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Mark Straver
Q: Also known as:
Moonchild, MC, Wolfbeast
Q: How old are you?
40
Q: Your freeware software:
Oh, a bunch. Pale Moon, Pale Moon migration tool, Pale Moon backup tool, Address Flipper, RPG Dice helper, and a number of other small misc tools
Q: Your website:
http://www.moonchildproductions.info
Q: When did you start developing freeware?
1995 or so
Q: Why did you start developing freeware?
Why not? A bit of a strange question, to be fair. Most of the freeware I've made is to improve upon things and to provide help to users. A lot of it was born from things I personally wanted to streamline or improve, and I think there's no reason why I shouldn't make this available to others as well, in the hope it is useful to them. Not everything needs to bring in revenue, there's already enough greed on this little planet.
Q: Is it a career, or just for fun?
It's certainly becoming a career.
Q: What's the most difficult project/development you've done?
Hmm, I'd have to say some of the stuff I've done as part of my academic education. That's been a long time ago though - so as for recent projects/developments, the most involved is the Pale Moon browser.
Q: Please tell us a little about yourself:
I was born in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, in 1971, and I've lived in a good number of different locations in the world, ranging from the USA and different places in Europe to Australia. I currently reside in Sweden. I've followed a professional Master's level education in Laboratory Informatics and Automation, and it may come as no surprise that as a result I have in-depth knowledge of computers, computer systems, networks and programming. The other side of me is a very creative one: drawing, sketching, colouring, shading - in traditional media as well as digital - makes up a good part of my legacy. In this same creative field is my current occupation as professional translator, it being mostly creative work (writing) - although of course the technical background of the education helps tremendously for technical manuals and similar texts. You could say I'm very multi-faceted, and at home in many disciplines. My focus is slowly shifting back towards IT, though, since that is where my passion really lies, and if I can make a career in it, I'll certainly not let the opportunity pass me by.
Q: What would you consider to be your major accomplishments to date?
Having traveled a full circle around the globe. The obvious growing success of Pale Moon. Surviving in a rather unforgiving modern society
Q: Any failures you\'d care to tell us about?
I fail at learning to speak Swedish
It's one odd language to try and learn!Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out in developing/programming?
A few very important things: - Keep things structured and clearly named/commented. If you don't, debugging and finding issues in your code becomes almost impossible. - Don't try to cut corners! - Don't give in to greed. Only consider making commercial products if and when you think you can make a polished product. Don't be afraid to give something to the community before you want to take something from it.
Q: What websites do you visit to relax?
The odd flash gaming site for a few lost minutes, otherwise I tend to relax off the PC or 'net, watching movies, maybe playing a game.
Q: Do you have any particular plans for your freeware in the future?
Nothing particular apart from enhancing and continuing to support it
Q: What's your favorite book, movie, tv show, game, and food?
Book: Stephen King/Peter Straub's "The Talisman"
Movie: I don't have one single favorite - I like many!
TV show: Haven't watched TV in many years
Game: Titan Quest and similar action RPGs Food: Horse tenderloin
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