about john

John is an entrepreneur and a software engineer who enjoys building things. He's currently creating topically focused news websites driven by social interactions. You'll find his work at The Reflector Network.

John's technical interests are information retrieval, the semantic web, machine learning, and cloud computing. In the past John has mostly worked within the domains of application specific database servers, semi-structured information systems, query processors, distributed systems, digital identity and asynchronous replication.

John considers himself a Yorkshireman, despite having being born in Scotland and going to secondary school in Singapore. He's now been in California for 13 years, with a 2-year break in Oxford.

Whilst in Oxford John co-founded a software consultancy business, Parthenon Computing, to provide Innovation Acceleration and Venture Engineering services. Parthenon helped create new software products for We7, Secerno, Water Innovate, DeltaXML, Hot-or-Not, Hi5, Logica, CoreFiling, and Sleepycat / Oracle.

Previously John created the Berkeley DB XML product within Sleepycat Software, and promoted the open-soure project by building a vibrant community through speaking engagements, personal networking, and blogging.

John was also an architect of the Netscape Directory Server, which was subsequently adopted by Sun, AOL, RedHat, and HP as the foundation of their Identity Management Systems.

In his formative years John tested C/C++ compilers, wrote computer games, worked on a terminal emulator and helped build a voice mail system. His opportunities to learn from failure have included: Etime Capital, Sxip, and Cuil.

Once upon a time John was the Publications Officer of the ACCU, a non-profit organization dedicated to professionalism in software engineering, and for 10 years was the editor of their Overload journal.

John is a member of the ACM and holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Hertfordshire University.

Photo credit Kathleen Harrison.