Dream Data Compression Job
Posted by Sachin Garg on 1st August 2006 | Permanent Link
There aren’t too many companies looking to hire data compression researchers, but currently the StuffIt guys are looking for some.
They obviously require a strong understanding of the existing algorithms (like LZ, PPM, BWT, DCT, DWT etc…) and long experience with C/C++. (And a preference to development experience in mobile environments and experience with various file formats etc…)
Well, if you want to work on research and development of new and innovative compression algorithms, fun compression jobs aren’t always easy to find, so get the resume in ASAP. Mail me at sachingarg (at) c10n.info
August 2nd, 2006 at 2:21 am
I thought StuffIt was dead. It still exits?
August 2nd, 2006 at 2:36 am
I compared some jpeg files which were compressed by stuffit to jpeg2000 files and the stuffit files clearly show more details than the jpeg2000 files. I believe that a stuffit image format can be very useable aspecially for webbrowsing and achiving.
August 2nd, 2006 at 4:08 am
They were never “dead”, but yes not very popular beyond MAC users. But with the JPEG recompression feat they accomplished recently, I think their researchers are upto something cool.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:14 pm
“Recently” being something like a year and a half ago. I’m very dissapointed with their progress. Hopefully the recruiting means that we’ll actually see more than JPEG recompression offered some time soon.
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:50 am
Stuffit does have the best compression on jpeg files,
http://maximumcompression.com/data/jpg.php
Yaakov Gringeler (author of Compressia, no longer available) is co-owner of a patent (pending) on the jpeg compression algorithm. It works by partially uncompressing the jpeg back to the DCT coefficients and recompressing it with a better algorithm.
But for text, 7zip and PPMd compress about 10% smaller than Stuffit at the same speed. http://cs.fit.edu/~mmahoney/compression/text.html
Likewise for WinRAR on a mix of file types. In fact, Stuffit failed to decompress properly in one test.
http://maximumcompression.com/data/summary_mf.php
The format might be more popular if they had a free version for noncommercial use. The last time I checked, you have to give a credit card number to download the free trial, and they would charge it if you forget to cancel.
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:59 am
Hello guys,
Yes we are looking for a compression research engineer.
Here’s some of the things our research and development staff value:
New Technology – We enjoy working with the latest technology whether it is operating systems, computers, devices or tools.
Creativity – Software development is an art form. We allow our developers to express their ideas in our works of art.
Ease of Use – We develop state of the art technology, and deliver it in a easy to use package.
Innovation – Doing new things that have not been done before. We are leaders not followers.
Market Leaders – We strive to be the leader in the product lines we create
Visibility – We create software & technology that is actually used by individuals on a daily basis.
Teamwork – We build software in small, sometimes virtual teams.
Risk Taking – High reward requires high risk. Allowing individuals to take risks and allowing for failure is part of our creative process.
If you have the necessary skill set, and find these values interesting - or know someone who does, please contact me.
- Darryl
dlovato at smithmicro dot com or darryl at lovato dot com
August 6th, 2006 at 7:01 am
The credit-card tactics might have worked great for their MAC users, where they are the market leader. But in Windows world, where they are struggling to get some attention, they are shooting themselves in the foot.
August 7th, 2006 at 5:30 am
“Recently” being something like a year and a half ago. I’m very disappointed with their progress.
I second that. Best of luck with whatever you are trying.
September 2nd, 2006 at 3:02 am
I received another mail today asking if the resume should be sent to me or directly to StuffIt.
I will be forwarding it to them anyway, so you can send it directly to Darryl, he left his mail id above.