Bernie Cohen Senior Technical Writer I'm a resourceful writer and proactive problem solver with a wide range of writing experience for technology companies in Silicon Valley including Google, Cisco, Oracle, RSA Security (EMC), NVIDIA, and Loudcloud (Opsware/HP). I've written Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl, C/C++, Hadoop, OpenStack, and REST API/SDK developer guides and tutorials with integrated code samples. I've also written user, installation, deployment and system administration manuals, technical white papers, training materials, online help, and release notes. On the marketing side I've written white papers, flyers, brochures, press releases, web sites, corporate backgrounders, executive bios, data sheets, FAQs, and wikis. I can also produce videos for software demos. I roll up my sleeves, dive in, and master the material. I gather information by reading source code, exercising APIs, verifying, modifying, and creating code samples, working hands-on with software applications, and collaborating with developers and other subject matter experts. Feel free to contact me to discuss your current or future needs. SELECT WRITING EXPERIENCE Google LLC, Mountain View, CA Contract Technical Writer IV • Wrote and edited integration developer docs for Google's vendor partners using Markdown • Worked on early drafts in Google Docs for team collaboration and feedback • Converted Google Docs to Markdown, then manually authored in Markdown using Google's internal tools • Worked remotely with developers, product managers, and docs team using email, text, video chat, and collaborative doc tools Google LLC, Mountain View, CA Contract Technical Writer III • Reorganized and updated Google's intranet site for developers of AI software for Android mobile devices • Worked with Google's SMEs in person and in multiple geographic locations via email, chat, and video chat to determine new functionality for creating, testing, and deploying custom AI code • Used Google Docs for soliciting team feedback on early drafts • Converted Google Docs to Markdown, then manually authored in Markdown using Google's internal tools Illumio, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA Created developer docs for internal and external network security developers • Created autogenerated REST API Online Reference for each release • Published REST APIs as a Postman collection • Updated REST API, SIEM, System Administration, Deployment, Operations, and Troubleshooting Guides • Updated Release Notes with REST API additions, deletions, and deprecations • Updated open source software license information Electronic Arts Inc., Redwood City, CA Created C++ API/SDK integration docs for internal development teams and vendor partners • Documented identity, social, RTM, telemetry, transactions, iOS, Android, and gRPC integrations • Collaborated closely with product managers, developers, and information architect • Created and evangelized "Writing Tips for Developers" Space-Time Insight, Inc. (Nokia IoT Analytics), Redwood City, CA Created developer documentation for an Eclipse plugin for visual analytics • Wrote and edited significant portions of the developer guide including installation, configuration, implementation, customization, and deployment • Worked closely with product management, developers, and UI/UX team to determine new product functionality • Edited Javadoc comments in source code • Attended Agile Release Planning sessions and Scrum training sessions Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA Created developer, DevOps, and system administrator documentation for Cisco's OpenStack cloud • Took ownership of OpenStack Horizon User Guide and VPN Tunnel Guide • Edited Data Center Networking Guide describing hardware and networking configurations for data centers hosting the Cisco OpenStack cloud • Worked hands-on with OpenStack Horizon and OpenStack CLIs and REST APIs • Attended Agile Scrum release planning sessions, training sessions, sprint demos, and retrospective sessions • Collaborated with product managers, program managers, feature owners, developers, and QA to prioritize information needs, develop documentation, and maximize quality during tight timeframes MapR Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA Wrote Hadoop developer documentation • Revised documentation for using Pig, Hive, HBase, Mahout, and NFS in the MapR environment • Created and updated REST and command line API documentation for querying and configuring MapR disks, nodes and clusters • Wrote MapR Hive-HBase integration tutorial Karmasphere, Inc., Cupertino, CA Completed various assignments for this creator of advanced applications for Hadoop developers • Wrote Installation Guide and Getting Started Guide for Karmasphere Studio Community Edition, an Eclipse plug-in for visually developing, debugging and deploying MapReduce jobs • Wrote tutorials showing Hadoop developers how to deploy MapReduce jobs from Karmasphere Studio using JAR files, using Hadoop streaming with Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl and R scripts, and from MapReduce jobs developed visually using the Karmasphere Studio Workflow Wizard • Led a UX/UI initiative to make the intuitive Karmasphere Studio interface even easier to use • Created release notes for Karmasphere Studio Community Edition, Karmasphere Studio Professional Edition, and Karmasphere Analyst, a visual analytical application that enables developers to run SQL and Hive queries on Big Data stored in Hadoop clusters Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, CA Wrote Java and JavaScript SDKs for the Unix-based Oracle Video Server Application Programmer's Guide using FrameMaker for Unix • Wrote Java and JavaScript tutorials, commented code samples, and edited the APIs • Installed and ran applications • Interviewed developer, customer support, and QA subject matter experts • Made extensive revisions to the Oracle Video Server Unix System Administrator's Guide RSA Security, Inc. (EMC), San