Darren Smith
Software Builder for Startups
I am a lifelong software developer, co-founder of Visit Widget, dedicated learner, and independent software consultant.
Software Development Background
I've been a software developer for nearly my entire life. I started coding when I was seven on a Tandy 1000 computer using the programming language, GW-BASIC. I later taught myself HTML, JavaScript, C/C++, and Java before attending college.
My professional career began at a healthcare company that entrusted me to develop their new reporting product. After moving to Austin in 2007, I became a founding developer at another healthcare startup which successfully exited during my tenure. I did consulting and side projects for a few years which resulted in me becoming the technical co-founder of Visit Widget and building its SaaS platform. It was a success with over 200 cities, states, and countries signing up.
Having fullfilled my goal of making a startup successful by building its software platform, setting up effective processes, and putting together a great team, I decided to narrow my focus on the craft of software development. I hope to utilize my experience in helping out other entrepreneurs build their software products.
Software Development Services
Challenges of Software Development
As an entrepreneur I understand the challenges a stakeholder may have in developing a software product. Software development is still a new field that is rapidly evolving. With that, comes variation in the success of a software project. Common issues include:
- Unexpectedly over budget
- Misinterpretation of requirements
- Increasing complexity that requires code rewrites
- Significantly reduced development velocity as a project matures
- Unnecessarily high costs due to poor decisions
What I Do
I made sure to prevent or mitigate the above issues at Visit Widget. I studied software development methodologies and different ways of designing software, and noted what did or didn't work in my past experiences. I was then able to implement systems and practices that enabled Visit Widget to beat the competition in both quality and price. I now focus on utilizing my knowledge and experience in helping out fellow entrepreneurs.My services include coding web & mobile apps, designing software systems, and implementing effective internal processes and standards.
What You Can Expect
- Rapid development
- Easily maintainable and adaptable code
- Clear, honest communication on progress
- Careful analysis of trade-offs in decision making
- Usage of modern tooling, best practices, and processes
- Low defect rates
Specialization
- Web App Development: ReactJS, Next.js, Node.js, Ruby on Rails
- Mobile App Development: React Native
- Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, HTML, CSS, SQL
- Infrastructure: Heroku, AWS, PostgreSQL, Bitrise
- Processes: Agile, Domain Driven Design, Lean Software Development