My name is Alex Mueller. I work for Microsoft as a Software Design Engineer in Test (SDET II), aiming to architect the perfect, automated, testing framework. I have worked for several employers primarily in the product-facing, software development/architecture role. Concentrating my efforts solely on the test side is a new adventure for me. Since testing drives design, I am sure I will be able to influence the product side.

I currently live and work in Boise, Idaho. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland, moving to Idaho six years ago. My wife, daughter, and two dogs enjoy everything Idaho has to offer. Outside of work, I play hockey, ski, bike, jog, and whatever else is going on at the time. Pictured to the right is photo of me and my daughter hiking in Boise.

I have a love of fishing which has been growing since I first began as a child. In Idaho, I spend much of my time fly-fishing such rivers as the Middle and South Fork of the Boise River, the Clearwater, the St. Joseph's river, and the Big Wood river. Boise provides access to some spectacular foothills which lead into larger ranges such as the Sawtooths. Occasionally I will post pictures of impressive trout I catch on the blog, but this assumes the availability of a camera and a nice trout.

We have two dogs, Josie and Pirmin. Josie is a pound-hound mix between a Golden Retriever and a Border Collie. Pirmin is a farm accident, a mix between a Great Pyrenees and a Border Collie. He is neither good for herding nor guarding the flock, but makes a wonderful friend. They both enjoy the foothills and their inhabitants, especially the coyotes.

In addition to that, I am employed, self-employed, and recently finished my MBA from the University of Phoenix. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Notre Dame, where I played football from '95-'97, cutting my career short when I injured my neck during the 1997 season. My neck does not cause me any pain today and I have healthy knees, which many of my football friends cannot say.

I contribute to the Boise, technology community by presenting at Boise Code Camp and attending various group events. Boise is alive with technology and continues to grow. I am passionate about object-oriented design, patterns, best practices, and frameworks. Email me if you want to talk tech or discuss application design.