Independent systems engineering

Aug 28, 2026Ownership4 min read

Why I Ship Source Code With Every Project

Vendor lock-in is a tax on small businesses. Every system I deliver includes the full source, docs, and a handover session, here's why that matters.

Aug 14, 2026Architecture5 min read

Choosing Boring Technology for LGU Systems

Postgres, Next.js, and a single VPS beat microservices for a municipal records system. Reliability is a feature.

A clinician reviewing records on a tablet

Jul 30, 2026Systems5 min read

Offline-First Patterns for Clinic Record Systems

Intermittent connectivity shouldn't stop patient intake. Notes on local-first sync, conflict resolution, and queue-based writes.

A checklist and planning notes on a desk

Jul 12, 2026Process4 min read

What I Check Before Saying Yes to a Project

Scope clarity, data ownership, and a real decision-maker. A short checklist that saves both sides weeks of pain.

Jun 25, 2026Performance5 min read

Designing Systems for Low-End Devices and Slow Networks

Your users aren't on flagship phones and fiber. Performance budgets, progressive enhancement, and why the slowest device in the room sets the bar.

A signed document and pen representing legal compliance

Jun 8, 2026Compliance5 min read

The Data Privacy Act Is Not Optional, Even for Small Systems

RA 10173 applies to a barangay records system the same way it applies to a bank. What compliance looks like for small teams.

Database diagrams and query plans on a screen

May 22, 2026Databases4 min read

The Three Postgres Indexes That Actually Matter

Most slow queries in small systems trace back to three missing indexes. Here's which ones to add first, and which to skip.

May 10, 2026Databases4 min read

Why I Keep ORM Magic Out of Critical Paths

ORMs are fine for CRUD. For reports, migrations, and anything that touches money or records, I write the SQL myself.

Apr 28, 2026Operations4 min read

A Backup Strategy Small Teams Can Actually Maintain

Nightly dumps, off-site copies, and a restore drill every quarter. Backups you haven't tested are a hope, not a plan.

Technical notes.

Technical notes.

Why I Ship Source Code With Every Project

Choosing Boring Technology for LGU Systems

Offline-First Patterns for Clinic Record Systems

What I Check Before Saying Yes to a Project

Designing Systems for Low-End Devices and Slow Networks

The Data Privacy Act Is Not Optional, Even for Small Systems

The Three Postgres Indexes That Actually Matter

Why I Keep ORM Magic Out of Critical Paths

A Backup Strategy Small Teams Can Actually Maintain

Why I Ship Source Code With Every Project

Choosing Boring Technology for LGU Systems

Offline-First Patterns for Clinic Record Systems

What I Check Before Saying Yes to a Project

Designing Systems for Low-End Devices and Slow Networks

The Data Privacy Act Is Not Optional, Even for Small Systems

The Three Postgres Indexes That Actually Matter

Why I Keep ORM Magic Out of Critical Paths

A Backup Strategy Small Teams Can Actually Maintain

Technical notes.

Technical notes.

Why I Ship Source Code With Every Project

Choosing Boring Technology for LGU Systems

Offline-First Patterns for Clinic Record Systems

What I Check Before Saying Yes to a Project

Designing Systems for Low-End Devices and Slow Networks

The Data Privacy Act Is Not Optional, Even for Small Systems

The Three Postgres Indexes That Actually Matter

Why I Keep ORM Magic Out of Critical Paths

A Backup Strategy Small Teams Can Actually Maintain

Why I Ship Source Code With Every Project

Choosing Boring Technology for LGU Systems

Offline-First Patterns for Clinic Record Systems

What I Check Before Saying Yes to a Project

Designing Systems for Low-End Devices and Slow Networks

The Data Privacy Act Is Not Optional, Even for Small Systems

The Three Postgres Indexes That Actually Matter

Why I Keep ORM Magic Out of Critical Paths

A Backup Strategy Small Teams Can Actually Maintain