Aaron Brethorst

Full-Stack Software Solutions

During Spring 2010, I was asked to build an entire product for a client: a secure, scalable Ruby on Rails web application with an integrated RESTful API stack, plus an iOS application targeting iPhone and iPad devices.

In this case, the client had a series of mockups that documented the key iPhone client features that they wanted to see, but nothing beyond that. I worked with them extensively to ensure we both had a clear picture of the server-side requirements, helped them choose a hosting provider that would scale with their application needs, and gave them topical, useful feedback on the client-side user experience to ensure it would be as easy to use as possible.

Facebook Single Sign On Integration

Early on in this project, I suggested to the client that we base the application’s authentication system entirely upon Facebook. Integrating Facebook’s new Open Graph APIs and Single Sign On authentication system would give our users a simpler way to identify themselves and their friends already in the system, improve conversion rates, and give my client access to information critical to business success. The client leapt at the opportunity, and now Facebook authentication is the sole way of logging in to either portion of the system.

Standards-Based RESTful API Stack

As part of this project, I built a full-featured RESTful API stack that provides access to all of the website data and functionality to be consumed by the iPhone/iPad application. The API stack emits JSON in response to standard HTTP GET, POST, PUT and DELETE requests. This means that the API can be consumed by Android, BlackBerry, WebOS clients or even other websites. Although this was not specifically requested by the client, I built this in from the start to ensure they would have a simple way to extend their reach onto other platforms in the future.

Opinionated Consulting Services

I help my clients refine the User Experience and feature set for the applications they want built. They provide the vision, and I craft it into a killer app. By the same token, I also tell them when I think their application’s design needs improvement. You aren’t paying me to be a yes-man.