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Description: Position: Application programmer.

I developed an early version of a product for the Web application platform Zope that provided and analyzed Web access statistics. This project served to let me learn about the programming language Python as well as the workings of Zope. In addition, it developed my understanding for solving problems that don't seem to arise in 100-level Stanford CS classes as well as giving me an appreciation for

writing efficient programs. It also tested my resourcefulness in finding helpful information on the Web. I went on to develop a Python module and script for encrypting Adobe PDF files according to the standard security handler, requiring me to invent my own approach to processing the file and a module for performing RC4 encryption. I extended the script by creating a GUI application that became the system currently used here for securing ebooks published by us. The final big project was a content management/publishing system for our new company Web site. I worked with a graphic designer to program the content management system that our authors will use to create our dual- language site, which will be Zope-based, fully dynamic, searchable, conformant to public HTML standards so that any browser should be able to visit the site, and require minimal training of the authors.

Comments: As I mentioned earlier, the problems I had to solve just don't seem to arise in classes. I think it's because the quarter system doesn't allow the time to deal with the details when fundamentals are the focus. I've dealt with advanced file I/O techniques, bit-level programming, encryption, and efficiency, and I can claim Python, Zope DTML and JavaScript programming proficiency as well as serious HTML authoring and exposure to the Tcl language. The personally rewarding part of the internship, summarized: "Developing programs on the frontier. Feeling like I've actually contributed something new to the universe.

For further information, please write to tduong@cs.stanford.edu