Profile: Tommy O’Keefe, Web Developer
“The idea that the code I write might provide people with access to information that they may not otherwise have definitely helps get me out of bed in the morning.”
Where are you from originally?
Born in Riverside, CA, Grew up in the DMV (Vienna, VA)
What did you major in college?
Theology
When did you join NPR?
November 2016
What are you currently working on or have you recently worked on?
My first year here I was on the publishing team, and we spent most of the year building a new editor for our CMS using React/Redux. For the past six months I’ve been on the Enterprise team where we are primarily focused on building applications for voice activated platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s been really interesting writing code for voice assistants instead of web browsers. I’m still writing a lot of javascript, but I’ve traded the GUI for a VUI (Voice User Interface).
What personally excites you about being a developer?
I get really excited about all the new ways people are creating, storing, gathering and sharing information. As a web developer working at NPR, I love that I’m an active participant in this “information revolution” that we all find ourselves living in the midst of. I think the thing I love the most about it is the opportunity we have to create new ways for people to connect and interact with stories from the world around them. The idea that the code I write might provide people with access to information that they may not otherwise have definitely helps get me out of bed in the morning.
What is your favorite Serendipity Days project that you worked on?
TinyDeskTV. I worked with a small team of people to build a mobile app using react native that provides a continuous stream of tiny desk concert videos. I’m still hopeful that it will become an actual product.
I hear your team is made up of polyglots, but do you personally have a favored programming language?
These days it’s TypeScript. I mean, a typed superset of the latest and greatest javascript has to offer? Yes please!
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I spend a lot of my time outside of work with my wife and two kids. We love to explore new places and try new things, so here in DC that means a lot of parks and museums.
What is your favorite Tiny Desk Concert out of the ones you’ve attended?
Hands down, it has to be Moses Sumney. I hadn’t heard any of his music before the concert and was blown away by the performance. It was absolutely mesmerizing. I’m fairly certain Moses Sumney tore a hole through the middle of the space time continuum and rode the Tiny Desk into it on sound waves, carrying us along with him on a musical vapor trail. If you squint during the first few minutes of the video you might see it happen.
Aside from the Tiny Desk Concerts, what are some of your favorite things about working at NPR?
I can’t think of a more exciting space to work in than the intersection of news media and technology. Every day I come to work knowing that the women and men in the newsroom at NPR have important things to say that the world needs to hear. At the same time, I know that the way the world finds, shares, and consumes information is rapidly changing and evolving. As a developer at NPR, I get to be part of that rapid evolution, building ways for new and existing audiences to interact with our amazing content. I love my job and I love this place!
Which tech conferences would you love to attend in the future, and why?
I really want to go to Strange Loop. It seems like a really wild group of people talking about all sorts of stuff happening on the fringes of the tech world.
If you were to speak at a tech conference, what would you love to speak about?
- Cross-functional Collaboration to Empower Smarter Work — All the ways that developers can help others work smarter (and how non-developers can help us too! Spoiler alert: not all problems have a technical solution!)
- Serverless Architecture: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Are you involved in any local tech organizations or meetup groups? If so, which one(s)?
I’ve participated in a couple of the DCJS events. We hosted the March 2018 meetup here at NPR and it was a really great experience!
