Juriy Zaytsev
- linkedin linkedin.com/in/juriyzaytsev
- github github.com/kangax
- twitter twitter.com/kangax
- blog perfectionkills.com
- e-mail juriy@bitsonnet.com
- phone +1.347.413.3467
In Short
I have enjoyed building web applications for almost 5 years now. The challenge of designing accessible user interfaces and taming cross-browser issues is what motivates me the most. I am slightly a perfectionist, and a constant learner, which makes front-end development a perfect field. Theory is just as fascinating to me as practice, and I often find myself flipping through pages of ECMAScript specification.
I've been a core developer of Prototype Javascript framework for a couple of years, and can say that there's nothing as motivating as being part of an open source community. I have contributed to various projects, ranging from libraries and frameworks to articles and books. Whenever there's a minute, I like to tinker with few little projects of my own (fabric.js canvas library is one of the latest creations). Writing is another way to explore new things or deepen understanding of subject at hand, which is why I blog about Javascript and other front-end goodies at perfectionkills.com. Sometimes my writings end up on front pages of Ajaxian, Reddit, or Hacker News. I'm one of the mentors at JSMentors mailing list. You can also find me on Stack Overflow, Usenet, or speaking at various conferences.
Expertise
- Javascript
- HTML
- CSS
- Prototype.js
- Script.aculo.us
- Git
- Accessibility
- Unit Testing
- ECMAScript
- Test.Unit
- Front-end optimization
- Usability
- jQuery
- Microformats
- Subversion
- XML
- XPath
- SVG
- Ruby on Rails
- PHP
- Haml/Sass
Philosophy
I believe that front-end development is a rather unique discipline. It requires a certain mindset, where accessibility and usability are thought of as basic building blocks. Where progressive enhancement is not an afterthought, but an essential part of a developement process. Where no one is left behind and gets as much functionality as possible. These are the principles I follow — whether the goal is to design a simple document or build a complex web application.
Background
I've been fascinated with programming since early years. In school, I've been tinkering with Pascal, Assembly and C/C++ languages. Later, I fell in love with Javascript (ECMAScript) and realized its beauty by learning the deepest corners of the language. I became familiar with design patterns, and try to follow the principles of clean code. I've been also administering *nix systems, and still know my way around there. I'm fluent in both — English and Russian.
Education
For about 2 years, I've been studying Computer Science (major) and Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics (minor) in Lomonosov Moscow State University (Sevastopol, Ukraine). I eventually dropped out, but never stopped being passionate about programming. School gave me solid foundation, but the most valuable education I received was from constant practice, while working on real projects.
Experience at Bitsonnet July 2005 - Present
I have co-founded Bitsonnet, Corp. where my colleague (back-end dev) and I are building web apps for clients. Following are some of our projects.
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Javascript Consulting at MadMimi March 2011 - Present
Implement highly interactive email campaign editor.
Create WYSIWYG text editor to aid in creation of engaging email promotions.
Ensure accessibility and proper layout of the entire site. -
Javascript Consulting at TagMan May 2010 - March 2011
Design and implement universal tag management solution.
Research and experiment with various script loading and blocking techniques.
-
Front-end development, design at Printio.ru June 2008 - Present
Create canvas-based javascript framework for use in designs editor.
Implement functional and degradable interface throughout the entire site.
Ensure consistent and usable layout throughout the entire site. -
Front-end development at ARTstor, Inc March 2007 - April 2010
Create Data Management Interface for online image library in XHTML and CSS.
Extend UI functionality with JavaScript and AJAX (Prototype.js/Script.aculo.us/jQuery).
Write custom PHP functions to manipulate XML using PHP Oracle extensions. -
Javascript Consulting at Aptana, Inc August 2008 - November 2008
Slice sketch-ups and mark-up documents based on them.
Design/implement interactive UI elements using Prototype.js/Script.aculo.us libraries. -
Front-end development of wehike.net January 2007 - March 2007
Create semantic, accesible documents.
Use client-side scripting to enhance user experience.
Work with Rails back-end.
-
Front-end development of scripteka.com 2006
Create a one-page Javascript-heavy (yet degradable) application.
Work with Drupal back-end.
Personal Experience
-
Core developer of Prototype.js library September 2008 - April 2010
Create patches, perform code reviews, profile and optimize troublesome parts of the framework.
Moderate public bug tracker, participate in mailing list (and private) discussions.
Write Prototype.js oriented articles and tutorials at perfectionkills.com. -
Front-end developer at iTrackr October 2007 - March 2008
Slice sketch-ups and mark-up documents based on them.
Design/implement interactive UI elements using Prototype.js/Script.aculo.us libraries. -
Network administrator at ShopAt January 2005 - July 2005
Assemble and configure server/network hardware.
Set up server software on SuSe/Fedora Core Linux (LAMP, FTP server, DNS server).
Perform daily administration tasks (backup, patching, optimization, testing).


