Curriculum Vitae of Ralph Hosking

Top | Education | Career Summary | Present | Past | Technical skills

Education

Topp | Education | Career Summary | Present | Past | Technical skills

Career Summary

Ralph Hosking has been in the software development and consulting industries since 1985 when he joined Myer Computer and Business Centre as a Customer Engineer. In 1987 the department became MyCorp and was acquired by BS Microcomp. In 1988 Ralph transferred to the software development division of the company to work on a foreign exchange and money market suite of applications which in 1990 was purchased by UK-based BIS Banking Systems and became BIS Trading Systems. 

In 1992, the software development division was reduced to a select few and relocated to Luxembourg. In 1994 the BIS group was purchased by the ACT group and in 1995 ACT was purchased by Misys and became Midas-Kapiti International where Ralph continued to serve as Senior Technical Consultant and from March 1996 to May 1998 was Product Development Manager. 

In June 1998 Ralph left MKI and joined Odyssey Advanced Financial Solutions where he worked on a private banking CRM system under Windows and AS/400 environments and in August 2000 became CRM Development Manager. In October 2001 he returned to Australia. In January 2002 Ralph commenced contracting and independent software development, in October 2002 Ralph started work on a back-office system for ticket machines, in 2004 contracting in the telecommunications industry and in March 2006 started a new company providing a SaaS toll fraud detection and call accounting solution.

Ralph has worked as a team member or team leader on a wide variety of software development projects in a number of roles. Consequently he has developed considerable experience in all phases of the development cycle. These include programming, specification, design and analysis, team supervision, quality assurance, documentation, installation and post-installation support in addition to project management. Ralph has extensive experience with MS-DOS, OS/2 and Windows development and a wide variety of applications under these environments.

Professional experience includes C/C++/C# and 80x86 assembler software design, development and maintenance of graphical user interfaces, real-time information delivery systems based on a client/server architecture over NetBIOS and TCP/IP, DES encrypted SQL database design and coding, MFC, .NET, DCOM, ODBC database interfaces, embedded controller software maintenance, multiple monitor support, multiple machine system integration via middleware, sockets, FTP file transfer, audio visual software, hardware device drivers, POP3 and telnet interfaces, web site design, software licensing and security and spam filtering and deletion. Other experience includes design and development of an 8052 microcomputer and software development for Palm OS.

Ralph has successfully completed development projects in Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Top | Education | Career Summary | Present | Past | Technical skills

November 2005 – Present

Software development Manager / Analyst / Programmer - TIM Technologies Pty Ltd, Perth AUSTRALIA

After some contract work and update on .NET Ralph commenced working on a brand new project.

August 2005 – October 2005

Analyst / Programmer (contract) - Construct Services, Perth AUSTRALIA

Working as a contractor Ralph performed maintenance work on an ASP.NET company website.

January 2004 – August 2005

Analyst / Programmer (contract) – Acticom Pty Ltd, Perth AUSTRALIA

In late December 2003 Ralph was approached to take control of the development and maintenance of a call accounting system. Such systems typically receive a data stream from a PABX system via an asynchronous communications channel, perform data manipulation on the data stream and store the resulting information in a database for later reporting needs.

Written primarily in Visual C++/MFC and one module in Visual Basic 6 the system required maintenance and updating.

Maintenance required familiarity with the source code and creating an initial build. Further work was required to change the database type and work was performed to bring the user interfaces of all modules up to date, create a common look across the product and provide online help in the form of a compiled help file.

The resulting product suite receives asynchronous data from a PABX system, performs data manipulation within a C++ module and writes records to an SQL database. Later work on the project included further enhancements due to user and internally generated requests.

Being the sole analyst/programmer/support agent Ralph performed a variety of tasks

• Bug fixing
• Preparation of software proposals
• Preparation of software specifications and technical documentation
• Quality assurance
• Software development
• Software distribution
• Upgrade of coding and development standards
• User, help and technical documentation
• Version management

Screechy Pty Ltd

Continuing to develop and sell software online as Screechy Pty Ltd, Ralph continued performing contracting work and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Internet Security Management at Curtin University of Technology.

One application was released during this time – Favicon an application to locate, download and refresh icons used by Internet Explorer to associate with URLs stored as 'favorites'.

Achievements

• Analysis and upgrade of existing telephony call accounting software
• Completion of Postgraduate Diploma in Internet Security Management
• Favicon designed and released as beta code
• Software licensing and security
• Telnet coding  
• Upgrade from MS Visual Studio 6.0 to MS Visual Studio .NET 2003
• Windows Shell, DCOM and service programming
• Work with asynchronous communications devices
• Work with databases using SQL

November 2002 - December 2003

Analyst / Programmer (contract) – Reino (formally Smartedge Technologies), Perth AUSTRALIA

The back-office system for parking ticket-machines saw Ralph commencing a new product development under Visual C++/MFC. The project consisted of two primary modules, the back-office service communicating with ticket-machines via a GSM modem and SMS and a user administration application communicating with the service via DCOM.

