In the Spotlight - Sean Kane

The top ranking update on Apple’s About the Mac OS X 10.5.3 Update page, is:

Fixes a font issue that could result in Helvetica Narrow being used in applications instead of Helvetica.

I somehow doubt that is why people will install this update. You’d think the most important items would be on the top.

On March 28th in Coronado, CA, I will be giving a talk on applying best practices in web development and design to a ground-floor startup. This presentation will detail several contributors to both developing and designing a world-class web experience. This will touch on everything from resources, team-building, to design research and testing. Being in an early-stage startup demands everyone to do a bit of everything, but executing properly can get you a long-way quickly. This presentation is a bit of an experiment since I have not crossed my own finish-line yet. However, it does draw on all of my experiences (starting in 1998 at AltaVista) in developing world-class web applications and how they are being applied at GetListed with several examples; including a few from my most recent experience at Netflix.

Promotion Discount: If you sign up at the UIE Web App Summit with the promotion code of KANE, you will receive $30 off each single day registration. If you sign up for all three days, you will also receive an iPod Nano.

See you there, it’ll be fun!

ASP

ASP is not for me.

ASP is not for me. I do not like it. Can’t you see?

Keep it away.

Keep it far.

It cannot work in a JAR.

It cannot drive my car.

It is not good for me. I do not like ASP.

—- So I’ve been reading the kids some Dr. Seuss

As many of you know, I am co-founding a new company called GetListed. I am currently building the core development team consisting of a couple middle-tier and front-end developers in Sunnyvale, CA.

GetListed is a very early-stage startup with a solid business model with 40 launch partners. We are looking to hire incredible engineers with a desire to have a major impact on developments in our fast-paced environment. Candidates should expect to wear many hats and hit the ground running. Experience with early-stage startups is a big plus.

We’re looking for incredible talent to join the team. The core team will receive sizable equity and solid pay. If these positions look like you, please contact me either through LinkedIn, or email me at: my first-initial last-name at getlisted dot com.

Web Application Engineer

As one of the first Web Application Engineers you will be building out the initial systems and business logic of the GetListed application. This involves everything such incorporating search, personalization, transaction systems and more. These roles require a broad range of skills to help get everything from the servers, database and Java code up and running.

• Experience designing and developing with Java, J2EE and SQL (5+ years)
• Experience working with development and testing tools such as JUnit, IDEs, ant, etc.
• Experience developing software using MySQL
• Complete understanding of full-lifecycle development (design, development and testing)
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, early stage environment
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly, and do a bit of everything
• Enjoy technical challenges
• Self-motivated, self-starter
• BS/MS in Computer Science or equivalent

User Interface Engineer

As the first User Interface Engineer at GetListed you will be building out the initial architecture and pages of the GetListed website. This is everything from the initial templates to the testing and helping to guide the feature designs.

• Experience designing and developing with Java, JSP and web frameworks
• Expert-level knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Ajax)
• Experience with Ajax frameworks
• Experience developing and designing user interfaces
• Deep understanding of cross-browser and accessible development techniques
• Complete understanding of full-lifecycle development (design, development and testing)
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, early stage environment
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly, and do a bit of everything
• Enjoy technical challenges
• Self-motivated, self-starter
• BS/MS in Computer Science or equivalent

Please contact me via email at my first-initial last-name at getlisted dot com.

Way back in April I had the privilege of participating on the Usability 2.0 panel over at Google for the Silicon Valley Web Guild with Luke Wroblewski and Jon Wiley. I think I am the last person in the world to mention this in a blog, but it’s better late than never :).