Starting as a full-stack developer at OneByte LLC in 2016 and now running my own consultancy firm has been an incredible 10-year journey. In this post, I want to share the key milestones, technical evolution, and lessons learned that shaped my path from junior developer to founder and consultant.
The Foundation: OneByte LLC (2016)
My professional journey began at OneByte LLC, where I laid the groundwork for everything that followed. As a Full Stack Developer, this was my introduction to production-grade web development:
Core Skills Developed:
- Mastered JavaScript/Node.js ecosystem fundamentals
- Built dynamic web applications with Angular and React Native
- Learned MySQL with Sequelize ORM for database management
- Handled PSD to HTML pixel-perfect responsive conversions
- Implemented RESTful APIs and JWT authentication
Key Takeaways: This role taught me the importance of clean code, responsive design, and full-stack thinking. Working with cross-functional teams on Slack, Basecamp, and Jira gave me early exposure to agile development practices.
Building at Scale: Servup (2017-2018)
Moving to Servup marked my first step into mentorship and architecture decisions. This 1.5-year stint was transformative:
Technical Growth:
- Developed user-facing features in ReactJS and React Native
- Built server-side logic with REST APIs and WebSocket real-time communication
- Integrated payment gateways (Stripe, 2Checkout, JazzCash)
- Worked extensively with MongoDB and Mongoose
- Introduced Storybook for component development
Leadership Evolution:
- Trained and mentored interns and junior developers
- Managed scrum cycles and optimized team resource utilization
- Contributed to project scope and architecture decisions
- Helped establish coding standards and data flow patterns
Key Takeaways: I learned that being a great developer isn't just about writing code—it's about empowering others, making architectural decisions, and understanding business needs. The experience with payment integrations and SSL configuration taught me the importance of security and reliability.
Scaling Up: VentureDive (2018-2019)
At VentureDive, I focused on healthcare and mobility applications, further refining my frontend expertise:
Technical Achievements:
- Created complex frontend applications in ReactJS for regulated industries
- Configured and deployed servers on AWS using PM2
- Established application structure and streamlined development processes
- Worked with Firebase for real-time data synchronization
Mentorship:
- Mentored junior developers in React architecture
- Defined coding standards and best practices for the team
Key Takeaways: Working in healthcare taught me about regulatory compliance, data sensitivity, and the importance of rigorous testing. Cloud deployment experience with AWS was invaluable for understanding DevOps fundamentals.
Standardization and Excellence: Relayr (2019-2022)
My nearly 4-year tenure at Relayr was a masterclass in engineering excellence and standardization. This is where I truly became a senior engineer:
Major Contributions:
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Design System Implementation
- Collaborated with designers to introduce a comprehensive design system using Material-UI and Storybook
- Ensured consistent UI/UX across all company products
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Developer Experience Revolution
- Created custom boilerplate solutions built on top of Create React App
- Automated project bootstrapping with prebuilt testing, Prettier, ESLint, and Jenkins configuration
- Reduced new project setup time from weeks to hours
-
Release Automation
- Implemented semantic versioning using semantic-release
- Introduced conventional commits for automated changelogs
- Streamlined deployment processes
-
Build Optimization
- Configured Webpack and Rollup for specific use cases (libraries vs. UI applications)
- Migrated from legacy Gulp/Grunt to modern bundling solutions
- Improved build performance and maintainability
-
Testing Excellence
- Transitioned from Enzyme to react-testing-library
- Advocated for and implemented Cypress for visual testing
- Introduced MSW for API mocking, dramatically improving testing DX
- Established company-wide JavaScript Airbnb style guide
Key Takeaways: This role taught me that senior engineers don't just write code—they build systems that make entire teams more productive. Creating tooling, establishing standards, and improving developer experience became as important as feature development.
Blockchain and Performance: Glassnode (2022-2023)
Glassnode exposed me to the cutting edge of Web3 and performance optimization:
Technical Highlights:
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External Integration
- Integrated WalletConnect for cross-platform crypto wallet functionality
- Worked with ethers.js and web3.js for blockchain interactions
-
Design System Maturity
- Standardized theme styling and design tokens (typography, spacing, color palettes)
- Established comprehensive internal developer style guide
-
High-Performance Tables
- Built a crypto & NFT transactions table handling thousands of records
- Optimized for sorting, filtering, and categorization critical for tax records
- Ensured performance, user-friendliness, and thorough testing
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Application Setup
- Architected core frontend for the crypto portfolio tracker from scratch
- Used Next.js, Material-UI, and PostgreSQL with Prisma
-
Testing Excellence
- Increased application code coverage by 80%
- Implemented comprehensive unit and integration testing with Jest, react-testing-library, and Cypress
- Reduced CI/CD pipeline timeframe through optimized testing strategies
Key Takeaways: Working in Web3 taught me about performance optimization at scale, the importance of user experience in financial applications, and how to architect applications from the ground up. The focus on testing quality directly correlated with product reliability.
