Developer workstation with glowing monitors

I build software
you own.

Software built for you on open-source technology. No agency overhead. No paid dependencies. One architect, one commitment — and at the end, the code is yours.

Days since I started
building software
days
See Pricing How It Works →
20+
Years Building
1
Architect
0
Paid Software Dependencies
The Problem

You're renting software you'll never own.

Hands working on intricate circuitry

Every SaaS subscription is a lease you never pay off. Every agency contract ends with a handoff and a codebase no one understands. You pay developers by the hour, and when they leave, the knowledge leaves with them.

I built my first rendering engine in 2006 by reading docs and breaking things until they worked. Since then, I've shipped production systems across product visualization, AI integration, and full-stack platforms — systems that are still running. I've worked with teams across five countries and distilled what I learned into a one-person operation powered by two decades of domain expertise and modern AI tooling.

My model is different. I build your software during an active development phase, then transition to a lower-cost lease. Want to own it outright? A one-time buyout fee transfers the code, servers, API keys — everything — to you. The cost depends on your term. No vendor lock-in. Just yours when you're ready.

Commit. Build. Own.

01

Choose Your Term

Select a commitment length from 12 to 150 months. Shorter terms cost more per month. Longer terms give you the best rate and the deepest relationship with your software architect.

02

I Build & Evolve

Throughout the commitment, I design, build, and continuously improve your software. New features, integrations, scaling, bug fixes — it's all covered. One architect who knows every line.

03

Maintain or Buy Out

Once built, transition to a lower-cost lease. Or buy out with a one-time fee based on your term — code, servers, and API keys transfer to you. It's always your choice.

Stop renting. Start owning.

Traditional Dev
Derek Does Web
You own the code
Sometimes, if you negotiate
Always. Buyout based on term.
Predictable cost
Hourly billing, scope creep
Flat monthly. No surprises.
Architect continuity
Teams rotate, knowledge is lost
Same architect, entire term.
Ongoing evolution
Requires new SOWs, re-scoping
Continuous. Built into the model.
Vendor lock-in
Often. Proprietary stacks, no docs
Zero. Full documentation included.
After you stop paying
Software rots. Support ends.
Lease or full buyout. Your call.

Active development. Lease. Buyout.

Small Business Commercial Manufacturer
Small Business
Appnow Platform

Keep your app connected after buyout.

When you buy out your software, you own everything — code, servers, API keys. But your app can stay registered with the Appnow platform for ongoing runtime updates, security patches, and configuration management.

$800 /year
  • Runtime updates & security patches
  • Configuration management via service.appnow.one
  • Health monitoring & diagnostics
  • Priority support for platform issues

Included with all Active Dev and Lease plans. Optional for buyout clients.

Donatello AI Assistant

On the Appnow Platform? Derek has an AI solution for you.

Introducing Donatello — an AI assistant that monitors your application, detects issues before they become outages, and applies fixes automatically. Need a change? Just describe it in chat — Donatello handles the rest.

$24 hr
  • Self-healing: automatic detection & recovery
  • Chat-driven updates — describe changes in plain English
  • Continuous monitoring & health checks
  • Configuration & content changes on demand

Available for Lease and Buyout clients. Donatello for $24/hr, my junior ai developer assistant. Donatello will be more expensive as he learns to do everything I can.

Whatever your business needs. Built from scratch.

Custom Web Applications

Full-stack platforms, admin dashboards, customer portals — built to your exact specifications with no framework baggage.

Product Visualization

Photorealistic rendering engines, 3D product configurators, real-time pattern and texture compositing systems.

AI-Powered Tools

Intelligent search, automated analysis, computer vision integration — AI that actually solves business problems.

E-Commerce Platforms

Custom storefronts, inventory systems, payment integration — built for your business model, not someone else's template.

Data Systems & APIs

Backend architectures, database design, REST and webhook integrations that scale with your operation.

Automation & Workflow

Internal tools that eliminate repetitive work, connect your systems, and let your team focus on what matters.

Wireframe dashboard on laptop
Web Applications
Holographic floor plan visualization
Visualization
Neural network node visualization
AI Integration

Let's build
something yours.

No sales deck. No discovery call with a junior rep. Just a direct conversation with the person who'll build your software.

Donatello
AI Assistant
Hey — I'm Donatello, Derek's AI assistant. I can answer questions about his services, pricing, and approach. What would you like to know?