Hello

My experience as a Software Developer Intern at Thales Solutions Asia

That's me in the middle.

About

At Thales, I was assigned to a team that was responsible for building the Replayer Project. This was an ongoing project with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), to create an desktop application. This application would be used by LTA personnel to simulate railway activity along the North-East Line (NEL). Such simulations would be helpful for training LTA personnel in reacting to various circumstances.

Contributions

• Developed the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the application with Python Tkiner. The GUI was based on a design provided by another department. The GUI could be used to sort and upload log files for simulations. Users could also view the time elapsed/remaining for ongoing simulations.

• Contributed code to the application's middleware with C++. This was to interpret the log files uploaded, and run simulations accurately.

• Worked with my team to provide and implemented possible solutions to simulate railway activity.

• Designed a solution that would provide LTA personnel the ability to set and synchronize the date and time on all relevant servers when a simulation is being performed. Subsequently, I presented this solution to my colleagues and superiors.

Takeaways

• Picked up Python, and was able to use my existing C++ and Linux knowledge into practice in a professional workplace setting.

• Learned about, and applied common software engineering practices, including some of the standard practices defined by the Institute of Electical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

• Took part in my team's Agile workflow, by using Jira (an issue-tracking tool) and participating in bi-weekly sprints.

• Had experience creating presentations about my work, and enunciating problems and possible solutions to my superiors.

My experience as a Web Developer Intern at Tusitala Books

About

At Tusitala Books, I developed microsites and web applications for the company's clients, based on the Figma prototypes developed by the company's designer. Some of the company's clients include Singapore HeritageFest and Esplanade. These projects are mostly about creating digital experiences of local literary/art works.

Contributions

Development of the Second Edition of Esplanade's Little Red Comma

• Little Red Comma is a programme commissioned by Esplanade Offstage, and backed by the National Arts Council. The programme combines Singaporean literature with digital media.

• Participated heavily in the development of 3 microsites in the second edition of the Little Red Comma. I used Front-End technologies, such as React JS, Bootstrap and SASS.

Development of other web applications and microsites

• Developed and maintained the front-end of other projects, based on the client's feedback.

• Such tasks required me to utilize popular JavaScript libraries such as Mapbox GL JS, Howl JS, and A-Frame.

• Currently developing an Augmented Reality (AR) web application using 8th Wall.

Takeaways

• Picked up many technologies used in Front-End Development, and was able to use them in a professional workplace setting, with considerable time constraints.

• Further developed communication skills. This is via opportunities to participate in the ideation process for the company's project pitches, and updating clients regarding the progress of the company's work. In addition, I helped man the company's booth at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) Conference 2022, during which I explained the company's projects to other professionals at the conference.

Some of the microsites I've worked on can be viewed via the buttons below:

QuerIt - A Localized Chatroom Application

Motivation

This application was built with a team of 2. My team member and I found that speaking up in a lecture to clarify doubts can be rather daunting, especially if one is fairly introverted. And even if we did voice our doubts, the act could be disruptive to our peers. We did notice that there were already various applications used by professors in school for students to discuss and raise their doubts, such as Pigeonhole Live. However, these tools often came with issues - most commonly, faulty links. QuerIt aims to solve this issue by allowing anyone with a mobile phone to simply enable their GPS, and join the chatroom created by the speaker/professor/teaching assistant.

Functionalities

• Users can sign in after creating an account, or anonymously, without creating an account.

• Users can create a chatroom and set a distance, such that other users within this distance would be able to join this chatroom.

• Inside chatrooms, users can post threads. All users in the chatroom will be able to comment on the thread.

• Users can upvote/downvote threads and comments in the chatroom they are currently in.

• Users who are logged in with their accounts can archive comments for future reference.

Trying out QuerIt

Unfortunately, QuerIt only works on Android 10.0, a common version of Android when the application was developed. However, QuerIt can still run on an Android emulator with Android 10.0, or with an Android device with Android 10.0. Download the .apk file through the "Download QuerIt" button below, and install it on an Android emulator/device.

HikingHelper

Motivation

This high-fidelity prototype is of a hypothetical application that helps users discover, rate, and share new hiking trails with others. The prototype was the result of a multi-step design process, with required the practice of various User Interface /User Experience (UI/UX) principles.

Design Process

• Ideation: this involved a brainstorm process that comprised of methods such as Crazy 8s (a fast sketching exercise to help generate ideas).

• User research: we identified our idea's primary and secondary users. Based on our user identification process, we conducted user recruitment and user study. The latter involved the use of surveys on Google Forms and interviews over video call.