The Entrepreneurial Leap: Binary Code Barn (2024-Present)
In February 2024, I took the leap to establish Binary Code Barn as a lean web and AI agentic agency. This decision represented the culmination of everything I'd learned:
Why I Made the Leap:
- Independence and Innovation: Building proprietary products alongside agency work
- Direct Impact: Available for direct contracts as a Senior Full Stack Developer
- Lead and mentor a team of 5-10 engineers in modern ReactJS architecture
- Focus on composition patterns and clean code practices
- Establish technical direction for multiple product teams
- Cutting-Edge Technology: Focus on AI, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and agentic systems
- Bespoke Solutions: Delivering custom solutions without corporate constraints
Current Focus Areas:
- MERN/MEAN stack applications
- React Native mobile development
- AI integration and agentic workflows
- RAG implementations for intelligent applications
- IT consulting for web applications
Business Model: Operating as a hands-on developer while running a boutique agency allows me to:
- Choose projects aligned with my values and interests
- Work directly with clients without layers of management
- Continuously innovate with AI and emerging technologies
- Maintain technical sharpness while building business acumen
Key Lessons from Years in Tech
1. Evolution is Constant, Mastery is Incremental
From jQuery and Angular to React, from REST to WebSocket, from traditional state management to React Query and Zustand—technology never stops evolving. The key is:
- Building strong fundamentals that transcend specific tools
- Staying curious and allocating time for continuous learning
- Understanding patterns rather than just frameworks
2. Seniority is About Enablement, Not Just Expertise
My journey from individual contributor to team lead taught me that senior roles require:
- Creating systems and tools that multiply team productivity
- Mentoring others generously
- Making architectural decisions with long-term implications
- Balancing technical excellence with business pragmatism
3. Standardization Unlocks Velocity
Whether introducing ESLint, creating boilerplates, or establishing design systems:
- Standards reduce cognitive load
- Automation eliminates repetitive decisions
- Consistency enables scalability
The best senior engineers are system thinkers, not just code writers.
4. Testing is a Competitive Advantage
Every role taught me more about testing. By Glassnode, I'd increased coverage by 80%. The pattern is clear:
- Comprehensive testing enables confident refactoring
- Good tests serve as documentation
- Testing infrastructure (MSW, react-testing-library, Cypress) is as important as production code
- Teams with strong testing cultures ship faster and with fewer bugs
5. Communication Multiplies Technical Impact
Technical brilliance without communication is locally optimal but globally suboptimal. Learning to:
- Explain complex concepts simply
- Document decisions and patterns
- Collaborate across functions (design, product, QA)
- Present architectural proposals convincingly
These skills became as valuable as coding ability.
6. Entrepreneurship Requires Different Muscles
Running Binary Code Barn taught me:
- Business development and client relationships
- Project scoping and pricing
- Risk management and financial planning
- Personal branding and marketing
Technical excellence is necessary but insufficient for entrepreneurial success.
7. Bet on Fundamentals, Explore Bleeding Edge
My career progression shows a balance:
- Strong fundamentals: JavaScript, Node.js, React, testing, clean code
- Strategic adoption: TypeScript, Next.js, modern build tools
- Exploration: Web3, AI, RAG, agentic systems
The fundamentals provide stability; exploration provides differentiation.
What's Next?
As I continue growing Binary Code Barn and working with enterprise clients, I'm focused on:
- AI Integration: Building practical AI-powered applications using RAG and agentic architectures
- Thought Leadership: Sharing learnings through writing, speaking, and open source
- Team Building: Eventually growing Binary Code Barn from a solo operation to a small team of exceptional developers
- Product Development: Creating proprietary products that solve real problems
- Continuous Learning: Exploring emerging technologies while deepening expertise in current stack
Advice for Developers on Similar Journeys
If you're navigating your own path from developer to senior engineer or considering entrepreneurship:
- Master the Fundamentals First: Framework knowledge is temporary; fundamentals are forever
- Document Your Journey: Write about what you learn; teaching solidifies knowledge
- Build in Public: Open source contributions and public projects build credibility
- Invest in Soft Skills: Communication, mentorship, and leadership separate good from great
- Create Systems, Not Just Code: Think about how to make entire teams more productive
- Test Rigorously: It's the foundation of sustainable velocity
- Take Calculated Risks: Entrepreneurship is scary but planned risk-taking is manageable
- Stay Curious: The moment you stop learning is the moment you start declining
Closing Thoughts
Looking back at 10 years—from converting PSDs to HTML at OneByte to architecting enterprise applications and running my own consultancy—the journey has been challenging, rewarding, and continuously educational.
The most important lesson? Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Every role, every failure, every success builds toward something larger. The junior developer struggling with Sequelize at OneByte couldn't imagine architecting multi-team design systems or building AI agents, but each step built the foundation for the next.
If you're on a similar journey or considering making a career change, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to share insights, review your code, discuss architecture patterns, or talk about the entrepreneurial leap.
The future is bright, the technology is exciting, and there's never been a better time to be a developer.
Want to connect? Find me on LinkedIn, check out my GitHub, or book a consultation call to discuss your project.