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DENNIS  CAO

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LinkedIn
Github
Email

About

👋 I'm Dennis Cao (曹Pronunciation), a full stack software engineer, creative & music technologist, and electronic musician (as One Child Policy) based in Los Angeles, CA. With close to a decade of experience and a B.S in Electrical Engineering / DSP from UCLA, I have a strong understanding of software development (with a focus in web and audio/music), hardware physical computing, electronic music and sound design.
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Me
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I've built software for an open-source team developing complex, interactive data simulations to help students learn STEM. I've written custom software for Amazon, physical computing and electronic prototyping for artists and installations, automation tools for audio engineers, and music production software to generate new experimental sounds. One of my programs was used on a Grammy Award-winning album by Beck. When I'm not working on my computer ... I'm most likely still on my computer learning new things, working on personal software and hardware projects, or making music. I also enjoy cooking and hanging out with my cat, Chi Chi.
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Technical Skills 

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JavaScript & Typescript
skill-JavaScript & Typescript
React & State Management
skill-React & State Management
HTML & CSS Styling
skill-HTML & CSS Styling
Python & Libraries
skill-Python & Libraries
Frontend Frameworks
skill-Frontend Frameworks
2D & 3D Web Animation
skill-2D & 3D Web Animation
Backend Frameworks
skill-Backend Frameworks
Mobile Frameworks
skill-Mobile Frameworks
Databases
skill-Databases
APIs & Protocols
skill-APIs & Protocols
Deployment & Hosting
skill-Deployment & Hosting
AI Integration
skill-AI Integration
Audio Programming
skill-Audio Programming
Music Production
skill-Music Production
Algorithms
skill-Algorithms
Dev Tools & Libraries
skill-Dev Tools & Libraries
Visual Design UI/UX
skill-Visual Design UI/UX
E-Commerce Integration
skill-E-Commerce Integration
Automation & Scripts
skill-Automation & Scripts
Testing
skill-Testing
Content Management Sys.
skill-Content Management Sys.
Containerization & Virtualization
skill-Containerization & Virtualization
PCB Electronics & Microcontrollers
skill-PCB Electronics & Microcontrollers
Personality
skill-Personality

Experience / Resume

Why relist my work experience when you could just download that right here →
Instead, I made a "Windows XP experience" stepping back in time to the year 2000 below ↓

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Windows XP - Windows Media Player - Green Man Face Headspace Skin
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Headspace
Play
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Left-EarLeft-Ear-Speaker
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Left Ear Drawer Bottom
Left Ear Drawer Right
AFX - Bodmin 3
AFX - I'm Self Employed
Right-Ear-BackgroundRight-Ear-SpeakerRight Ear Drawer TopRight Ear Drawer BottomRight Ear Drawer Left
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Windows Media PlayerWindows Media Player
My Computer
My Computer
Windows Media Player
Windows Media
Player
Recycle Bin
Recycle Bin

Client Work

Openly available and open-source software projects
  • Amazon Innovation Map
  • Concord Consortium

    • Projects 

     Click to visit page
    Scaling Backend Server Requests: AWS EC2 API
    project-Scaling Backend Server Requests: AWS EC2 API
    2022
    Tech Used:
    PostgreSQL
    Node.js
    AWS
    React
    Nginx
    Deployed backend API optimizations from 1000 to 5500 req/sec.
    Art & Technology Installations
    project-Art & Technology Installations
    2013 - Now
    Tech Used:
    Computer Vision
    OpenCV
    JavaScript
    Electronics
    Max/MSP
    A collection of of art meets technology installations where I wrote software and/or prototyped hardware.
    Custom Electronic Music Instruments
    project-Custom Electronic Music Instruments
    2013 - Now
    Tech Used:
    Programming
    Max/MSP
    Circuit Design
    C
    Physical Computing
    A collection of custom built instruments (utilizing software and hardware) for clients or for fun
    RipX DAW Automation: Drag and Drop Song → Stems
    project-RipX DAW Automation: Drag and Drop Song → Stems
    June 2024
    Tech Used:
    Python
    RipXDaw
    AutoHotKey
    Oracle VM
    Ableton
    A software system to drag a song into a folder, instantly get stems labeled by key & tempo via Python
    FFmpeg MP4 Script for Raspberry Pi
    project-FFmpeg MP4 Script for Raspberry Pi
    Sept 2023
    Tech Used:
    FFmpeg
    Raspberry Pi
    Raspberry Pi continuously looping nature hikes on a CRT TV so I’m always *touching grass*
    Custom Website TV Dashboards For Raspberry Pi
    project-Custom Website TV Dashboards For Raspberry Pi
    Aug. 2024
    Tech Used:
    Next.js
    Vercel
    React
    Typescript
    Notion API
    Raspberry Pi
    Custom landing sites for two TVs that call on three APIs: Notion, Google Calendar, and Chase Banking
    Ableton Hybrid DJ Template + Custom Max4Live Device
    project-Ableton Hybrid DJ Template + Custom Max4Live Device
    Oct 2023
    Tech Used:
    Max/MSP
    Ableton
    Max4Live
    A brief ramble about how much I love complex generative Ableton sessions

