Download Microsoft Word format (86 KB)
Download Plain Text format (12 KB)

David Ching
Windows System/Applications Engineer

OBJECTIVE

To provide world-class consulting services developing Windows Applications and System Utilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 20 years experience shipping popular Windows driver utilities and applications, including SanDisk U3, Linksys Control Utility, Logitech SetPoint, NetObjects Fusion, Sidekick for Windows, Borland C++.
   
• Microsoft MVP (Visual C++), fluent with MFC, .NET, C#, WPF, WinForms, Win32, ATL, Threading, WinInet, Windows hooks,  User mode API hooking, Shell Extensions, IPHelper, Sockets, Active Accessibility, WinLogon, Device Manager, WinXP Themes, Windows Media SDK, Windows Media Format SDK, Mixer API, DDE, RAS, DirectDraw, GDI+, Rich Text editor, HTML, Public Key encryption, Lua scripting, Installshield/Wise/Nullsoft installers, Crypto API, Localization, XML, Wizard Property sheet, Layered Windows, DHTML UI.
   
• Management perspective combined with ability to deliver debugged and maintainable code.
   
• American-born US Citizen.
   

EXPERIENCE

Independent Consulting  2004 - Present	DCSoft Development  1995 - Present
Full-time Employment  2000 - 2004	4Developers Partnership  1999 - 2001
Independent Consulting  1995 - 2000
Full-time Employment  1987 - 1995

CONSULTING (2004 - Present)

Embedded Resource Group  (07/07 - Present).  Creating an ASP.NET application used by hourly contractors to submit weekly timecards that are routed via e-mail for manager approval.  In addition a Winforms client app generates Intuit QuickBooks invoices from timecard data stored in a SQL Server 2005 database.  Technologies used:  ASP.NET 2.0, Winforms, C#, SQL Server 2005, Telerik RadControls.

Amicus Wireless  (12/07 - 08/08).  Designed and implemented a Windows Control Panel for a WiMAX adapter, featuring a tabbed UI with Windows Presentation Foundation.  Technologies used:  WPF, Winforms Interop, C#.

PlantSense  (08/07 - 06/08).  Created a dialog-based application to manage a USB probe over a virtual COM port and to send data to a website.    Technologies used:  MFC, Setup API, Serial port, WinInet, C++/CLI, Device Manager.

Star Analytics  (09/07 - 04/08).  Created a console application to prototype consolidation algorithm for hierarchical database. Technologies used:  .NET, C#

Cranite  (08/07 - 10/07).  Created a Windows Control Panel (screenshot) for a wireless security software product, featuring an Office 2007 UI.  Technologies used:  MFC, CodeJock UI library.

Microsoft  (06/07 - 08/07).  Creating several videos explaining Visual C++ topics, including Remote Debugging and VC Visualizers.  The videos are posted on MSDN.

Marvell  (01/07 - 10/07).  Localized a Windows Control Panel for a wireless networking card.

NomaDrive  (09/06 - 01/07).  Rewrote hooking engine of application virtualization software, similar to MojoPac. Created installation wizard and NSIS setup package.  Technology used: C++, MadCodeHook user API hooking library.

SanDisk  (10/05 - 06/07).  Recognized as Windows expert for TrustedSignins engineering.  Wrote IE/Firefox toolbars and MIME filters; developed loaders for browser add-ons that don't require the Windows registry.  Prototyped TrustedSignins security applications using UI skins and wizards.  Shipped DHTML-based UI and desktop icon for U3 USB keys.  Devised simple localization mechanism and supporting tools to quickly translate application into 30 languages.  Prototyped Windows AppBar that docks when USB key is inserted.  Used Crypto API to write a hashing function.  Technologies used:  UI Skin, MFC, GDI, GDI+, ATL, COM, BHO, DHTML, User Mode Hooking, AppBar, Crypto API, XML, Wizard Property sheet.

Logitech  (3/05 - 07/07).  Architected and implemented MenuCast translucent windows, providing 10' UI for MX Air mouse.  Created several Vista gadgets which hosted an OCX control to show status of Logitech devices.  Created Wizard-97 firmware update utility.  Enhanced core of Logitech SetPoint to execute different mouse and keyboard macros depending on the active application.  Created OEM customizations for well-known OEM's.  Technologies used:  Layered windows, Vista gadgets.

SoonR  (08/06).  Created a DLL which provided simple API's to snap a picture with a webcam and save the picture to disk.  Technologies used:  VfW, multi-threading for synchronous API.

Blue Jungle  (03/06 - 11/06).  Enhanced Enforcer module which monitors and restricts Windows desktop applications.  Technologies used:  User mode API hooking.

Qpixel  (9/05 - 9/05).  Designed and implemented a skinned VCR application (screenshot) to demonstrate a Video Capture board.  Technologies used:  UI Skin, MFC, GDI, GDI+.

VelaStar  (8/05 - 2/06).  Created a very small (100 KB) application that presents a Wizard-like UI to download and install all necessary redistributables to run the .NET framework on Windows NT 4.0 or later.  Technologies used:  straight Win32, Nullsoft installer.