Francisco, CA Updated Java and C administration and runtime chapters in the RSA ClearTrust Developer's Guide • Updated Java and C API documentation and code samples • Added sections to Java and C chapters of the RSA ClearTrust Developer's Guide describing the new functionality in the 5.0 and 5.01 releases • Wrote and edited comments in Java source code and C header files Switch++ (Wind River), Santa Clara, CA Wrote SDK for an embedded networking software application in private beta • Wrote SDK documenting the external API of an embedded C/C++ library that used SQLite3 for persistent storage and an XSD schema for data bindings • Wrote Python code samples showing developers how to use the API to pull down data, generate detailed reports, test for system conditions, and modify the system on the fly • Functionality included creating LAGs and VLANs, adding ports to LAGs and VLANs, adding VLANs to LAGs, specifying STP/RSTP/MSTP, and modifying attributes like duplex and port speed • Wrote cross-platform network management software prototype that dynamically generated cascading menus from an XSD database schema and used Python/Tk/tkinter/ttk to implement Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 2+ functionality via the API using an XML/RPC proxy server Verity, Inc. (Autonomy/HP), Sunnyvale, CA Wrote Java and C developer documentation for Verity's K2 and Ultraseek search engines • Wrote two new Java chapters, wrote code samples, and edited javadoc comments in source code • Revised existing Java and C SDKs including API reference materials Progress Software Corporation, Apptivity Division, Newark, CA Created developer documentation for Apptivity's 100% Java N-tier client/server development suite • Created and modified tutorial, developer's guide, installation guide, deployment guide, online help, wizards and release notes for beta, point and major releases • Subject matter included JavaBeans, Enterprise JavaBeans, JDBC database access, data objects, server functionality, installation, deployment and CORBA • Provided UI/UX design feedback and helped drive improvements Fujitsu Software Corporation, San Jose, CA Owned the six-book documentation set for i-Flow, a 100% Java business process automation engine • Wrote and edited javadoc comments in source code • Wrote custom code that generated MIF files from source code using javadoc's MIF Doclet extension, then created API/SDK books from the MIF files using FrameMaker • Revised developer, administration, installation, user and integration adapter guides for major and point releases • Revised and edited architecture white paper, tutorial, brochure, corporate backgrounder, data sheet, FAQ, code samples, press releases and release notes • Contributed to the design of the EJB specifications for the J2EE-based version of i-Flow • Handled all aspects of relationships with print vendors Electric Classifieds, Inc., San Francisco, CA Created developer documentation for a Unix-based e-commerce app that used Netscape's NSAPI and a Perl library interface to an Oracle 7 database • Interviewed engineers and read source code to determine software functionality • Wrote programming reference materials including functional diagrams Aviatis Corporation, Campbell, CA • Wrote Java SDK for meta model-based software that enabled data exchange between data sources with dissimilar formats • Interviewed engineers and read source code to determine system functionality TeleNav, Inc., Santa Clara, CA Completed numerous assignments for this provider of navigation apps and web-based management for mobile devices; topics included geofencing, location services and privacy management • Added comments to the Java source code and generated TeleNavTrack javadocs • Made extensive updates to the TeleNavTrack Installation, System Administration and BlackBerry manuals • Analyzed the functionality and usability of the TeleNavTrack web site and made UI/UX recommendations • Revised and edited the TeleNavTrack flyer and brochure • Wrote the TeleNav 5.0 User Guide • Analyzed TeleNav 5.0 and made UI/UX design recommendations • Wrote installation and configuration instructions for TeleNav mobile device software simulation workstations Twezr, Sunnyvale, CA Writer and UI/UX consultant for this mobile startup with its first iPhone app in private beta. Twezr consolidates, organizes and prioritizes wall posts, direct messages, emails, and SMS messages from multiple Facebook, Twitter, email and text accounts into a unified Twezr account. • As consulting technical writer made developmental edits to the product guide and online help • As consulting first beta user provided UI/UX feedback improving app features and usability NVIDIA Corporation, Santa Clara, CA Led various documentation projects for the IT storage/backup/restore team of this cutting edge GPU company • Created documentation defining worldwide data retention policies, backup schedules and restore procedures for all corporate data and engineering source code • Revised and edited documentation for worldwide data storage architecture and infrastructure including data center and VM environments Loudcloud, Inc. (Opsware/HP), Sunnyvale, CA Completed numerous assignments for this bleeding-edge cloud startup • Wrote technical white paper on designing web architectures that scale; topics included designing multi-tiered systems, separating the presentation and application layers, horizontal and vertical scaling, caching, queuing user requests, connection pooling, session management, database optimization, logging, monitoring, and benchmarking • Wrote detailed overview of Opsware, Loudcloud's data center infrastructure software; this was the first time that Opsware had been documented • Made developmental edits to existing white papers for delivery to CEOs of vendor partners • Developed collateral for vice president of R&D including writing VP's bio, collaborating on an outline of a speech for Oracle AppsWorld, and editing a press release • Worked with legal department to