The new development was commenced to simplify management, accounting and support issues of ticket machines in, and from, remote locations. A good example of this was seen during testing when the ticket machine being examined was seen to have its battery running low – it was a solar powered machine on a beach on the east coast of Australia – development was being performed in Perth.

Screechy Pty Ltd

Continuing to develop and sell software online as Screechy Pty Ltd, Ralph also started performing some contracting work. Projects involved a back-office system for parking ticket-machines communicating via wireless telephone and a back-office system for an RFID time recorder card logging system.

The RFID time recorder project was performed in conjunction with a local supplier. The time recorder logs card-in and card-out events to log the duration employees work or spend time on individual projects.

The time recorder holds a number of records that can be downloaded via an asynchronous communications channel. The project involved determining the number of devices attached and downloading records storing them to an SQL database for later reporting, configuration and management of the attached time-recorders and interpretation and reporting of the records collected.

Major independent projects include a spam filtering and auto-deletion application.

Achievements

• Analysis and development of time card recorder back-office software
• Analysis and development of ticket machine back-office software
• Analysis and upgrade of existing telephony call accounting software
• Spam control and deletion
• Further development work on Palm OS
• Internet enabled software
• Internet Explorer plug-ins
• Windows Shell, DCOM and service programming

January 2002 - October 2002

Analyst / Programmer – Screechy Pty Ltd, Perth AUSTRALIA

In February 2002 Ralph commenced contracting and independent software development and marketing a number of internet-enabled applications. In addition he is working on further projects on Palm OS and develops the occasional website.

In order to independently develop software and sell it online, Ralph developed licensing and security models for Screechy Pty Ltd in order to provided software downloads online and full product activation by the customer on receipt of a company provided security keys.

Major independent projects include a DES-encrypted user id and password security application, web page capture application and a Internet Explorer extensions.

Achievements

• Further development work on Palm OS
• Software licensing and security
• Internet enabled software
• Internet Explorer plug-ins
• Web page capture software 
• DES encrypted user id and password software
• Windows Shell, DCOM and service programming
• Screechy Pty Ltd launched

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October 2001 - December 2001

Research and vacation, Perth AUSTRALIA

In October 2001 Ralph left Odyssey, Luxembourg to return to Australia after nearly 10 years in Europe. After 13 solid years working as a Programmer / Analyst / Development Manager Ralph took the opportunity to take an extended vacation.

Achievements

• Familiarization with Mac OS environment
• Familiarization with Windows XP environment

June 1998 - September 2001

CRM Development Manager - Odyssey Advanced Financial Solutions, LUXEMBOURG

In June 1998 Ralph joined Odyssey Advanced Financial Solutions where he started development on MIRAGEcrm the Microsoft Windows version of MIRAGE - an AS/400 Client Relationship Management system for the private banking sector. MIRAGEcrm description.

Initial work involved design and prototype of the new client server system operating within an encrypted environment. Following feedback from customers the full product was developed. Modules included client workstation, server, communication middleware, security workstation and administration workstation.

In August 2000 Ralph officially became the CRM Development Manager and while spending much of his time continuing to design and modify the product was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the developers and coordination with the Q.A. and rollout departments.

Achievements

• ActiveX design
• A lot of MFC C++ work under Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000
• ANSI C libraries used by both PC and AS/400 applications
• ATL
• browser technology
• COM
• DES and Triple-DES implementation
• HTML
• Javascript
• Palm OS, Code Warrior 7.0
• Palm programming on-line training course commenced
• Rudimentary ability to utilize AS/400 product
• SQL coding
• SQL db design using Sybase SQL Modeler 6.1
• VBScript
• web site development

March 1996 - May 1998

Product Development Manager - Midas-Kapiti International, LUXEMBOURG

As Product Development Manager, Ralph is in charge of this team, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Luxembourg software development division. DR-one description.

Ralph has been extensively involved in the development and support of DR-one - a PC LAN based dealing room system that integrates and distributes a combination of video and digital financial market information to dealers in real-time. As a result of this work, Ralph has substantial experience with graphical user interfaces, client/server technology, financial market data feeds and a variety of LAN environments.

During this time Ralph attended a PowerBuilder training course in preparation for an internal company transfer to the private banking division. During the course Ralph immediately saw the similarities of the PowerBuilder APIs to that of the Windows and OS/2 primitives with which he had become intimately familiar. Ralph finished the training course assisting other colleagues also attending the course.

