This is Jacob Astigarraga
As a dedicated computer science graduate with a minor in digital media and design, I am passionate about leveraging my skills in full stack development, security, and creative media production to create innovative and impactful solutions. My background has equipped me with a strong foundation in both technical and artistic disciplines, allowing me to approach challenges with a unique perspective.
These are a few of my experiences over my years as a computer scientist!
Abacus: Online Competition WebApp
During my time as a developer and researcher for the web application contest platform "Abacus," (created for the Wisconsin Dairyland Programming Competition). I focused on optimizing the efficiency of its tech stack. My research involved analyzing the performance bottlenecks within the system and implementing memorization techniques to accelerate queue processing and request handling. One of my notable achievements was the development and integration of a pagination table, which significantly improved the scheduling and management of requests. This enhancement not only streamlined the user experience but also increased the overall efficiency and responsiveness of the platform.
Raynor Wayfinding WebApp
I developed a wayfinding app for the university library, building on the foundation of UC Davis's library wayfinding app. This project involved learning jQuery and mastering the design of SVG maps with pathways. I integrated these maps with Java code to trace a pathway from a starting point to any location within the library, using animation for a seamless user experience. This process enhanced my skills in both front-end and back-end development, allowing me to create a functional and intuitive navigation tool for library users.
Raynor Library Document API
I coded a web app API to search the university library's database for records of dissertations and theses by title, document type, and year. The API fetched the relevant records and returned them in a CSV file format, facilitating the transfer of records between databases. This project required me to create a React app, develop API scripts for making calls and requests, and navigate challenges such as CORS issues with our database. To resolve these, I utilized AWS as an intermediary. Despite being a complex solution for a seemingly simple product, this experience was immensely educational and significantly enhanced my technical skills.Unfortunately the Github Repository for this project has been privated
MuSample
In my senior capstone project for my computer science major, I teamed up with 4 other students to develop a web platform for music artists to spread their music, consult with experts, sell tickets for events and learn how to market their music. So far this project has been fun to test our design skills and our adaptability to integrate third party plugins to create the features requested by our client. For this project, our group has worked via Microsoft Teams, Jira and Github, and have worked collaboratively between ourselves and our project founder Aichelle White to ensure her needs are met and implemented proficiently.
Independent Projects
The following are my personal projects for fun, which have nonetheless taught me a great deal about programming, coding, and design.
Personalized Websites
Creating personal websites has been a rewarding endeavor, with my latest project being my sister's wedding website. It has been a privilege to translate her vision into a functional and elegant site. I developed an RSVP system that allows guests to respond directly through the website, included detailed hotel accommodations, and integrated an interactive map to help guests locate the wedding venue. This project also provided a valuable opportunity to hone my UX/UI skills, ensuring the site is both beautiful and easy to navigate. Meeting my sister's needs and exceeding her expectations has been incredibly fulfilling, making this experience especially meaningful.