Software Developer & Project Consultant
I’m a freelance developer with over 20 years of experience in software development and cloud infrastructure. I’ve worked extensively with Python for backend development, automation, and scripting, and I have five years of experience managing AWS infrastructure and deployments. While I’ve spent more than 15 years working with PHP, it’s not something I use much these days. JavaScript has been part of my toolkit for over two decades, though it’s never been my primary focus. On the database side, I mainly work with MySQL but have also used PostgreSQL and DB2 when needed.
With a background in Agile project management and experience as a certified Scrum Master, I know how to keep projects on track. My approach is always practical—I choose the best tools for the job, considering both risk and long-term maintainability. Whether it’s cloud solutions, backend development, or project management, I focus on delivering solutions that make sense for the future.
New projects I work on greenfield projects at any stage—from initial concept and design to planning, development, and launch. I primarily use Python and AWS to build scalable, maintainable solutions, but I’m flexible in choosing the right tools for the job. Whether you need help with the full development lifecycle or just specific phases, I’m available to bring your ideas to life.
Legacy project maintenance I specialize in maintaining legacy projects, primarily older versions of PHP running on outdated servers. Whether it’s troubleshooting, optimizing, or gradually modernizing the system, I help keep legacy applications running.
Software Modernization I modernize legacy software by migrating it to cloud services, primarily transitioning PHP applications to AWS and Python, though I work with other languages as well. The modernization approach depends on the stability and risk profile of the existing system, ensuring a balance between improvement and reliability.
Proof of Concept A Proof of Concept (POC) is a fast, minimal version of the final software, built to test whether an idea will work. It prioritizes speed over best practices, security, and risk management. Once the concept is validated, the software is redeveloped from the ground up for production use.
Project Planning and management From design to deployment, I manage the entire project using a hybrid Agile approach, tailored to fit the team's workflow and project needs. I focus on aligning development with stakeholder expectations while ensuring efficiency and adaptability. Whether you need someone to lead a development team, oversee the project, or train a new team, I provide the structure and guidance to keep things on track.
Over the past 24 years of software development, I have been part of a number of notable and formative projects. These projects have shaped my expertise and allowed me to deliver impactful solutions across various industries.
Currently under development, Outpost is a web-based platform designed to manage adventure clubs and their activities. Having passed the POC stage, we are now moving into active development. Built with Python on AWS, it leverages AWS Gateway and Lambdas for a scalable, serverless architecture.
As the tech lead and lead developer on a confidential project, I was responsible for developing a secure, scalable backend system to enhance front desk sales staff operations. The project required seamless integration with third-party services, robust user authentication, secure data sharing, and large data ingestion. I led the team in building a Frontend POC in JavaScript and a Python-based backend using AWS services like API Gateway, AWS Lambda, EC2 instances, S3, and Athena, ensuring scalability and security.
I contributed to a large-scale project for a government department managing 65 million citizen records. The project required high-performance data processing and secure handling of sensitive information. Python was the primary programming language, supplemented by legacy C# applications and a JavaScript frontend for user interaction
As lead developer and manager of a remote team, I oversaw the development of a companion website and online management system for a successful travel guide publication. The system was built with a PHP backend and HTML/JavaScript frontend, providing users with seamless access to travel information and resources.
If you'd like to discuss a project or collaborate, feel free to reach out!
(Office hours: 9am - 4pm SAST, Mon-Fri)