justin tout

Hi. I write code and talk a bunch. I'm an open-source advocate at Progressive Insurance. It's a cool gig - I get to build tools to make other Progressive developers' lives a little easier, while helping a huge company start to give back to the community.

Previously, I was a software engineer at GE Ligthing, designing systems and integrations for C by GE (they call it Cync now).

Like many, my interest in software started from an early fascination with the Internet. I loved trying to understand the systems and interactions behind high-population online games. I first learned to code to create bots for RuneScape and NeoPets in the early 2000's. Puzzle Pirates taught me Excel, Poker, and, weirdly enough, economic theory. I believe video games are one of the best foundational education tools.

I have a few analog hobbies as well. I enjoy culinary arts in particular. My most recent focus has been fermented hot sauces. I also enjoy fishing, woodworking, and spending time with my family. I spend most day with my dog, Mango Mae 🥭. You can keep up with my (mostly culinary) endeavors on my Instagram.