Massimo Foti
I started my career as programmer in 1997 and I have been involved in web-related projects since that date. Along the years I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of developing web applications.
I worked in projects ranging from sophisticated JavaScript application front-ends, to a wide range of database-driven applications and enterprise level CMS systems.
Since 2008 I work as pure JavaScript and front-end specialist, being involved in projects where the back-end tier has been either Java or .NET/C#.
I writeopen source JavaScript libraries.Among them "TMT Validator", an integrated solution for form validation, has been used in many projects world-wide.
More recently I developed Luga JS, a set of JavaScript libraries, designed to help build form and data centric applications. Currently I keep evolving this project adding new features and a routing library.I think the best way to gauge my coding skills and style is to take a look on GitHub.
Occasionally I write articles about JavaScript and design patterns on my website:
Experience
- Senior front-end engineer, Appway Chiasso/Zurich. 2013-now
Appway develops its own platform to deliver enterprise level applications for large customers, mainly in the financial and insurance market. The size and complexity of the JavaScript codebase is impressive. I have been part of the core R&D department who is divided between Zurich and Chiasso.
I contributed to various areas of the product, mostly working with vanilla JavaScript and jQuery, occasionally some Java. I played a major role in introducing unit testing for JavaScript, using Jasmine and Karma. I also mentor and coach junior programmers, a job I especially enjoy. - Senior webdeveloper, IMD business school, Lausanne. 2011-2013
I was called to Lausanne by a company that used to hire me as freelancer and I joined a team of .NET programmers. Our main mission was to replace the aging ColdFusion based CMS and back-office applications with newly developed ones, running on .NET MVC and C#. I mostly worked on front-end, with JavaScript, jQuery and CSS, plus Razor for templating. Along time I started digging some C# to be able to cover a broader spectrum of tasks. - Senior webdeveloper, Ex Machina, Lugano. 2009-2011
Ex Machina is a small, local company that usually works for large, enterprise customers. I joined them as dedicated front-end developer, working side by side with seasoned Java programmers handling the back-end.Most work required consuming REST endpoints to assemble sophisticated web GUIs. My job involved plenty of JavaScript programming, with jQuery and, sometimes, Dojo. - Freelance webdeveloper and consultant. 2005-2009
Work for Switzerland, Italy and USA-based companies as consultant. I was usually called for ColdFusion projects, yet I often spend a significant amount of time taking care of front-end programming, mostly with JavaScript, jQuery and Spry. I also encountered ExtJs/Sencha. Back then dedicated front-end programmers were almost non-existent and I started considering a transition from full-stack developer to mainly front-end. - Senior webdeveloper, Amila Productions, Grancia. 2000-2005
As senior developer inside a local web and video agency, I coordinated a small team. We developed mid and small-size database-driven websites for Swiss customers. Most projects were CMS for Multilanguage websites, plus some e-commerce, all using ColdFusion. - Webdeveloper, Fantastic Corporation, Manno. 1997-2000
I was part of a team working on web and multimedia technologies. Considering the period it was quite cutting-edge, since our work was consumed inside controlled environments by people using the most recent browsers. - Founder, Avalon Srl, Acireale (Italy). 1990-1996
Books as co-author
ColdFusion Web Development with Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004, APress (2004)
Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Magic, New Riders (2003)
Dreamweaver MX Magic, New Riders (2002)
Books as technical editor
Dreamweaver MX: The Complete Reference, Osborne (2002)
Dreamweaver UltraDev 4: The Complete Reference, Osborne (2001)
Building Dreamweaver 4 and Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 Extensions, Osborne (2001)
Speaker engagements
all4web 2009(Milan, Italy)
MX North 2003 (Toronto, Canada)
TODCON 2003 (Las Vegas, USA)
TODCON 2002 (Chicago, USA)
TODCON 2001 (Orlando, USA)
From A to Web 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009 (Rome and Milan, Italy)
Awards
Top New Extension for Dreamweaver MX, 2002 (San Francisco, USA)
Macromedia Best Extension Developer, 2000 (Monterey, USA)
Education
Diploma di Scuola Superiore, Liceo Scientifico Archimede, Acireale (Italy), 1988
Languages
Italian: mother tongue
English: fluent written and spoken
Personal info
Born in Reggio Calabria (Italy) 09 August 1969
Citizenship: Swiss/Italian
Status: married (one daughter)
Hobbies:photography, table-tennis, modern history