of computing. My goal was never to be at the forefront of computing. I want to learn to use the tools well and build useful stuff.

I want to build products that a lot of people use and make a positive impact on the world. I believe software can make the world more energy-efficient. The greatest threat to our world is our impact on the environment and much of that is our energy expenditure. Software can achieve energy saving in unintended ways. For example, Waze navigates according to other users’ data, saving me time and the energy cost of idling the car while in congestion.

The only exception is in cryptocurrency. That shit is destroying our environment. F* those guys.

What you need to know about me

You can lean on me to

Give you suggestions. I love giving suggestions. I hate giving advice. There is a difference. Everything I tell you is a suggestion, not advice.

I’m not easily offended

So tell me what’s on your mind. If there is a better way to do something, let me know. If you have a funny “Your mother is so…” joke, tell me.

Ways of working together

I can feel a disturbance in the force

But that force is basically the internet messaging apps. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Hangout, SMS, Messages, Facetime, Slack, email. I’m very good at answering my messages. Just ping me.

Learn to speak Wookie

If you don’t understand what I’m saying it’s because you’re only hearing 1/2 of the conversation. The other 1/2 is happening in my head. Please ask me to clarify if there seems to be a gap ( occasional quantum leap ) in my conversations. One day I’ll figure out how to insert footnotes in my dialogue.

It’s a trap

I’m a believer that one should live life as you would when following GPS. Have a plan but change your plan according to traffic patterns. If you missed your turn, recalculate and keep moving toward your destination. If it’s a trap, change your plans.

Episode ???

Software mantra is “Release Early, Release Often”. George Lucas didn’t follow that rule but Disney did. That’s why Skywalker Ranch is 4,700 acres and Disney’s smallest property is many times bigger than Lucas’ little backyard playground.

Sure some of the releases could be stinkers, especially any episode with Jar-Jar Binks, the muppet embodiment of Screech from Saved By The Bell, but that allows for course correction. Now we have Baby Yoda. Could we have gotten to Baby Yoda without Jar-Jar? I don’t think so.

Star Wars is better than Star Trek

Even though I went to school with Wil Wheaton and we worked closely together in the computing lab. I also used to watch Star Trek with him and his dormmates. But still, Star Wars is better.