Name: Bart Read
Location: Cambridge, UK
Favourite Game: Defender II/Stargate
Favourite System: Amiga 500

I’m a web and database consultant, as well as an indie game developer on the side.

I got into computers in the first place by writing simple games on a Spectrum 48K+ back in the 80s, then moved on to a +2A, then a Commodore 64, and finally an Amiga 500, which was like the Holy Grail back in 1990. I also had an Atari 2600 Jr, which I loved – wish I hadn’t got rid of it now.

There was a bit of a break in the 90s where I got distracted and somehow ended up doing a biochemistry degree, which was a frankly huge blunder. I finally got back into software in 1999 and I’ve been working in the industry ever since, mostly building tools to help DBAs and developers.

More recently I’ve started writing games again and have published my first one (a Star Castle homage) on http://arcade.ly. They should provide good examples when I’m talking and writing about client-side web performance, in particular.

For fun I’m into motorbikes, music, skiing, and weightlifting as well as, of course, video games.