• Identifying user tasks: based on the findings from the user study, we came up with user scenarios and tasks, which were then reflected in storyboards.

• Low-fidelity Prototype: Balsamiq was used to quickly create Lo-Fi prototypes.

• High-fidelity Prototype: Figma was used to create a hi-fi prototype, based on the best aspects of each member's Lo-Fi prototype.

• User testing: user testing with the hi-fi prototype was performed by conducting heuristic evaluation (with the teaching staff), general usability testing (using Maze), and detailed usability testing, which involved participants using the prototype and vocalizing their thought process over a Zoom call.

• Improving the Hi-Fi prototype based on feedback and findings from user testing.

Trying out HikingHelper

The Hi-Fi prototype, and a site detailing the design process can be viewed by clicking on the buttons below:

J'Apprend

Motivation

This prototype was developed for the module's Individual Design Exercise. This hypothetical application would help make learning the French language more effective.

Design Process

• Design considerations: based on readings provided, I identified certain methods that make learning more effective. These methods are:

  1) Adopting the harder-to-learn condition (English-to-French).

  2) Adopting immediate testing (after the user has just learned something new), followed by delayed tests. These tests should be open-ended.

  3) Lessons should be short.

• Detailing the user journey: by detailing each step that a typical user would take when using this application, I am better able to identify potential issues experienced by users.

• Sketching and Low-Fidelity (Lo-Fi) prototyping using Balsamiq.

• High-Fidelity (Hi-Fi) prototyping using Figma: I strived to use heuristic evaluation based on Nelson's Heuristics. Some of the heuristics I adhered to are:

  1) User control and freedom - users should be able to navigate the application easily, with as few actions as possible.

  2) Match between system and the real world - the application is modelled after flash cards, and there terms used in the application are widely used.

  3) Aesthetic and minimalist design - the application has a simple colour scheme and does not have a cluttered design.

Trying out J'Apprend

The Hi-Fi prototype for J'Apprend can be viewed by clicking on the buttons below:

E-Duke-8

Pronounced 'Educate'

Motivation

This Java application was built with the intention of making the learning of programming concepts more effective by gamifying the learning process.

Contributions

• Implemented functionality to add, delete, update and list out notes that are attached particular topics. The code was implemented using Object-Oriented Programming principles such as SOLID and SLAP. In addition, I wrote the relevant unit tests.

• Resolved some of the bugs and issues raised after our peers tested our application.

• Made Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Sequential diagrams based on my team's discussions about the application's architecture

• Contributed to the application's documentation.

Trying out E-Duke-8

The code for E-Duke-8, the user guide, and the link to download the JAR file can be accessed by clicking on the buttons below:

CG2271 [Real-Time Operating Systems] Team Project

Motivation

This project required a wheeled robot, controlled by an android application via a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection, to traverse a course arranged by the teaching staff. In addition, the robot had to have functionalities such as:

• Having lights switch on and off in a particular order, according to the action being performed.

• Playing a soundtrack continuously.

• A self-driving mode where the robot has to navigate a small obstacle course without any intervention.

The robot was built on a FRDM-KL25Z microcontroller, with CMSIS-RTOS RTX (a Real Time Operating System interface for Cortex-M processor-based devices) for scheduling and threading.

Contributions

• Implemented a thread that was responsible for the lights on the robot. The lights had to blink in a particular order based on the actions taken by the robot. For example, when the robot is stationary, all lights must be lighted up, and if the robot is not stationary, the front lights must flash in a particular order, with a specified delay.

• Contributed to the code for the IRQ (Interrupt Request) Handlers. IRQ Handlers allow the robot to respond to detected signals from the hardware components (such as Ultrasonic Sensors).

CG4002 [Computer Engineering Capstone Project]

Motivation

This objective of this project is to develop a laser tag system that is playable with 2 players. Some requirements of this project include:

• Triggering actions in the game (such as throwing a grenade) through specific gestures from the user.

• Maintenance and recovery of Bluetooth Low Energy connection that connects the various components of the laser tag system.

• An Augmented Reality application on mobile devices for the gameplay.

Contributions

• Implemented multithreaded code that established, maintained and recovered BLE connections between the hardware sensors (Bluno Beetles) and the computer.

• Implemented code in the hardware sensors to communicate with the connected computer.

• Contributed to the integration of my code with the rest of the team's code.

The code I wrote for the individual check-in milestone could be viewed through the button below. This is the first milestone of the module, where we demonstrate our individually written code for our respective roles to the teaching staff. The code was written according to a requirements list provided.

Some of my contributions to the interest group's social media page on Instagram

Some of my illustrations