As a result of the small size of the team, he is required to perform a variety of duties. These include:

• C/C++ MFC development
• Co-ordination of all code modifications
• Hardware maintenance
• Help desk support
• Network administration
• Preparation of software proposals
• Preparation of software specifications
• Quality assurance
• Staff management
• Software development
• Software distribution
• Team supervision and task allocation
• Training of new staff
• Upgrade of coding and development standards
• User, help and technical documentation
• Version management

Achievements

• Responsibility for development team
• C++ training
• OOP training
• PowerBuilder training course

June 1994 - February 1996

Senior Technical Consultant - ACT Financial Systems/Midas-Kapiti International, LUXEMBOURG

During this time Ralph has completed specification, design and development of a Windows client/server application providing Reuters Marketlink support and design and development of Reuters News 2000 support under OS/2 PM. Additionally Ralph has provided continuing specification, design, development, maintenance and help desk support.

As Senior Technical Consultant, Ralph is second in charge of this team, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Luxembourg software development division in the absence of the Development Manager. As a result of the small size of the team, he is required to perform a variety of duties. These include:

• Co-ordination of all code modifications
• Hardware maintenance
• Help desk support
• Network administration
• Preparation of software proposals
• Preparation of software specifications
• Quality assurance
• Software development
• Software distribution
• Training of new staff
• Upgrade of coding and development standards
• User, help and technical documentation
• Version management

Achievements

• Remains major knowledge-base of the OS/2 PM and Windows applications
• Responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance of development and testing LANs
• Successful completion of software development proposals and software delivery
• Successful completion of Windows real-time client/server application

February 1992 - May 1994

Senior Analyst/Programmer - BIS Banking Systems/ACT Financial Systems, LUXEMBOURG

Ralph was a member of a team of five software development staff chosen to continue maintenance and development of the DR-one product when that function was relocated from Melbourne Australia to Luxembourg in 1992. The move to Luxembourg resulted in a successful product area.

During 1993 Ralph was the lead Analyst/Programmer designing and implementing a major product upgrade covering many modules in addition to the major overhaul given to the OS/2 PM client workstation. The workstation re-design made better use of OS/2's graphical user interface, screen and system resources.

During this time Ralph assisted with the support of the existing product, enhanced the existing product and gave continuing help desk support.

Achievements

• Completion of multi-media driver for OS/2 with integrated windowed TV
• Design, control and development of major product upgrade
• Design and development of an OS/2 asynchronous communications driver
• Installation of development and testing LANs in Luxembourg
• Successful completion of software development proposals and software delivery
• Upgrade to embedded controller software

December 1989 - January 1992

Analyst/Programmer - BS Microcomp/BIS Trading Systems, Melbourne AUSTRALIA

Toward the end of 1989 Ralph became one of a team of four designing and developing an OS/2 version of the client end of the product. His duties included the user interface design and development of the workstation and ultimately Ralph became the lead Analyst/Programmer on the product. The product was successfully installed in 1990 when Ralph spent four weeks at a customer site making final fixes and customer requested modifications to the product.

As the product when live in other countries Ralph was involved in including customer specific code changes and adding multiple country support. During this time he continued to carry out software support of the OS/2 product and was involved in user documentation and user help files for the product.

Achievements

• Completion of user and help documentation
• Part of team developing new client/server system operating under OS/2
• Successful on-site installation of OS/2 system

June 1988 - November 1989

Programmer - BS Microcomp, Melbourne AUSTRALIA

Joining the DR-one development team, Ralph was assigned to wide selection of maintenance programming tasks as way of system familiarity and completion of a customer installation.

Following code familiarity, Ralph designed a number of assembler terminate and stay resident applications and an application designed to emulate up to 64 users on a single workstation permitting server applications to be tested. Further NetBIOS experience was gained in the modification of a major module to support multiple file servers.

During 1989 Ralph was part of a team of two that converted the MS-DOS product to a double-byte Japanese version of the product. As part of this project Ralph was required to spend a month in Japan finalising acceptance of the product. The project included:

• Double-byte 3270 emulation
• Double-byte text editor
• Japanese specific hardware.

Achievements

• Client/server experience of a real-time information delivery system
• Double-byte JDOS 3270 emulation
• Double-byte JDOS text editor
• Double-byte JDOS version of MS-DOS product
• Extensive MS-DOS programming experience
• MS-DOS assembler terminate and stay resident applications
• NetBIOS experience
• On-site development and sign-off of product
• On-site support of product
• Problem determination and resolution experience
• Quality assurance experience

April 1985 - May 1988

Customer Engineer - Myer Computer and Business Centre/MyCorp, Perth AUSTRALIA

Whilst finishing his degree course in Electronic Engineering, Ralph commenced work as a Customer Engineer. Ralph gained ready knowledge of PC use and problem determination performing a variety of tasks including:

• Help desk support
• PC assembly
• PC installation
• PC problem determination and rectification

Achievements

• Completion of Bachelor of Electronic Engineering degree
• Customer liaison experience
• Design and construction of asynchronous communications cables
• Design and construction of PC expansion board
• Extensive PC hardware experience
• Extensive PC problem determination and rectification experience
• Familiarity with typical MS-DOS applications
• Knowledge of MS-DOS

Top | Education | Career Summary | Present | Past | Technical skills

Technical Summary

Top | Education | Career Summary | Present | Past | Technical skills