About me
I’m Mike Carter, an experienced full-stack developer and technical lead, building on the web since 2006.
I’ve worked with teams of all sizes and have led many digital transformations through the companies I’ve started. I’m at my best collaborating with others to deliver high quality web applications that solve valuable problems.
I've been at this for 2 decades now, and find myself just as excited by AI today as I was by publishing handwritten HTML and CSS when I started.
Skills & Technologies
- AI ☞ Claude Code, Cursor, AI-assisted refactoring & code analysis, prompt engineering and agent orchestration for development workflows.
- Backend ☞ Node.js/TypeScript, Ruby/Ruby on Rails, MySQL/PostgreSQL, Redis, API design.
- Frontend ☞ React/TypeScript, Next.js, SPA architecture, state management, high-volume user flows.
- Mobile ☞ React Native & Hotwire Native, push notifications, authentication, real-time messaging.
- Cloud infrastructure ☞ AWS (ECR, ECS, EC2, RDS, Lambda, Cloudfront, S3, SES, SNS), scalable systems design.
- DevOps ☞ Continuous Integration (CI) & Deployment (CD), automated testing, monitoring.
Work
I’ve founded 2 companies that have worked with numerous big UK brands.
BitBrawn 2021 - Now
I founded BitBrawn to rescue aging web applications that have become too fragile to change. If your JavaScript or Rails system is slowing you down, we stabilise it, modernise it, and get it generating value again without a full rebuild.
Recent projects
- DC Thomson ☞ Rebuilding their subscription purchase platform for better customer experience.
- Laced ☞ Consulting and development support on a major European expansion.
- RIFT ☞ Partnering to digitise and streamline their Tax Refund claims process.
- Purplebricks ☞ Reducing overheads with a self-service property information collection flow.
- Allocate ☞ Leading modernisation and ongoing development of their core web application and API.
Leaf 2016 - 2021
I co-founded Leaf with a design partner, growing the team to seven designers, developers and project managers and delivering high-impact digital products for UK and US clients. We closed Leaf in 2021 to pursue new projects.
Notable clients
- Holiday Extras ☞ Played a major role in the development of their HEHA trip planning app.
- RIFT ☞ Led their digital transformation, enabling hundreds of thousands to self service tax refund claims.
- Laced ☞ Built their digital platform from the ground up and helped them scale to handle hundreds of millions in transactions.
- Allocate ☞ Pulled out of a technical debt crisis and put a sustainable, modern foundation in place.
Holiday Extras 2013 - 2016
I joined Holiday Extras as a Web Developer in 2013, working primarily on their airport hotel and parking booking system.
During my employment I was promoted to Software Engineer, and then Software Architect, where I helped shape technical decision making across the organisation.
Projects
I’ve also created a few digital products of my own.
IsThereSomebody 2023 - Now
A private, anonymous app for people supporting someone through addiction. Features include one-to-one encrypted chat, small community spaces, and curated resources. Currently 600+ active users. Visit IsThereSomebody
Parable 2022 - 2023
An analytics platform for blog posts. Tracks actual readership and provides insights for writers. Built over a year, launched in 2022, shut down in 2023 due to lack of product-market fit.
Howdy 2017 - 2022
A simple tool that brings web contact forms to life with validation and email delivery. Developed at Leaf for small businesses; organically grew to 100+ users before winding down.
Writing
I write about software and product engineering, with an occasional personal update.
Articles
Technical debt just got a bailout
AI coding tools are helping teams finally tackle the technical debt they've been putting off for years.
20th January 2026
Cheap code, expensive pitfalls
Why cutting corners on software development often leads to higher costs in the long run.
12th January 2026A comically complex cloud
A look at how cloud infrastructure can spiral into unnecessary complexity.
18th December 2025Understanding web application technologies
A guide to the key technologies that power modern web applications.
30th September 2025How to manage risk in software development
Practical strategies for identifying and mitigating risks in software projects.
15th January 2024What is web application development?
An introduction to web application development for non-technical readers.
31st October 2023Web application vs. website: What's the difference?
Breaking down the distinction between static websites and interactive web applications.
3rd October 2023My first failed product
A year after launch, I'm declaring my first product a failure. Here's why, and what I plan to do differently next time.
8th February 2023Testing and tradeoffs
More tests aren't always better. Exploring testing tradeoffs and the importance of using a mix of tools to control software quality.
31st August 2021How much does a web application cost?
A breakdown of factors that influence the cost of building a custom web application.
1st July 2021For a better web, let developers learn
Systemic demands on developers prevent them from building deep expertise, and it's holding back the web on an industry-wide scale.
31st May 2021Choosing a good development partner
What to look for when selecting an agency or freelancer for your software project.
6th April 2021The economics of JavaScript web apps
Examining the real costs and benefits of building JavaScript-heavy web applications.
23rd February 2020Fix the right problems in your code
We spend too much time making vanity improvements to our code, while failing to make refactors that affect long-term quality.
2nd February 2020Twitter makes me feel bad
Twitter has some great web development chatter. However, it also makes me feel like a fake and a failure.
4th January 2020Things I wish I understood before starting an agency
As an employee who made the switch to running a business, here are some things I wish I'd understood before starting.
26th October 2019Putting Amazon Textract to the test
Testing Amazon's OCR service to see how well it performs on real-world documents.
17th September 2019How to thrive in an automated business world
Strategies for businesses to embrace automation without losing their human edge.
20th August 2019Automate where it matters with process maps
Using process maps to identify the best opportunities for automation in your business.
16th July 2019Goals matter
Why setting clear goals is essential for successful software projects.
18th June 2019The power of small development phases
Breaking large projects into smaller phases reduces risk and improves outcomes.
17th December 2018A home office for productivity
Tips for setting up a home office environment that helps you do your best work.
2nd August 2018Behavioural traps in software teams
Common psychological traps that derail software teams and how to avoid them.
21st May 2018Working too much? Please stop
Overwork hurts productivity and wellbeing. Here's why you should set boundaries.
20th November 20175 tips for actually shipping a side project
Practical advice for getting your side projects across the finish line.
29th March 2017There are no excuses for poor engineering in 2017
With modern tools and practices available, poor engineering standards are inexcusable.
2nd March 20175 tips for a smoother code review process
How to make code reviews more effective and less painful for everyone involved.
18th March 2015Taming your Technical Debt
Strategies for managing and reducing technical debt in your codebase.
9th March 20145 tips for great performance from your Cordova app
Performance optimization techniques for hybrid mobile apps built with Cordova.
20th January 2014
Personal updates
Mistakes from 6 months of freelancing
I started working as a freelance development consultant in April 2021. 6 months and almost £50,000 later, here are a few of my biggest mistakes.
29th October 2021Freelancing update - August 2021
Revenue and reflections on my fifth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
14th September 2021Freelancing update - July 2021
Revenue and reflections on my fourth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
12th August 2021Freelancing update - June 2021
Revenue and reflections on my third month of working as a freelance development consultant.
12th July 2021Freelancing update - May 2021
Numbers and reflections on my second month of freelance development consulting.
7th June 2021My first month of freelancing
I started working as a freelance development consultant full time in April 2021. Here are the numbers and reflections on my first month.
4th May 2021Moving on from Leaf
Leaf is closing its doors in April 2021. Here's why we're winding down a profitable agency business, and what I plan to do next.
19th March 2021