mike gibson

Available for new work

Senior Software Development & Consulting
Your one-stop software and AI solution

I'm Mike Gibson, a freelance full-stack engineer and consultant. For over two decades I have built cross-platform desktop, web, and mobile software, including e-commerce sites and payment integrations.

I have also worked with AI infrastructure, training, integration, deployment, and node-based generative pipelines since 2023.

I would love to bring my experience with these technologies to your next project.

Contact me → View portfolio More about AI
Me visiting Kyoto, Japan along the Kamogawa river in 2024
Mike Gibson Software developer and consultant
Experience
25+ years
Rate
$90/hour
New Client Discount
20% off 100 hours
Based
Falls Church, VA, USA

Working together

Why hire a freelancer?

Experience, without the overhead

I bring over two decades of software development experience to your project. You get quality work, quickly, without the costs and hassle of a full-time employee such as insurance, office space, or vacation.

No long-term commitment

My work is entirely contract-based and requires no long-term commitment on your part. However, I am committed to providing ongoing support for your project, as evidenced by my many long-term clients.

You own the code

You hold full copyright to all the code and applications I produce as work-for-hire, with direct access to the source through GitHub or the version control system of your choice.

Start to finish

What goes into your project?

Writing code is only one part of delivering working software. Here is what working with me covers, from our first conversation through years of support after launch.

  1. Planning & Estimation

    Every project starts with a conversation.

    We talk through what you want your application to do, and I ask the questions that surface hidden requirements early. We break the project into milestones or create proof-of-concepts for any unknowns. You get a written estimate with a fixed scope or an hourly cap.

  2. Architecture & Engineering

    Choosing the right technology before any code is written.

    With my guidance, we choose the right technology for the job: programming languages, data transfer and storage, hosting options and platforms to target.

  3. Implementation

    Creating the actual software.

    Desktop, web, or mobile. I follow best practices to save time and keep your code bug-free: object oriented, reusable, well commented, version controlled and easy to collaborate or pass to another developer.

  4. Communication & Demonstrations

    You will never wonder how your project is going.

    I send regular updates and working demo builds you can click through, not just status reports. If anything changes the schedule or the cost estimate, you hear it from me right away.

  5. Presentations, Revisions & Iteration

    This is a collaborative process

    I am happy to provide software presentations to you, your team, and your clients, so that we can collaboratively improve the software, design new features, and make sure it meets everyone's needs.

  6. Version Control & Handoff

    Your code lives in your repository.

    Everything goes into GitHub (or whichever system you prefer) from day one. You can review the history, share it with your team, or hand it to another developer at any time. This also serves as automatic backup and the ability to roll back mistakes.

  7. Deployment & Platform Review

    Getting apps into stores and onto servers.

    Apple and Google review every app before it goes live, and a rejection can stall a launch for weeks. I have shipped through both review systems many times and can help to navigate their (often confusing) review system. I also help with certificate generation, code signing, and all the other hoops software has to jump through to be published.

  8. Ongoing Support

    I stay available after launch.

    Operating systems update, requirements change, and odd bugs show up over time. I'm here to provide support to you and your team. Many of my clients have worked with me continuously for many years.

Long-term clients

Clients who keep coming back.

Good software is a long relationship, not a single delivery. These clients have trusted me with their products year after year, and continue to do so.

  • since 2018

    MRC Polymers

    • Inventory & management systems
    • Lab testing & reporting
    • Server hosting & admin
    • AI research
  • since 2019

    McLane Environmental

    • Groundwater contaminant analysis
    • 3D charting & map overlay
    • E-commerce & activation
    • Cloud hosting & admin
  • since 2019

    HpA Engineering

    • Turbine alignment software
    • Multi-device Bluetooth integration
  • since 2021

    Dynamic AS

    • Evaluation & contracting
    • Database development
    • Reporting & data export
    • Server administration
  • since 2024

    Spitfire Management / CECO Concrete

    • iOS management app
    • Microsoft Entra integration
    • API integration
    • Offline capability

Portfolio

Current and select works

Below are a few projects that I am particularly proud of. Click any one for details, or see my full portfolio.

