The Code Monster!

And what do I code on, you ask? Good question. Check out my hardware page to read all about my modest collection of toys.

Projects

I am currently working to produce a 100% free software implementation of the Java language environment. Specifically, I am one of the founders and a principal author of the GNU Classpath project, an effort to build a clean room implementation of the Java standard class libraries licensed under a variation of the GNU General Public License. This project is now in its fourth release and while, still very much in the development stage, is actually usable.

As an adjunct to my Java class library project, I am also an active developer for Mauve, a free Java library test suite. This project is a collaborative effort between Classpath, Transvirtual (the developers of Kaffe) and Red Hat. This package will provide a regression test suite for our various projects and will also validate compatibility with various Java specification levels. This project is still pretty rough, but code is available via anonymous CVS.

A complete list of other projects that I am working on and for which code is currently available, see my software download page. There are several packages available including an implementation of GNU getopt in Java, and several VMS and MS-Windows utilities.

I also have many other background ideas and projects that will one day make me World Famous.

Writings

I have a written a few documents that may be of interest:

Resume

When it comes to computers, I'm pretty open to working on a lot things. Here's a partial list of some of the stuff I know or have worked on:

Programming Systems Admin and Platforms Miscellaneous
  • C
  • C++ (some experience, but I'm not at all an expert)
  • Java
  • SQL
  • HTML (You've got my web page, so you can be the judge of it I'm any good or not)
  • JavaScript
  • Unix shell scripts
  • Xlib (some) and Motif widgets
  • Windows API (mostly 16-bit)
  • VMS DCL (worked on it years ago)
  • VMS TPU/EVE (ditto)
  • Unix (Solaris, HP-UX, Linux, SCO, Sequent)
  • Novell NetWare (mostly 3.x stuff)
  • Lotus Notes (mostly 3.x stuff)
  • Microsoft Windows (3.X and 95)
  • VMS (user and developer only, no admin)
  • BEA WebLogic
  • TCP/IP (base protocol, SNMP, NNTP, SMTP, etc)
  • Oracle (app development and administration), some Sybase too
  • Tuxedo Online Transaction Processing Monitor

I think my greatest strength is in technical architecture. I don't just know one technical area or two. Instead, I have a broad base of technical knowledge and an understanding of what it takes to stitch them together to build an entire system (online, batch, reports, third party links, legacy interfaces, network/systems management, support, etc).

Personal Profile

The Jargon File contains a portrait of J. Random Hacker. When I first bought the book several years ago, I was amazed at how closely I matched up to the profile. To give you a few insights into my personality, here's a list of how I compare verus the portrait:

Things I Am Things I Am Not
General Appearance
  • Intelligent
  • Intense
  • Abstracted
  • Scruffy (though I do hate to shave)
  • Thin/fat
Dress
  • Casual
  • Dress for Comfort
  • Post-hippie
  • Outdoorsy
  • Nerdy
Reading
  • Science Fiction
  • Omnivorous
  • Science magazines
Other Interests
  • Science Fiction (again)
  • Music
  • Medievalism/SCA
  • Chess, go, backgammon, etc
  • D&D
Physical Activity and Sports
  • Low interest in spectator sports (the Indiana Pacers excepted.
  • Self-competitive sports (ie, running)
  • Frisbee, volleyball
Education
  • College degreed (finance major)
  • All computer knowledge self-taught
  • Hard sciences background
Things Hackers Detest
  • IBM mainframes
  • Offensive cuteness
  • Stupid people
  • Easy listening music
  • Television (except science-fiction)
  • Dishonesty
  • Incompetence
  • Boredom
  • COBOL, BASIC, et al.
  • Character based menu interfaces
  • None!
Food
  • Ethnic
  • Spicy
  • Thai/Jewish deli/Mexican/pizza
  • Chinese food
Politics
  • Anti-authoritarian
  • Liberal
Gender and Ethnicity
  • Male and Caucasian
  • Racially Color Blind (I live in a very integrated neighborhood)
  • None
Religion
  • None!
  • Atheist (I'm a believing Protestant Christian)
  • Buddist
  • Weird pseudo-religeons
Ceremonial Chemicals
  • No tobacco
  • No drugs
  • Limited alcohol consumption (I like good beer, wine and liquor).
Communication Style
  • None
  • Poor interpersonal communication. (Though I'm not perfect).
Geographic Distribution
  • None (I live in the Midwest)
  • Coastal dweller
Sex Habits Er, I think I'll take a pass on this one. (*blush*)
Personality
  • Intelligence, curiosity
  • Abosorption of minutia
  • Wide variety of interests
  • Control freak
  • INTP
  • Neophile
  • Not motivated by conventional rewards (as much as I hate to admit it, I like to make money)
Personality Weaknesses
  • Intellectual arrogance
  • Impatience
  • Intolerant on technical issues
  • Computer geek
  • Lack of stable relationships
  • Disorganized and sloppy (unfortunately, I tend to be anal about neatness and organization - except my desk).
  • ADD
Miscellaneous
  • Likes cats
  • Terrible handwriting
  • None

Or, if you would like another window into my personality, here is my geek code block.

----- BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK -----
Version: 3.2
GCS/IT/MU/U d- s a- C+(++) UL+++ UH US+ UC++++ UX P--- L++ E- W--(++) 
N+++ o-- !K w-- !O M-- V PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP->++ t++@ !5 X !R tv-->! b+++ 
!DI !D G- e++ h r++ y?
----- END GEEK CODE BLOCK -----

You can also read my one foray into being a free software philosopher. My paper "Free", "Open Source", and Philosophies of Software Ownership deals with the "open source" labeling debate, so is a bit dated, but may be of interest.

Or read my comparison of hacking and punk rock.

Some of you might be also be wondering why I changed this page.

Copyright © 1998-2003 Aaron M. Renn (arenn@urbanophile.com) All Rights Reserved
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