About the engineer
Jonathan, UK-based software engineer for digital products.
I am from Kent, England and I now live in Devon, England. I build practical software products with modern web, mobile, backend, payment, email, database, cyber security, and AI-assisted development tooling.
I also handle interface and product design. I am particularly experienced at evaluating professional templates, choosing a suitable foundation, and adapting its layouts, components, typography, colours, navigation, and responsive behaviour to the customer's brand and workflows. A template speeds up the visual starting point; I remain responsible for making the finished application feel coherent, purposeful, and distinct rather than leaving it as a generic demonstration design. I may use AI to help explore ideas or implement an initial React or Next.js frontend, but I personally evaluate and perfect the layout, hierarchy, spacing, typography, colour, responsive behaviour, and interaction details. AI assists the process; it does not replace my design judgement.
I can also engineer a custom Node.js API as a separate backend for a React web application, React Native mobile app, administration system, or several different clients. This involves deliberately designing API routes and contracts, authentication, permissions, validation, error handling, security controls, MySQL access, integrations, testing, logging, deployment, and monitoring. That separately engineered backend is why my custom React and Node.js application service normally has a higher starting price than a focused Next.js build. Next.js can combine the frontend and server features in one application, which often reduces the separate setup and integration work. It can still support substantial custom server logic, however, so every project is priced according to its actual architecture and complexity.
I am also very good at explaining technical subjects at the right level for the person I am working with. I can translate application architecture, APIs, databases, cyber security, hosting, and deployment decisions into clear language for non-technical customers, while still discussing implementation details, trade-offs, risks, and diagnostics precisely with developers and IT professionals. This helps customers understand what is being built, why a particular approach is recommended, and what the next steps involve.
Age
28
From
Kent, England
Lives in
Devon, England
Focus
Software + cyber security
Current stack
React, React Native, Node.js, MySQL
Background
Computer Science, cyber security, and self-directed engineering
At 19, I completed BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Computing and achieved a GCSE pass in Mathematics. I was also already studying Computer Science independently. One of the most valuable parts of my early study was learning from the UK Government Cyber Discovery programme, which gave me a strong foundation in computer science for cyber security.
I later began a university Computer Science course, but chose to continue through independent study and practical software projects at home instead.
Before AI-assisted engineering tools became a normal part of modern development workflows, I independently built blogs, PHP and MySQL applications, and ecommerce stores with Stripe payment integration using HTML, Bootstrap, PHP, SQL, and MySQL. I learned by planning features, designing and connecting databases, implementing checkout and application logic, writing and adapting code, diagnosing errors, and researching solutions myself. That pre-AI experience remains an important foundation for how I assess, review, and take responsibility for software today.
I describe myself as a high-IQ polymath: adaptable, serious about learning, and comfortable moving quickly between frameworks, languages, databases, hosting setups, and product ideas when the project needs it.
I prefer macOS for development and Ubuntu Linux for servers. macOS has a Unix foundation and gives me the terminal-first, command-line environment I value, with many tools and commands that are also familiar on Linux. Ubuntu gives me direct control over production services, networking, permissions, processes, databases, logs, and deployment tooling. I am highly experienced with Linux terminal workflows, including SSH, shell commands, systemd, Nginx, MySQL, package management, file permissions, diagnostics, and deployment automation.
I can also work effectively with Windows when a customer, organisation, or application requires it. Windows offers useful engineering and administration tools such as PowerShell, WSL, Visual Studio, database clients, and graphical management consoles. My personal preference remains macOS and Linux because their Unix-like, terminal-centred environments suit the lower-level and systems-focused way I work.
My main development workstation combines Visual Studio Code, the ChatGPT Codex desktop app, and the macOS terminal for engineering, coding, project navigation, builds, tests, and deployment commands. For MySQL development, I use MySQL Workbench to design and inspect databases, run SQL commands, manage schemas, and examine application data. Comparable workflows can also be configured on Windows or Linux; when a Linux development or production environment is appropriate, I prefer the standard Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu Server editions.
Current build focus
Mobile apps, secure messaging, stores, and AI-assisted delivery
My current practical focus is React Native for mobile apps, React and Next.js for web applications, Node.js for custom APIs, and MySQL for application databases. I use these technologies together for secure messaging, ecommerce stores, dashboards, customer portals, and other data-driven products deployed to Ubuntu VPS and AWS Lightsail environments.
My cross-platform Encrypted Messenger app was created around a directly engineered MySQL data layer rather than relying only on a high-level managed backend. I designed the database schema, tables, relationships, indexes, and queries, then connected them through a separately built Node.js API used by the React Native application and its administration dashboard. The product also includes encrypted messaging, video calling, premium-payment work, and first-hand experience of passing Apple App Review.
I also have experience integrating Google advertising products. For iOS and Android applications I work with Google Mobile Ads (AdMob), including app IDs, ad-unit IDs, test adverts, environment-based configuration, and consent-aware release preparation. For eligible websites I can integrate Google AdSense placements and review their responsive implementation. Google controls account approval, policy decisions, advert delivery, and revenue.
