About…

My name is Martin Paul Gallagher. I am a software developer working almost exclusively on web based projects.

I am located in the North West of England in the town of Oldham, which is in close proximity to the more internationally known city of Manchester.

Projects…

Most of my efforts are currently concentrated on Speeple.

Speeple will comprise of different services built around a core "social network" platform. Currently planned services include profiles, blogging, news search and groups.

Speeple Blogs

Speeple Blogs features an extensible templating system (using XML/XSL, JavaScript, HTML and CSS), tagging, blog post search and threaded comments. To get a grasp of these features, please browse my own personal blog “Speeple Core”.

The standard files for the design of my blog (Speeple Blog default):

• Blog mark-up language
• XSL template
• CSS
• JavaScript

Please note these files are work-in-progress.

Speeple News

Some information regarding Speeple News:

• Indexed 40,000,000+ news items
• Tens of thousands of new news items indexed daily
• The news bot is developed using the Java programming language
• Boolean and phrase matching supported
• Supports Chinese, Japanese and Korean searches: イングランド; improved keyword highlighting function highlights CJK and other language scripts (e.g. Latin, Hindi, Greek, Hebrew) independently: 任天堂Wii
• Supports search commands common amongst the top search engines: site: (supports multiple values: site:microsoft.com|google.com and ability to ignore sites: -site:bbc.co.uk), intitle: and intext:
• Adds new search commands for more control over search results: infeedtitle:, lang: (implemented similar to site: e.g. multiple values and ability to ignore languages) and pub: which provides results within a date range
• Supports grouping of either an entire domain or a specific feed via groupby:
• Search for news that has been tagged, for example: ricky gervais tagged:comedy
• Example search using multiple commands

Blog…

“Speeple Core” contains my musings primarily on the topics of my work, technology and football.

Recent posts:

• 2009 Champions League Last 16 Draw
• Report: 60% of British Muslim Faith Schools Linked to Extremists
• Do-Gooders: The Islamist's Little Helpers (Mother Told to Take Down Christmas Lights in-case of Offending non-Christian Neighbours)
• Manchester Residents Vote “NO” to Congestion Charge
• British-Born Gunmen Perpetrators in the Mumbai Terrorists Attacks

Education…

Littlemoor Primary School

Counthill School (Comprehensive)

• Mathematics
• Information Studies (I.T.)
• Science (Double Award; Biology, Chemistry & Physics)
• English Literature
• English Language
• Spanish
• Art

Oldham Sixth Form College

• Mathematics (Pure & Statistics)
• Biology
• Physics
• Computing

Expertise…

My primary skill set revolves around web technologies; I do however have limited skills in application development in both Java and Microsoft .NET (C# & Visual Basic).

Design

• Semantic and standards compliant HTML code
• JavaScript/AJAX and CSS
• Adobe PhotoShop image manipulation and image optimization
• Website Accessibility
• User interface design

Development

• Logical and modular system design
• Object Orientated Programming in PHP, Java and C#
• PHP code optimization
• Moderate expertise in XML
• Skills in Java, Apache HTTP setup, Linux server administration
• Solid skills in MySQL optimization: schema design & data type selection, query analysis, index utilization, MySQL server compilation and variable settings
• Some C/C++ programming experience

Marketing & Promotion

This is not something I’m highly experienced in. I have general knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization), URL structure, semantic markup, link building and website monetization.

Hobbies & Interests…

• Weight and sprint training
• Driving and walking
• Travelling and seeing the world
• Weekends out with friends
• Swimming
• Music
• Chilling out (I’m exceptional at this)

• I’m not the biggest fan of TV, but my recommendations would be...

  TV shows:

  • The Office
  • Peep Show
  • Family Guy & American Dad
  • Lost
  • BBC Documentaries

  Movies:

  • Apocalypse Now
  • American Beauty
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • 300
  • V for Vendetta
  • Fight Club
  • The Usual Suspects

Contact Information…

Tele UK domestic: 07824314329
Tele International: +447824314329
Please call between 0900 GMT and 2100 GMT.

Email: martin@martinpaulgallagher.com
MSN Messenger: martin_paul_gallagher@msn.com
Xbox Live: Speeple