Angolon

An 18 year old student of Sydney University, Australia, currently completing undergraduate study in a Bachelor of Science degree, hoping to graduate with a major in computer science(Software Development), and mathematics (though he remains largely unskilled in these two fields as he's merely an ickle first year). Residing in a den contained within the home of his parents, he rarely comes out except to cook singing pancakes and visit his wonderful girlfriend of 3 years.

Software Development

Currently limited to the n00b level language of java, hidden from the glories of memory management by our treacherous lecturers. Work on C will begin in 2007, and C++ 2008,(though secretly he aspires to begin the learning beforehand on his lonesome) interspersed with various other subjects such as data structures and quality assurance. Links to open source versions of projects will be provided once they exist, either through Google code or my own server(when I own one)

Projects

• Port Simulation: A simple timestep simulation of a working port with ships which moved to and fro dependent on a predetermined timetable. Massive failure due to uncooperative team members and their arrogance due to a stunning UAI of 99.9+ No working versions retained due to terrible memories associated (also the fact that it didn't actually work, which was terribly embarasing at the time).

• Video Store Simulation Database: Simple Object Orientated database system capable of managing small system of videos, dvds, music cds, and video games. Focus largely on scalability of project. My contribution involved an implementation of the Boyer-Moore string search algorithm to search through large collections of text summaries for films and music to find matches for given terms, a simple enhancement of the Hash Map data structure, so that key values mapped to collections, and intentional collisions from the hash function allowed additional objects to be placed. (Yes, I do realise that SQL should be used for databases, but these were the terms of our project)

• Predator Prey Simulation: Again, a timestep simulation of a simple tile based grid which could hold creatures and facilitate their interactions. Main functions included a parser for a simple context-free grammar, nicknamed sim² which would provide the main logic to command the creatures (although I maintain that the logic would be inherently flawed due to the simple nature of the language, leading to further complications). Also, a system to model a very basic interpretation of genetic evolution, simulating pairs of Alleles contained within a Chromosome situated within a Karyotype. Simple model of Meiosis chromosome reproduction for the breeding of creatures combined with Tree-like recursive algorithms to determine the average genetic shift distance from most distant relatives. Memory management became an issue with this model however as all references to parent creatures and their respective genetic material were required in order to allow these algorithms to function properly. There was therefore only minimal dereferencing and memory use quickly spiraled out of control.

Mathematics

My endeavors in this field are largely less interesting than in software development, due to the nature of mathematics and the fact that I still know so very little about it. However, I will list the current subjects which I have completed/am completing. (Something interesting may go here if I attempt an honors year)

• Linear algebra
• Discrete mathematics
• Integral Calculus
• Differential Calculus
• Statistics//I am going to fail this subject, terribly, as I have no tolerance for it.

So yes, in summary "So what if all we can solve is second order linear homogeneous differential equations?! They're the only ones that turn up! Ever!" Because we're only taught how to do specific things, and not how to prove our results.

Also, Euler's Formula is cool.

My main interest is in Pure Mathematics, and in 2007 I hope to complete units in:

• Discrete mathematics and Graph theory
• Linear Mathematics and Vector Calculus
• Number Theory and Cryptography
• Geometry and Topology

Wiki Work

I'm relatively new here, but it my intention to help edit, maintain and improve articles of a technical nature which I have some level expertise in (see above, for more specifics). Also to purge bad grammar and spelling wherever it may hide (I realise I'm not perfect myself either, nor am I actually very good at it, but it can't hurt to help (also, I'm Australian, so yes, realise has an 's' in it)).

I strongly value npov, and will strive to maintain it in all of my work, and ensure that it is present in others.

I also have a particular hate for vanity articles, and although jumping to conclusions is often bad, if an article contains needless self indulgent praise of a particular person - it is usually fair game to try to infer things about the editor from the content of their updates, (e.g 'how on earth would you know that this person played "like a star in his schoolboy years" unless you're either that person or one of their school friends), and edit/delete/discuss based on this inference.