I am meticulous about technical and on-page SEO. I review page titles and descriptions, semantic headings, readable URLs, canonical links, sitemaps, robots directives, structured data, social-sharing metadata, internal linking, accessibility, responsive behaviour, and performance. This creates a strong search-engine foundation, although no developer can guarantee a particular ranking because search engines control their own algorithms and results.
AI has significantly accelerated professional development work and, depending on the project, has become an important practical tool for planning, implementation, debugging, tests, and documentation. Through extensive use across real projects, I have developed advanced practical expertise with ChatGPT Codex for repository analysis, architecture, multi-file implementation, API and database work, debugging, responsive interface refinement, build verification, server diagnostics, and deployment. I have used this workflow while designing and engineering multiple web and mobile applications, including React and Next.js interfaces, React Native apps, custom Node.js APIs, MySQL systems, ecommerce stores, dashboards, payments, email tools, and secure file workflows. I remain responsible for every engineering and design decision, security review, customisation, test, and production release; Codex assists my process rather than replacing my technical judgement. Complex applications can use substantial paid Codex credits because deeper reasoning, multi-file changes, repeated testing, and deployment work require more agent processing than a small edit.
Experience
What I can help customers build
- Completed BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Computing and achieved a GCSE pass in Mathematics at 19.
- Later began a university Computer Science course before choosing to continue learning and building independently at home.
- Studied Computer Science independently from 19, with early learning from the UK Government Cyber Discovery programme focused on computer science for cyber security.
- Built blogs using Bootstrap 5, HTML, PHP, and MySQL before moving into modern JavaScript application development.
- Created a video platform using Next.js as a web application project.
- Next.js and React storefronts, landing pages, dashboards, and product interfaces.
- React, Node.js, and MySQL web applications created and edited with AI-assisted workflows while continuing to strengthen code understanding.
- macOS-based, terminal-first development with close attention to processes, permissions, build tooling, databases, logs, and deployment details.
- AI-assisted payment-gateway integration experience with Stripe Checkout flows, webhook fulfilment, secure download planning, and order-success emails.
- Google AdMob integration for mobile applications and Google AdSense integration for eligible websites.
- Meticulous technical and on-page SEO work covering metadata, semantic structure, canonical URLs, sitemaps, structured data, performance, accessibility, and responsive content.
- React Native mobile app development with a Node.js backend, MySQL database, AWS Lightsail hosting, premium payment planning, admin dashboards, and encrypted messaging features.
- Ubuntu server deployment planning with environment variables, server setup guides, PM2, Nginx, SSL, AWS, and UK VPS hosting options.
Qualifications
Formal study and practical delivery skills
- BTEC Level 2 qualification in Computing, completed at 19
- BTEC Level 3 qualification in Computing, completed at 19
- GCSE pass in Mathematics, achieved at 19
- Cyber-security-focused Computer Science study through UK Government Cyber Discovery material
- Self-directed full-stack JavaScript and TypeScript software engineering
- Digital product store architecture with Stripe, MySQL, secure downloads, and email fulfilment
- Database-backed web application planning and implementation with MySQL
- React Native mobile app prototyping with Node.js APIs and MySQL backends
- AWS Lightsail, Ubuntu server, and VPS deployment planning
- macOS and terminal-first engineering workflows for builds, debugging, automation, and server management
- AI-assisted engineering with ChatGPT Codex for planning, coding, debugging, and review
- Google AdMob mobile-ad integration, AdSense website-ad integration, and consent-aware configuration
- Technical and on-page SEO implementation for discoverable, well-structured websites
- Clear technical communication for non-technical customers, developers, and IT professionals
My background combines formal Computing qualifications with continued Computer Science study, practical self-directed software engineering, cyber security study, and hands-on product development across web, mobile, backend, and database systems.
Custom services
Software services available from this store
Each service has its own page with defined deliverables, pricing guidance, and a direct project inquiry route.
Native Swift iOS App
Quoted to scopeNative iPhone and iPad applications built in Swift, with a custom Node.js API and MySQL backend for accounts, data and business workflows.
React Native Mobile App
From £2,000Cross-platform social networking, community, messaging, subscription, marketplace, and business mobile apps backed by first-hand Apple App Store approval experience.
Next.js Magic UI Web Application
From £500Polished Next.js websites and focused interfaces from £500, using reusable Magic UI components and Next.js's integrated server framework. This application can share a £6-per-month UK VPS with a mobile backend and local MySQL; larger builds are quoted to scope.
Custom Next.js Store
From £500A tailored Next.js storefront from £500, built by adapting a suitable Vercel starter or licensed commercial template and adding the design, products, payments, data, and workflows required for your business.
React Web Application
From £2,000Purpose-built React applications with separately engineered Node.js APIs and MySQL database layers, priced above focused Next.js builds to reflect the additional custom backend, data, security, testing, and deployment work.
Branded Email & Newsletter System
From £500A visually polished email and newsletter composer built into your application or admin dashboard, with reusable templates, logos, inline images, previews, subscriber delivery, and optional review requests.