Escapist reader turned digital architect

I'm Doug Fenstermacher, a web developer by day, bookworm by night, and a proud native of Gloucester, Virginia. Growing up in a small town on dial-up internet surrounded by the salty breeze, I developed a knack for computers and for DIY. These days, I channel that coastal curiosity into crafting elegant applications and diving into the depths of modern technology.

From being a funeral home assistant to health studies, my path to software development has not been a straight line. But the detours along that path taught me relentless determination, empathy, and the importance of balance—all skills that now shape my approach to building digital experiences.

From algorithms to altruism: How I code for a cause

My hometown, a small, close-knit community nestled on the coast of Virginia, faces the risk of being left behind in a world increasingly driven by technology. As the digital divide widens, some residents struggle to keep pace with the rapid changes. I refuse to accept a future where anyone in my hometown, or anywhere else, is denied the opportunities that technology provides.

I believe technology can be a powerful force for good, and I am committed to being a part of that movement. I've seen how technology can connect isolated communities, and provide education to underserved areas. It's not always easy, but the moments when my work makes a real impact makes the late nights worthwhile.

The palette of my skills

My skills are like a thriving garden, with some areas blooming beautifully and others still budding with potential. Web development, systems engineering, machine learning, and operations research are just a few of the plants I've cultivated over time. Like any dedicated gardener, I tend to each skill with care, nurturing them with knowledge and experience to help them flourish.

While some parts of my garden are lush and vibrant, showcasing the fruits of my labor, others are still seedlings, requiring patience, attention, and continuous care to reach their full potential. I approach my skills with a gardener's mindset, understanding that growth is a process and that even the most beautiful gardens require ongoing maintenance and improvement.

Data Persistence

Data architect at heart, I build robust database bridges, connecting applications to their information lifeblood. Performance matters, so I wield MySQL/PL/SQL and NoSQL like finely honed tools, sculpting schemas and optimizing queries for speed and stability.

DevOps

My DevOps toolkit revolves around automating the noise away. I’ve built robust Gitlab CI/CD pipelines for websites, from linting code to deploying releases, ensuring pristine pixels and seamless updates. Monitoring dashboards and intelligent alerts keep me in the loop, letting me focus on innovation, not firefighting.

Front-end Web Development

For over 10 years, I’ve tackled front-end challenges with frameworks like BackboneJS, EmberJS, AngularJS, and ReactJS. Whether online or offline, I build solutions that are both delightful and dependable.

Natural Language Processing

I’ve delved deep into natural language processing, training and serving PyTorch text classifiers through REST APIs. My toolbox includes hierarchical loss functions and classification methods, diverse topic modeling approaches like multi-grain and hierarchical pachinko allocation, and even crafting information extractors from dependency tree rules. In short, I’m passionate about extracting meaning from text, whatever form it takes.

Operations Research

I navigate complex resource allocation challenges with the power of operations research (OR). From linear and combinatorial optimization to min cost flow and graph coloring, I untangle intricate problems and find efficient solutions. My expertise extends to sensitivity analysis and risk management, ensuring my recommendations adapt to real-world uncertainties.

Server/Cloud Administration

I manage Linux web servers for dozens of domains, ensuring smooth sailing with SSL certificates, partition management, security updates, and Docker deployments and load balancing. Disaster recovery? Prepped and ready. No drama, no stress, just dependable infrastructure for online ventures.

Server-Side Web Development

Over 10 years crafting server-side magic in Django, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Laravel, and more. SQL dance at my fingertips, weaving APIs and WebSockets that sing in harmony with the front-end. I bridge the gap between server and screen, building cohesive experiences that users simply enjoy.

System Architecture

Craft resilient, scalable systems that hum without ego. I wield Docker, orchestration, and microservices like sculpting tools, shaping architectures that handle heavy loads gracefully. My systems dance and communicate via gRPC/REST APIs, forming a resilient mesh fueled by experience, not hype.

From Narnia to neural networks

My childhood was a literary safari, devouring Christian fables, whimsical fantasies, and breathless escapades in running books. College opened a banquet of knowledge: philosophy's mind-bending riddles, biology's intricate ecosystems, the dizzying ballet of finance and management. Each bite exposed the world's dizzying vastness, igniting a lifelong quest to understand its complexities and dream on its scale. Now, I dive into the densest textbooks and dissect the elegance of source code, fueling my passion to craft digital experiences that mirror this breathtaking reality, not just sell it.

Trailblazing code, then trail running

My creative process isn't fueled by trendy brainstorming sessions or noisy workspaces. It thrives in the quiet moments—amidst the rustling of leaves, the rhythmic pounding of footsteps on trails, and the whispered words on pages. It's a homegrown, small-town approach to tech, where inspiration blooms organically, not manufactured.