Remote Library Controller + BlueScale

Description: BlueScale is the web-based management console used by Spectra Logic products, including automated tape libraries and disk arrays. I created the early versions on my own, but now several engineers work on it because BlueScale has replaced all other GUI software at Spectra, even for the hardware front panel.

Distinctions:

• XML-based template engine with support for localization. I built a C++ version of my open-source Perl module GXML for this purpose, and it has served the product exceptionally well.

• Created all layouts and graphics used in the product, giving the product a clean and professional look well beyond any of our competitors.

• For disk products, transitioned from app written entirely in C++ to one created with Ruby on Rails, allowing much faster development and easy use of the latest web technologies (e.g. AJAX).

• For disk products, introduced automated testing both for lower-level model code (unit tests) and for whole-system acceptance tests. Unfortunately I was unable to convince the QA department to come out of the stone age and drive towards automated testing on their own.

See Also: Annotated Screenshots, GXML Template System, "Lessons Learned" User Group Presentation