Engineering
Custom Software Development
Web applications, SaaS platforms, APIs and mobile apps designed around your business, built for production from the first commit.
Talk to us about Custom Software DevelopmentCustom software built around how your business works: web applications, SaaS platforms, APIs and the mobile apps that sit on top of them. One engineering team covers backend, frontend and infrastructure, so there is no handover gap between the people who design it and the people who run it.
We build for production from the first commit. That means tests, monitoring, documentation and a rollback plan are part of the work, not extras added before launch.
Problems this solves
- Off-the-shelf tools no longer fit and the workarounds cost more than the tools save.
- A product idea needs a first version that can grow without a rewrite.
- An older system is slow to change and risky to touch.
- Partners or customers need a stable API to build against.
What this covers
Web applications
Fast, accessible applications for customers or internal teams, designed for real workflows and long-term maintenance.
SaaS platforms
Multi-tenant architecture, role-based access, subscriptions and billing, built so the first tenant and the thousandth are served by the same design.
API development
Versioned, documented APIs with authentication and rate limiting, to a standard outside partners can rely on.
Mobile apps
Cross-platform apps tied into your backend and business workflows, sharing one API with the web product.
Legacy modernisation
Replacing what is actually broken, step by step, instead of a risky full rewrite.
Typical projects
Examples of the kind of work this covers, not a list of past clients.
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Internal operations tool
A system built around your process that replaces spreadsheets and email threads.
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Customer portal
A secure place for customers to see orders, documents or account data and act on them.
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First version of a SaaS product
A scoped first release with accounts, permissions and billing, built to grow.
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Partner API
A documented, versioned API that customers and partners can build against.
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Legacy system replacement
An old system replaced piece by piece while it keeps running.
What a custom software project includes
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Technical plan and estimate
Stack, architecture, integrations and risks agreed before building starts.
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Working software in short cycles
You see progress in a running environment throughout, not only on launch day.
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Automated tests and code review
Changes are checked before they reach production.
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Deployment pipeline and monitoring
Releases are routine, and errors and performance are visible from day one.
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Documentation and handover
Your team can run and extend the system without us.
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Full ownership
Every repository, credential and piece of infrastructure is yours. No proprietary framework and no lock-in.
Is custom software the right fit?
A good fit when
- The software is central to how you operate or what you sell.
- You want one team responsible from design to operation.
- You plan to keep and grow the system for years.
Probably not when
- An existing product already does the job well. Buy it.
- You need a brochure website. A site builder is faster and cheaper.
How a custom software project runs
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01
Understand
A short call to understand the actual problem, not just the requested feature. We push back if the scope doesn't match the goal.
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02
Architect
A concrete technical plan and estimate before any code is written, covering stack, integrations, and where the real risk is.
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03
Build
Iterative delivery with visibility into progress, not a black box until launch day.
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04
Validate
Tested against real-world requirements and failure modes, not just the happy path, before anything reaches production.
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05
Operate
Deployed, monitored, and supported after launch, with infrastructure and observability included from day one. Never a forced retainer.
Technology we work with
- Python and Django
- PostgreSQL
- Redis and Celery for background work
- HTMX, Alpine.js and Tailwind CSS on the front end
- REST APIs with OpenAPI documentation
- Docker and GitHub Actions for delivery
Questions about Custom Software Development
Do you build web, mobile and backend together?
Yes. Web applications, mobile apps and the APIs behind them are planned as one system, which avoids building the same logic twice.
Can you work with our existing developers?
Yes. We can lead a specific workstream or work alongside your engineers in your repositories and your process.
Which technologies do you use?
We choose established, well-supported technology that fits the problem and that other engineers can maintain. Our own stack is Python and Django, PostgreSQL, Redis and Docker, and we work with other stacks where a project already uses them.
Can you take over or modernise an existing system?
Yes. We start with a review of the code and infrastructure, then replace or repair the parts that cause the most pain first.
Who owns the code?
You do, from the first day. The repositories, accounts and infrastructure are set up in your name.
How much does custom software development cost?
It depends on scope, so we do not publish a price list. After a short call to understand the problem you get a written estimate with its assumptions, before any commitment. If the work is not worth doing, we say so.
How long does a first version take?
We agree a fixed period for the first version during planning and fit the scope to it, instead of letting the date slip as ideas are added. The period is stated in the plan you receive before any build starts.
From the blog
Technical Debt: What to Fix Now and What to Leave
Not all technical debt is worth paying off. A way to decide which problems to fix, which to contain and which to ignore.
What to Ask Before Hiring a Software Development Partner
The questions that reveal how a development company really works: ownership, people, estimates, quality and what happens when you leave.
How to Scope a First Version of a Software Product
A first version should prove one thing with one group of users. How to cut a feature list down to that without cutting what matters.