Qualcomm  (12/04 - 9/05).  Wrote the UI for the Linksys Control Utility (screenshot) shipping with the Linksys WPC54GX PC-Card and the Airgo Wireless Client Utility (screenshot).  The UI's feature a skinned tab interface, a skinned popup wizard, and a skinned launcher screen for the Setup.  Standard and custom Windows controls are overlaid onto graphical images.  Devised strategy to control Internet connectivity with IPHelper API and NETSH.EXE.  Technologies used:  UI Skin, MFC, GDI, GDI+, IPHelper.

Loyalty Ventures  (6/04 - 7/05).  Wrote an Internet client that interacts with popular browsers in unique ways.  It embeds the Lua scripting interpreter, allowing customization with Lua scripts.  With full functionality packaged in a small 220 KB download, it is extremely easy to deploy.  Wrote an Internet Explorer toolbar.  Wrote an animated sliding "Toast" window similar to those in Instant Messenger apps which uses special techniques for smooth scrolling.  Wrote a 9 KB Internet downloader in VC++ which excludes the C Runtime Library for decreased size.  Technologies used:  Lua, Microsoft Accessibility, User Mode API hooking, Threading, WinInet, WTL, Nullsoft Installer.

EMPLOYMENT (2000 - 2004)

Logitech   (5/02 - 5/04).

Senior Software Engineering Manager.  Managed four developers responsible for implementing new features in Logitech SetPoint, the driver utility shipping with millions of mice and keyboards (screenshot).  Also managed the development of the Media Desktop full-screen application for listening to music and viewing pictures and videos from a distance of 10' (screenshot).  Coordinated efforts with the localization and marketing teams in Switzerland as well as with QA in the United States. 

Applications Consultant.  Architected and wrote the core functionality of Logitech SetPoint.  Written in VC++ and MFC, the utilities feature a skinned interface and easy customization and localization through XML files.  The utilities drive an LCD embedded in the Logitech MediaPad to show the text of received e-mail, instant messages, and the title and artist of the currently playing song or video through Microsoft Media Player.  As well, they make it easy to adjust the mouse/keyboard sensitivity to the user's liking, as well as to do useful things when the extra buttons on the mice/keyboards are pressed.  Created skinned WinLogon Notification Package which assists in the proper connection of Bluetooth user-input devices before logon occurs.

 

Proxim   (11/00 - 4/02)

Manager, User Interface Software.  Managed 3-5 developers responsible for networking software utilities shipping with Proxim Symphony, Harmony, and Orinoco products.  Found and fixed long-standing defects in the codebase.  Successfully shipped a number of versions, including Harmony 802.11A and Symphony 3.0.  The utilities are written in VC++ and feature nifty MFC controls to modernize the user experience, including full WinXP support, a scrolling bar chart, text controls with gradient backgrounds to enforce company colors, 256 color support, tray icons, etc.  Also designed the UI for, and was a consultant to, the developers of the Orinoco Client Configuration Utility, which PC Magazine called, "the best of the three [reviewed utilities]."  Coordinated efforts among several product groups located throughout the United States and in Europe.

DCSOFT PARTNERSHIPS

4Developers, LLC  (1999 - 2001)
Partnered with 4Developers to create award-winning Talking Stocks and Talking Greeting.

Talking Stocks retrieves stock quotes from the Internet and uses an animated character called Stockman to read them aloud (screenshot).  This innovative Windows application was nominated for the Best Business Application or Utility, 2000 Shareware Industry Awards, featured in On-line Investor Magazine, April, 1999 and received the top (5-star) rating from the prestigious ZDNet shareware site.   Technologies used:  WinInet, worker threads.

Talking Greeting lets users send greeting cards and other personal messages using animated characters like Merlin the Magician, Peedy the Parrot, and other Microsoft Agent animated characters (screenshot).   Created a simple script interpreter to read instructions in the greeting file and drive the Microsoft Agent characters accordingly.  Talking Greeting is extremely popular with children and was featured in the CNET Shareware Dispatch newsletter, March 29, 2000.  Technologies used:  WinInet, straight Win32 programming for aggressive .exe size reduction, worker threads, robust handling of download errors.

DCSOFT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT  (1995 - Present)

These products illustrate the purest vision of my software ideal.

.NET projects is a work-in-progress portfolio of 3 year of .NET 2.0 experience. SpamOne, GoalTime Stitcher, and TimeCard ASP.NET utilize a variety of .NET technologies including C#, C++/CLI, WinForms, ASP.NET, WPF, and various UI and middleware component libraries. 

RegEditX was included in WINDOWS Magazine's annual "100 Best Shareware Programs", featured  in Brian Livingston's INFOWORLD column, and included on several CD-ROM's accompanying Windows books.   Technologies used:  injection of a DLL into another process, window subclassing in MFC.

CDRCue 2004 is a syntax-highlighted editor for audio cuesheets.   Technologies used:  MCIWnd, object-oriented parsing, Public Key Encryption; my first shareware app.

Goal Time Tracker is a a simple application to track goals and the time spent on them.  Technologies used:   MFC 101; my first MFC app.