    Music

    Javascript Interactive Playground

    This is where I dump fun interactive web ideas 

    Hand Gesture Detection: Closed Fist to Open Palm
    Clippy Text Bubble
    Hi! Turn on your webcam below
    to start detecting gestures!
    I'll track whether you're 
    showing a fist or a palm, 
    and we'll use that value
    between 0 and 1 to control
    different models in real-time. 

    Let's get started!
    Clippy
    overlay-top-left
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    Webcam-off
    Current Gesture:

    No_Hand


    Closed_Fist icon 
    Open_Palm icon 
    Value: 0.00

    Network

    Shout out to folks I know (90's geo-cities style) doing interesting things :)

    background-Garrett McGale
    friend-Garrett McGale
    Garrett McGale
    garrettmcgale.com
    Director
    VFX
    Compositor
    3D Artist
    background-Ariel Klevecz
    friend-Ariel Klevecz
    Ariel Klevecz
    klevecz.net/
    Software Eng
    VR/AR Artist
    NFT
    Art Curator
    background-Cloaking
    friend-Cloaking
    Cloaking
    cloaking.us
    3D Artist
    3D Fabricator
    VJ
    Animator
    background-Phil Rugo
    friend-Phil Rugo
    Phil Rugo
    prugo.fm
    Art Director
    3D Artist
    Sound Designer
    Creative Coder
    background-Daniel Sierra
    friend-Daniel Sierra
    Daniel Sierra
    dsierra.work
    Digital Artist
    Creative Coder
    VJ
    GFX Nerd
    background-Kai Luen Liang
    friend-Kai Luen Liang
    Kai Luen Liang
    kaluenliang.com
    Media Artist
    Composer
    Creative Coder
    Educator
    background-UFO Parfums
    friend-UFO Parfums
    UFO Parfums
    ufoparfums.com/
    Fine Fragrance
    Scent Design
    Olfactory Art
    Writing / Editing
    background-Anise Mariko
    friend-Anise Mariko
    Anise Mariko
    mikineko.com
    Creative Director
    Film Photography
    Underwater
    Music Videos
    background-Seth Rosetter
    friend-Seth Rosetter
    Seth Rosetter
    Spiral Lab
    Software Eng
    Software Artist
    Musician
    Sound Designer
    background-Daniel Mangosing
    friend-Daniel Mangosing
    Daniel Mangosing
    danielmangosing.com
    3D Generalist
    Technical Artist
    XR
    Art Director
    background-Michelle Lhooq
    friend-Michelle Lhooq
    Michelle Lhooq
    Rave New World
    Writer
    Nightlife Journalist
    Drugs Journalist
    Blazn-Azn
    background-Joey Yang
    friend-Joey Yang
    Joey Yang
    Third Slant
    Creative Coder
    Designer
    Musician
    Computer h8r
    background-Eli Joteva
    friend-Eli Joteva
    Eli Joteva
    joteva.com
    Artist
    Educator
    Director
    XR & VFX
    background-Aaron Meyers
    friend-Aaron Meyers
    Aaron Meyers
    aaron-meyers.com
    Game Designer
    AR Artist
    VR Artist
    iPad Dev

    Contact / Project Proposal

    I'm currently available for contract work. If you need expertise in a technology project, please reach out. You can send me an email using the form below and/or book a video meeting at an available time!
    email
     Send Proposal 
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