Cathal O'Grady

About Me

I am a college student studying Computer Science in Dublin City University. What started as a spark of passion, has snowballed into my perfect career. I take an interest in all things computing and being pragmatic I like to tinker, from trying new programming languages, exploring a proof of concept or programming a micro controller - I let my curiousity win.

I really love to understand what I am doing, valueing transparency and simplicity. If something feels obfuscated I will tear it down until it makes sense - This is what brought me to computing in the first place.

My learning approach in general is to recursively relate topics, this allows natural abstractions and also makes information retrieval much easier - anything you learn in this way will have multiple axes from which you can derive.

Relavent College Modules & Grades:

Year 2 (1.1) - Placed 1st in my class: Systems Programming 97, Logic 96, Operating Systems 96, Computer Programming 4 96, Introduction to Devops 95, Full Stack Development 94, Probability & Statistics 93, Linear Algebra 85, Introduction to Databases 83, Software Testing 77, Computer Programming 3 75, Systems Analysis 74

Core Skills

Soft Skills

Communication, I have mentored 100's of first years in python programming part time with my university, I work with users of Redbrick (networking society) solving technical issues as a system administrator and I have also worked with school staff from Baldoyle S.N.S in creating a mural for the kids.
Fast Learner, I have built 2 desktop computers, 2 keyboards and a mouse as well as installing linux on all of my machines, but I also have soft skills in maintaining things, fixing issues and replacing hardware. My approach to learning is to embrace mistakes and just manage risk.
Time Management, I am always on time with projects and divide time well to incorporate study, exercise and socialising. I recognise that time is deceptive and that management means incorporating redundancy and contingency.
Attention to Detail, where I admittedly lack in juggling many tasks at once, I gain in my ability to focus very hard on singular tasks and execute them to a high level, but I also recognise my bias and reach out to people for alternative perspective to verify my work

Hard Skills

Linux
Both as a desktop user and dev ops side of things. I have a pretty sharp grasp of the ecosystem going down to the protocol level developing a screenshot utility sscreenshot or writing a user space driver vboox, but also running a home lab, managing Redbrick servers as a System Administrator (DCU society) and using it daily for 4 years, I probably have thousands of hours in Linux.
Go
Developed a cli for fetching my timetable gotime, a neo4j micro service to query an ontology (at Insight), a Leximancer to neo4j parser (at Insight). Also currently developing a terminal multiplexer and general android hid linux user space device driver proxy (generalized vboox) in Go (I love Go).
Shell (General plus POSIX strict)
I use shell as my de facto automation with cli tools as well as writing scripts for convenience. I mostly use POSIX as remembering features differing between shells is cumbersome. I actually wrote a small manager in POSIX shell pk.
Docker/Podman
I use docker daily on my home lab and redbrick servers - Dockerfiles, kubernetes yaml and compose files. I use Podman as my container runtime as it is significantly lighter than docker and is rootless.
Javascript, React, Svelte and html + css
Used Javascript and React for Full Stack Development module, svelte for a personal markdown notes site.
Python
Used in all of my Computer Programming Modules in college as well as Full Stack Development. I also used it on the job at Insight and when helping first year when I was a tutor.
Flutter
Used it to develop a computer vision app for my internship at Insight (see Work Experience)
Rust
I have used it to develop a snake game snake-rust and also to develop my aforementioned user space driver for my android tablet.

Work Experience

3 months Summer Intern at Insight Center DCU - Developed a mobile application with a small tech team. I was responsible for developing the frontend (Flutter) and backend (Django, Go apis, Leximancer). I worked under Alan Smeaton, the founding director of Insight Centre. It was a great experience, from fast development and iteration to presentations for stakeholders.
3 weeks in 4th year in the courts via the office of the dpp, there I developed analysis skills -- taking notes and discussing with peers
2 weeks in 4th year with a design marketing agency - Core, there I learned how to successfully implement projects as part of a team.
2 weeks in 4th year with a medical supplier - McKesson, there I gathered skills in making desktop machines for the health service
1 Academic year part time tutoring 1st year Computer Science student in python programming with the DCU School of Computing

Education

I take my education very seriously, in my first year of College I scored the highest grade amongst my peers in that year of Computer Science.

Second Level Education

I graduated from St Pauls College Raheny and got 554 CAO points in my leaving certificate

Third Level Education

Currently going into my 3rd year pursuing a BSC degree in Computer Science, see College Modules

Hobbies

Rock Climbing/Bouldering
Judo
Coding Personal Projects
Managing my home server