A composer and pianist, John Carey's formal education is almost exclusively based within the musical realm. Having used computers and other forms of technology extensively in his artistic endeavors, he invested years of self-study in the subjects of programming and mathematics and now works professionally as a software engineer. He believes his unusual background provides him with a unique and relatively non-academic perspective on the topic of software development. He currently works for Hydratec Industries, a company that primarily develops CAD software for fire sprinkler system designers that is used to perform hydraulic calculations on proposed designs so as to determine their efficacy and legality.