Custom Software Development
I build software that solves real problems.
Product-minded technical leader with 40 years of experience. I help businesses ship solutions that work—no fluff, no framework worship, just clear thinking and steady execution.
About
40 years of building things that work.
I've worked across enterprise and SMB, especially on platform and integration-heavy projects. My background spans software and systems work—networking, middleware, embedded—plus project and people leadership.
Eleven years at IBM taught me how to ship at scale. Building products at Splinterlands showed me the startup pace. Now I help businesses solve problems they thought were too hard or too niche for off-the-shelf solutions.
I use modern AI tools as part of my workflow. Click this link to enter my lab and learn more.
"My approach is simple: start with first principles, keep it close to the metal, and resist the urge to over-engineer. What's the simplest thing that actually works?"
Process
Spec-driven development
Every engagement follows a defined process—from initial discovery through delivery and ongoing support. Clear scope, honest pricing, no surprises.
No lock-in
You own the code and control access. Usage and code documented for the long haul, not just the handoff.
Flexible engagement models
Per-project and per-hour options available. We determine the right fit before work begins.
Written agreements at every step
Scope defined before coding. Changes documented and priced before implementation. Acceptance criteria agreed before delivery. No ambiguity about what you're getting or what it costs. Maintenance available if you need it, out of your hair if you don't.
Resume
Work Experience
Entrepreneurship pivot. Building products, shipping tools, developing and honing the spec-driven approach that now guides my work.
Built out org charts and processes for dev/product teams alongside CTO during hypergrowth (10 → 150 employees). Provided leadership through growth to 10k new users/day at peak. SPS defi exchange listings, and product launches—including a $2.5M presale that sold out in under two minutes.
Technology strategy for growing cooperative. Cloud migration, e-commerce, new store buildout, help desk culture transformation.
Outsourced IT consulting for SMBs—dental, legal, retail. End-to-end client relationships. Helped small business owners navigate and optimize technology.
Strong execution opened doors to interesting work—ViaVoice speech recognition, WebSphere middleware, embedded systems. Grew from engineer to project and people management. Three US patents.
Education
Portfolio
Recent work
MediaBeast Suite
Open SourceThree-tool suite that extends Tiny Media Manager to track your entire movie collection—physical discs, HTPC files, and streaming—in one unified, searchable library you can publish to the web.
eBay Listing Tools
Internal ToolsBuilt a Windows app that vastly reduced eBay listing pain. Built a SaaS version to share it with the world. Realized the business case didn't support the infrastructure required.
Dymo Scale Integration
Tech DemoPython module that reads weight directly from a $30 Dymo M10 USB postal scale via HID protocol. Drop a package on the scale, capture the weight instantly—no manual entry.
Script Assistant
Tech DemoMost video content is trapped in files—unsearchable, unqueryable. Script Assistant changes that. Local faster-whisper transcription plus Claude API creates a lightweight RAG system for your footage. Ask "when did I explain the deployment process?" and get clickable timestamps. Adaptable to product demos, training videos, or documentation workflows.
Stream Deck for Business
Tech DemoElgato markets these to gamers. I wired one to Python and turned it into a business command center. 32 LCD buttons that query APIs, display live data, and execute complex workflows with a single tap. Every button programmable. Every button updating in real-time. What would YOUR version look like?
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Contact
Let's Talk
Whether you have a project in mind or just want to explore possibilities, I'm happy to chat. No pressure, no pitch—just a conversation.
Or email me at john@johnbrantly.com
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