PAST CONSULTING (1995 - 2000)

Mirra   (11/02 - 12/02).  Created Context-menu and Icon-overlay shell extensions.  Used Internet Helper API to access network settings.

FutureDial   (8/00 - 12/00).  Developed a VideoChat ActiveX control in MFC which transmits and receives pictures of the people who are chatting over the Internet.  The control also lets the users type text messages to each other - the text is colored and italicized using a Richtext control.   Also developed an AudioChat application that records the user's voice coming into the PC's microphone, compresses it using GSM, sends it over the Internet, and uncompresses it and plays it on the PC's speakers using the same application.

PCTEL   (2/00 - 9/00)  Developed Control Panel applet and Tray icon utility for LiteSpeed adapter.  Developed Installshield Setup program to install the adapter.  Created innovative ways of specifying TCP/IP and other network settings not normally exposed through Windows API's.

Spinway   (5/99 - 12/99)  First Windows Developer for this startup providing free Internet access technology to K-Mart Bluelight.com and Barnes and Noble.   Designed and implemented an appbar window to show ad banners.  Created a custom dialer application (using RAS) that dials the modem to establish an Internet connection.  Programmed the Windows Media Player to display a full-motion MPEG video ad.  Created a Wizard (property sheet) application that facilitated the registration process.

Logitech   (11/95 - 4/99)

• Lead Application Developer of Key Commander software shipped with the Logitech Internet, NewTouch and NewTouch Compact keyboards.  The software configures the keyboard's extra buttons, controls Internet Explorer/Netscape Navigator browsers, launches programs and web sites, and controls system volume level.  Technologies used:  Grid custom control, DDE, threads, hooks, transparent windows.

• Project Lead of hand-held Remote Control software.   Created software for IBM Aptiva Web Surfing Remote Control to surf Internet using remote control with Internet Explorer/Netscape Navigator browsers.  Created "transparent" displays shipped with NEC Ready 9600 PC's.

• Created multi-threaded program launcher.   Created on-screen keyboard and menus which are accessed with the remote control. Created remote-controlled CD player.  Created remote-enabled volume control.

Xerox PARC (1996). Wrote two short MFC programs to parse the family lineage stored in a GEDCOM file and to display the desired ancestor or progeny tree in a hyperbolic browser.  Wrote an object-oriented parser which made good use of MFC's CString and CMapStringToPtr classes.

NetObjects (1995). Plugged memory leaks in Fusion Web site editor. Used memory diagnostics built into Visual C++ and MFC.

Wells Fargo Bank (1995). Worked with Rae Technology to assess status of Wells Fargo on-line banking project and reported problems with failed deliverables, management styles, and skills of Windows programmers. Engineered bitmap control to display 256 color bitmaps. Debugged various modules written in MFC and cleaned up memory leaks. Served as MS-Windows expert to Apple Macintosh team.

PAST EMPLOYMENT (1987 - 1995)

XSoft, a division of Xerox   (1994-1995).  Team Leader of TabWorks, a Program Manager replacement shipped with Compaq PC's. Coordinated deliverables with Marketing and Quality Assurance, assigned development tasks, wrote functional specs and added 256 color support.

Media Vision  (1994).  Designed and developed a Wave editor application which graphs, filters and plays digital audio.

Borland Software   (1990-1994)

• Enhanced an internal Windows development environment for Computer Based Training. Ported a programmer's editor to a Windows application for linking together OLE-2 style components. Learned the Component Object Model and further practiced C++, application framework usage, and object-oriented skills.

• Designed and implemented the Address Book of a Sidekick for Windows prototype. Devised a layered architecture to separate UI from data access, and supported other engineers using the access layer. Used C++ and an object-oriented application framework. Assisted team members in tough debugging problems. Served as liaison to the Languages team to ensure timely tool fixes.
   
• Project Lead for the Turbo Pascal for Windows Integrated Development Environment, version 1.5. Enhanced environments in Turbo C++ for DOS and Borland C++, versions 2 and 3. Represented Borland at the Software Development trade show, on CompuServe, and at bug hunts. Wrote preliminary documentation. Learned C++, Windows custom controls, and advanced debugging.

Hewlett-Packard   (1987-1990)

• Enhanced HP LaserRX, a shrink-wrapped Windows application which presents performance metrics from HP minicomputers. Wrote file access routines and debugging utilities. Learned the Windows event-driven model and debugged complex Windows 2.x real-mode memory problems.

• Software Design Engineer. Wrote a UNIX "curses" application to display performance data from networking cards. Learned UNIX development tools and the Curses display library.
   
• CO-OP student. Wrote a Turbo Pascal database for computer terminal regression tests. Learned Turbo Pascal, text-mode DOS windows, database APIs, and other DOS programmer tools.

EDUCATION

University of the Pacific   (1984-1988)

Graduated Valedictorian (3.98/4.0 GPA) with BS in Computer Engineering.

NEXT:
Read about DCSoft Technology
Read the DCSoft Creed
Discuss your project with DCSoft

Last modified: March 29, 2010