develop legal guidelines for internal and external white papers • Assisted with redesign of research department's intranet site • Revised job descriptions for research engineers and senior research engineers • Rewrote R&D department's extended mission statement • Mentored writers and editors SuccessFactors (SAP), San Mateo, CA Completed various assignments for this SaaS cloud startup • Documented XML configuration settings and procedures • Documented web hosting IT architecture in a white paper and in a PowerPoint presentation • Created IT architecture design document for a large manufacturing client under tight deadline • Wrote a functional and design specification gap analysis report for a large financial services client • Provided UI/UX feedback on their application and web designs, and helped drive improvements • Analyzed Processional Services' timesheet and resource management processes and gaps and recommended a customizable web-based software solution to meet their needs • Prepared monthly PowerPoint presentations for their board of directors • Participated in client conference calls and WebEx meetings • Maintained the company's IT and tech pubs wikis Jelastic, British Virgin Islands Wrote and edited various web-based documents for this Java PaaS. Topics included architecture overviews, getting started, app deployment, autoscaling, migration, and high availability. CMP Publications, Inc., Manhasset, NY • Wrote article about outsourcing web hosting services for Network Computing magazine • Included sidebar discussing procedures for troubleshooting slow server and network response Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Oracle), Menlo Park, CA Designed HTML online help for Sun Internet Mail Server using WebWorks Publisher • Programmed WebWorks Publisher to generate HTML pages from FrameMaker documents • Linked HTML pages to table of contents, index, and cross-references Kaiser Permanente, Oakland and Walnut Creek, CA • Designed and wrote training materials for customized HR software application • Created online help prototype using RoboHelp Deloitte and Touche (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited), Toronto, Canada Documented Oracle Financials accounting system for a division of the Dow Chemical Company • Interviewed division's treasurer, auditor and controllers to determine business rules • Defined additional business rules in consultation with Oracle subject matter experts Advanced Research, Inc., Chattanooga, TN • As a Registered FrameMaker Trainer taught the beginning, intermediate and advanced FrameMaker classes Software Development Forum, San Jose, CA • Wrote an article for the SDF monthly newsletter reporting on a dinner talk given by Steve Westly, eBay's VP of Marketing and Business Development SELECT CONTRACT PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE Switch++, LLC, Santa Clara, CA • Created cross-platform network management software prototype that dynamically generated cascading menus from an XSD database schema and used Python/Tk/tkinter/ttk to implement Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 2+ functionality via a C/C++ API using an XML/RPC proxy server • Wrote Python code samples showing developers how to read/write via the API to pull down data and generate detailed reports, test for system conditions, and modify the system on the fly SuccessFactors (SAP), San Mateo, CA • Coded JDOM prototype for automating manual XML server configuration procedures Synergistech Communications, San Mateo, CA Designed and implemented Unix-hosted web site for this recruiting firm • Dynamically generated complex web pages from text files using Perl CGI scripts • Created online forms with checkboxes, radio buttons, tables and validated fields • A confirmation message appeared if all of the form fields passed validation; a detailed error message appeared if one or more fields did not pass validation • Separate emails were sent to the candidate and the recruiting firm for each job selected; each email included a subject line, data from the appropriate fields, and the full text description associated with each job posting • A separate form allowed candidates to subscribe or unsubscribe to email lists for immediate notification of new contract or staff openings Knight-Ridder/Poppe Tyson, poppe.com Division, Mountain View, CA Modified Unix-hosted web site for Knight-Ridder's poppe.com division • Redesigned the look and feel of the search and faxback pages • Modified the Perl code for the faxback page to create a shopping-cart for selecting and faxing articles • Wrote a Perl script that added copyright information to page footers DHL Airways, Redwood City, CA • Managed the intranet site for an $18MM IT development project • Redesigned the intranet site, including implementing a more attractive and navigable menu system using HTML tables and JavaScript popup menus Whittaker Communications (formerly Hughes Communications), Santa Clara, CA Modified web site for this communications equipment company • Redesigned the layout to create a more balanced visual presentation • Added text, links, graphics and image maps • Coordinated collection of information from content providers • Taught basic HTML skills to content providers Transvirtual, Berkeley, CA • Completely redesigned company web site including graphics and layout • Created site content including corporate backgrounder, press release, CEO bio, and product literature EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND AFFILIATIONS • Presenting Data and Information (Edward Tufte) • Java and OO Design: An Intensive Introduction, UC Berkeley Extension (Allen Holub) • Introduction to C++ • How to Document C and C++ Object Oriented Programs • Intermediate Unix • Python Professional Interest Group Meetup • Write the Docs Meetup • Society for Technical Communication • Franklin and Marshall College Contact Bernie Cohen - - - - - - - - - Copyright 1997-2023 Bernie Cohen. 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