TweetFollow Us on Twitter

The MacTech Spotlight: Jamie Phelps, Epiphany Media

Volume Number: 26
Issue Number: 12
Column Tag: MacTech Spotlight

The MacTech Spotlight: Jamie Phelps, Epiphany Media


What do you do?

A little bit of everything really. I have an ongoing full-time contract with Agile Web Solutions where I do a lot of Ruby and Rails coding and help with 1Password and Knox development. I also do freelance web development and I have some indie development projects in the pipeline.

How long have you been doing what you do?

I started Epiphany Media in 2006 when I accidentally started making money from some web development projects that fell into my lap. Shortly after that, I left my graduate school studies behind and started a computer science program. In 2008 I began to contract with Agile Web Solutions and pursue my indie development.

What was your first computer?

The first computer I knew how to tinker with was a Packard Bell tower my grandmother bought me. It was a screaming Pentium 166MHz with MMX!

Are you Mac-only, or a multi-platform person?

Definitely Mac-only now. When I was finishing up my computer information technology degree, I did some Windows development in C#.NET and did some SQL Server Reporting Services and ASP.NET development.

What attracts you to working on the Mac?

Initially, I was attracted to the Mac because of one piece of software: Accordance. This was when I was in graduate school studying the New Testament and the power and elegance of that app was enough to get me to buy a Mac just to use it.

Now, as a developer, the most attractive thing is the consistency. Even without looking at the documentation I can often guess method names for what I'm trying to do if I haven't done it before. The degree of care and thought that is clearly evident in the design of the frameworks and API is simply huge. It means I can write code and know that Apple has committed to supporting the thing that I'm using.

What's the coolest thing about the Mac?

The community. I can't count the number of times I have heard the following type of exchange: "Does anyone know how to [insert thing someone else probably already solved]?" "Oh, yah, I did that a couple months back. I'll email you the code." I have rarely encountered any suspicion or competition and folks have been so generous with their time and expertise that it's just simply the coolest thing to be a part of.

What is the advice you'd give to someone trying to get into this line of work today?

Be open, humble, and generous. Pay attention and learn all you can. Figure out who you are and who you want to be, and be true to that over everything else.

What's the coolest tech thing you've done using OS X?

I co-wrote a bundle for TextMate for our customer support team that included the ability to search for users from our remote database to insert license information and other relevant bits of data. Then I rewrote the bundle as a generator script. When changes are committed or merged in, a git hook fires and regenerates the bundle including nested menus and some keyboard shortcuts.

Ever?

When I was finishing up my degree, our final project was working with Sun SPOTs to build a wireless sensor network. I worked to build a graphical console to represent the incoming data in a C#.NET application. We used the SPOTs to build some simple cars we could control from another SPOT and for our final presentation, we built a track with various environmental changes such as a tunnel and hair dryer to show changes in ambient light and temperature that the car was sensing and sending back to the console.

Where can we see a sample of your work?

http://www.epiphanymedia.net

Also, I've worked on Knox and 1Password for Mac as well as http://agilewebsolutions.com

The next way I'm going to impact the Mac universe is:

I am releasing my first independent Mac application in the Mac App Store. It's called Eureka and it helps folks quickly locate files. It will be at http://www.eurekaformac.com and @eurekaformac on Twitter. I have a few more ideas that I will be tackling soon as well.

Anything else we should know?

I'm at:

http://www.epiphanymedia.net

http://www.jamiephelps.com

jxpx777 just about everywhere on the web


If you or someone you know belongs in the MacTech Spotlight, let us know! Send details to editorial@mactech.com

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Combo Quest (Games)
Combo Quest 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Combo Quest is an epic, time tap role-playing adventure. In this unique masterpiece, you are a knight on a heroic quest to retrieve... | Read more »
Hero Emblems (Games)
Hero Emblems 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: ** 25% OFF for a limited time to celebrate the release ** ** Note for iPhone 6 user: If it doesn't run fullscreen on your device... | Read more »
Puzzle Blitz (Games)
Puzzle Blitz 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Puzzle Blitz is a frantic puzzle solving race against the clock! Solve as many puzzles as you can, before time runs out! You have... | Read more »
Sky Patrol (Games)
Sky Patrol 1.0.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0.1 (iTunes) Description: 'Strategic Twist On The Classic Shooter Genre' - Indie Game Mag... | Read more »
The Princess Bride - The Official Game...
The Princess Bride - The Official Game 1.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $3.99, Version: 1.1 (iTunes) Description: An epic game based on the beloved classic movie? Inconceivable! Play the world of The Princess Bride... | Read more »
Frozen Synapse (Games)
Frozen Synapse 1.0 Device: iOS iPhone Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Frozen Synapse is a multi-award-winning tactical game. (Full cross-play with desktop and tablet versions) 9/10 Edge 9/10 Eurogamer... | Read more »
Space Marshals (Games)
Space Marshals 1.0.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $4.99, Version: 1.0.1 (iTunes) Description: ### IMPORTANT ### Please note that iPhone 4 is not supported. Space Marshals is a Sci-fi Wild West adventure taking place... | Read more »
Battle Slimes (Games)
Battle Slimes 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: BATTLE SLIMES is a fun local multiplayer game. Control speedy & bouncy slime blobs as you compete with friends and family.... | Read more »
Spectrum - 3D Avenue (Games)
Spectrum - 3D Avenue 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: "Spectrum is a pretty cool take on twitchy/reaction-based gameplay with enough complexity and style to stand out from the... | Read more »
Drop Wizard (Games)
Drop Wizard 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Bring back the joy of arcade games! Drop Wizard is an action arcade game where you play as Teo, a wizard on a quest to save his... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Our MacBook Price Trackers will show you the...
Our Apple award-winning MacBook Price Trackers are continually updated with the latest information on prices, bundles, and availability for 16″ and 14″ MacBook Pros along with 13″ and 15″ MacBook... Read more
Amazon is offering a 10% discount on Apple’s...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale today for 10% off Apple’s MSRP. Shipping is free. These are the lowest prices currently available for 16... Read more
13-inch M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $150 off...
Amazon has new 13″ M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $150 off MSRP right now, starting at $849. Sale prices apply to most colors and configurations. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a... Read more
15-inch M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $150 off...
Amazon has new 15″ M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $150 off Apple’s MSRP, starting at $1049. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party: – 15″ M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $1049, $... Read more
Amazon is offering a $50 discount on Apple’s...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 iPads in stock on sale for $50 (or a little more) off MSRP this week. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-... Read more
Clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs available f...
Walmart has clearance, but new, Apple 13″ M1 MacBook Airs (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) available online for $649, $360 off original MSRP, in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold colors. These are new MacBooks for... Read more
iPad minis on sale for $100 off Apple’s MSRP...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
AirPods Max headphones on sale for $479, $70...
Amazon has AirPods Max with USB-C on sale for $479.99 in all colors. Shipping is free. Their price is $70 off Apple’s MSRP, and it’s the lowest price available today for AirPods Max. Keep an eye on... Read more
14-inch M4 Pro/M4 Max MacBook Pros on sale th...
Don’t pay full price! Get a new 14″ MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro or M4 Max CPU for up to $320 off Apple’s MSRP this weekend at these retailers…they are the lowest prices available for these MacBook... Read more
Get a 15-inch M4 MacBook Air for $150 off App...
A couple of Apple retailers are offering $150 discounts on new 15″ M4 MacBook Airs this weekend. Prices at these retailers start at $1049: (1): Amazon has new 15″ M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $150 off... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.