Sam
McLennan
Software Developer | Educator | Language Enthusiast
About Me
I'm a self-taught software engineer with a formal education in finance and hands-on experience across several fields, including electrical engineering and teaching.
I first became interested in programming in 2024 when I discovered how writing a simple Python script could automate the process of creating flashcards for studying Japanese, saving me hours of repetitive copy-and-paste work.
I was born in New Zealand and moved to Kagoshima, Japan in 2024, where I now live with my wife and our three-month-old son.
My Skills
I have experience solving problems in the following languages
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Python -
JavaScript -
HTML -
CSS -
C -
R -
SQLite
Projects
Below are some of the projects I've built so far
English Vocab Challenge
An interactive, multimedia web application designed to help Japanese students strengthen their English recognition and output skills. It features a modern, easy-to-use interface and offers extensive customization options.
English Pronunciation Challenge
Originally a branch of English Vocab Challenge, this grew into a project of its own. It leverages the Web Speech API to allow users to improve their English pronunciation through an exciting time-based challenge.
Countdown Timer
A minimalistic, modern countdown timer that employs various audio and visual effects to clearly convey the passage of time.
Stopwatch
An application that captures the essence of a digital stopwatch in appearance and functionality through code.
CSS Fireworks Display
An exploration of the possibilities of CSS to create dynamic animations and visual effects.
Other Work
A selection of my other code repositories
CS50
My solutions to the problems from Harvard University's CS50: Introduction to Computer Science Course.
Python scripts for studying Japanese
Various Python scripts for extracting, formatting and organizing Japanese language data for study.
The Big Book of Small Python Projects
My own solutions to the 81 problems from the book "The Big Book of Small Python Projects" by Al Sweigart.