Consulting

Consulting Services

"From the Guy Who Wrote the Books..."

Contents Overview Terms and Conditions How to Begin References

Overview All work, particularly patent research and intranet application programming, is performed under the strictest confidence. Only those jobs that I can perform personally are accepted, so your project will receive my complete attention and the highest quality assurance. Current areas of interest include: Client-side JavaScript programming Adding Dynamic HTML to Web sites Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) Cross-browser compatibility (scripting and DOM) Here are some examples of services I've performed for satisfied clients: Patent Litigation Prior Art Search and Expert Witness Testimony. As an active participant through the complete evolution of JavaScript and Dynamic HTML (DHTML) in Web browsers and Web-based applications, I provide technical assistance to legal teams whose intellectual property cases touch on these areas. Scripting Web Applications. Many clients have carefully crafted Web application designs and prototypes that need client-side intelligence and interactivity added via JavaScript. This is an ideal scenario, because the client understands the application and can articulate the programming requirements for quick implementation. When the client's dreams extend beyond the capabilities of client-side scripting, I offer workable alternatives whenever possible—and sometimes even execute the impossible! Compatibility Evaluation. For any page that is to be deployed in a public arena—where users might surf the page with anything from Lynx to the latest whiz-bang scriptable, graphical browser—the page should be ready to handle all visitors. If a page or Web site is heavily scripted, then it should gracefully treat those who access it via old browsers or less-capable browsers. Moreover, if you employ the powers of the latest browsers, you must also treat visitors who have accessibility challenges with equal respect. Because I've been around since the heaviest fighting of the Browser War has taken place, I make sure that pages are optimized for the target users and treat others as welcome guests. JavaScript Code Review and Assistance. Many projects start out written to work exclusively on Microsoft Internet Explorer, utilizing proprietary features of that browser. I provide guidance to help you migrate those applications to more widely supported Web standards for the Document Object Model (DOM), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and ECMAScript. While digging through the code, I also highlight places where operating performance can be improved.

Terms and Conditions Projects lasting fewer than 12 hours and legal consulting are quoted on an hourly rate basis. Larger programming-related jobs are quoted on either an hourly or project basis, with mutually agreed-to payment milestones or schedules. On-site consulting is available only in the San Francisco/San Jose, California area, and is discouraged (especially since you pay for travel time) except for occasional meetings and implementation sessions. All other work is performed at my location, with results communicated electronically to the client. I will sign non-disclosure agreements with clients. I reserve the right to re-use code, algorithms, concepts, and programming constructs developed for a client in my other consulting work or in books and articles so long as the content does not violate the non-disclosure agreement.

How to Begin The first step is determining whether I have space in my schedule for the job. Therefore, before you gather the information below, email me at the following address to determine my current availability: If I am available, we can proceed to the next step: determining your requirements. Before I can provide a quote for a particular programming-related job or project, I must grasp the full scope of the project. I will ask you to e-mail me details as outlined below for specific type of projects. Creating a Web Application or Adding Scripting to a Web Application Written specification of the target audience and purpose of the application. Written specification of the user flow through the application (site map). Written specification of what the scripting should do, screen-by-screen. Appraisal of current status of application. Browser versions and operating system platforms to be supported. Server software being used. Database being used. Deployment media: intranet, Internet, extranet, CD-ROM, hard disk. Delivery schedule for alpha, beta, and final. Other resources available at your end (designers, CGI programmers, scripters, HTML authors, content providers). Your current HTML authoring environment. URL of prototype version. On-line facilities for remote access of application during development (e.g., through Internet or via direct dial-up for security reasons). Something about your organization or URL to that information. Code Review, Simple Script, or JavaScript Help Written specification of what the scripting should do, screen-by-screen. URL to an example of what you'd like your page to do (if available). Browser(s) and operating system(s) you've used for any existing scripting. Browser versions and operating system platforms to be supported. Server software being used (if known). A copy of the complete HTML page(s), including images, applets, and other supporting files. If something doesn't work the way you expect, describe your flow through the user interface and the errors you see (or where the page crashes the browser). Your current HTML authoring environment. When you need the job completed. If we agree that we're meant for each other, we will sign a consulting agreement (yours or mine).

References Since most of the recent work I've done is for internal applications, I don't have any URLs I can point to. You are of course free to cruise my site, and perhaps look at the example JavaScript applications from my books.

"From the Guy Who Wrote the Books..."