My time spent at proFound Mining was focused on developing the web based front end. The design was to be as simple as possible, as an “on the go” alternative to the main application pro-HSE. This would enable workers in the field to input system into the system back end, where the more complex pro-HSE front end could then display the data in detail. I was also involved in maintaining and developing the windows based application in WinForms; which involved developing new features, bug fixing, porting old VB.NET code into C#, as well as developing new features in WPF. I also got to touch a little bit on the “Foundation” system, though this was in the early phase.
Working at proFound was my first longer term job, where I got to really develop features from scratch, and with potential health implications if done poorly/incorrectly as pro-HSE is a “Health and Safety Executive” application for the Mining Industry. Mining is an industry that carries inherent risks. With heavy machinery, explosive materials, and deep excavations, safety is of the utmost importance. To mitigate these risks, mining companies are increasingly turning towards technology-driven solutions. One such solution is HSE software, and Profound Mining is a company that was selected to develop such software for a local mine called the Woodsmith Mine which mined mainly Potash.
I was unfortunate again, that the software was struggling to be sold to other mines. As such, I was made redundant along with another Junior Programmer. The proFound Mining company consisted of 6 people, 4 developers in total. After the redundancies, only the two senior developers remained. That’s when I headed to Clicksco.