See all 30+ projects →

Technologies

What do I build with?

These are the technologies I build with, often combined so that desktop, mobile, and web apps can talk to each other and share data online. If you are not sure what your project needs, I can recommend the right fit. If you want something not listed here I can usually pick it up quickly.

Desktop & Mobile

Xojo

Expert

Mac · Windows · iOS · Android · Web

In my opinion Xojo is the best for write-once, deploy-everywhere software. I have used Xojo and its predecessor RealBasic for over twenty years. Reusable code and native apps across mobile, desktop and web.

More about Xojo →

React Native

Expert

iOS · Android

Creates native apps using JavaScript. Facebook built it, and many well-known apps use it.

Swift / Kotlin

Intermediate

iOS · SwiftUI · Android

Apple and Google's native languages for iOS and Android apps, plus their UIs for modern interfaces. The right choice when an app needs the full speed and polish of the native platform, if XOJO is not an option.

Cordova / PhoneGap

Expert

iOS · Android

Builds hybrid mobile apps quickly and at lower cost than native development. Older, but still good choice for internal software where budget is more important than polish.

Modern Web

JavaScript / Node.js

Expert

Web · API · Mobile

The language of the web, on the page and the server. On the back end I build API endpoints and services with Node, often using Express or Fastify.

APIs & Integrations

Expert

Web · Desktop · Mobile

Third-party service integrations can save time and money: databases (Fauna, MongoDB), authentication (Firebase Auth), email (SendGrid), payments (Stripe and PayPal).

React / Next.js

Expert

Web · Mobile

My go-to for web applications, usually styled with Tailwind. Pages are pre-rendered, which makes them fast and easy for search engines to index.

Git, GitHub & Vercel

Expert

Web · Tooling

Version control and hosting. You always have access to the repository and the deployment, not just the finished product.

Foundations

JavaScript

Expert

Mobile · Web

Useful in web pages, mobile apps, and server code alike. I have written it daily for most of my career.

HTML5 / CSS

Expert

Mobile · Web

The foundation of every web app and most hybrid mobile apps.

PHP / Classic ASP

Expert

Scripting · REST APIs

Server-side scripting for APIs and websites. A lot of business software still runs on these, and I am comfortable maintaining it or building new endpoints.

SQL / SQLite / MySQL

Expert

Database design

Over twenty years of database design, including work for the USAID prior to 2003. Knowing these relational databases well also helps with newer noSQL database design.

Additional technologies (40)
  • AngularJS
  • Basic
  • Bootstrap
  • Cryptography (theory, hashes, AES, Blowfish)
  • Fastify
  • FaunaDB
  • Firebase Auth
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • IndexedDb
  • jQuery
  • jQuery Mobile
  • JAMstack
  • JSON
  • JSX
  • LAMP
  • LocalStorage
  • MongoDB
  • MS Access
  • MySQL Workbench
  • NextJS
  • Node.js
  • PayPal
  • PhoneGap Build
  • Photoshop
  • Pixelmator
  • Protocols (FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, POP3, SMTP, SSL)
  • React
  • RealBasic
  • RealSQL
  • REST APIs
  • SendGrid
  • Stripe
  • Tailwind
  • Vercel
  • Visual Basic
  • VB6
  • WebSQL
  • Wordpress
  • XML

Select clients

Companies I've built software for.

  • Spitfire Software
    Spitfire Software
  • CECO Concrete Construction
    CECO Concrete Construction
  • McLane Environmental, LLC
    McLane Environmental, LLC
  • Dynamic AS
    Dynamic AS
  • Doxie Scanners
    Doxie Scanners
  • HpA Engineering & Consulting
    HpA Engineering & Consulting
  • MRC Polymers
    MRC Polymers
  • HealthPriceCompare.com
    HealthPriceCompare.com
  • PC Magazine
    PC Magazine
  • BrewersHops
    BrewersHops
  • Thetasphere, LLC
    Thetasphere, LLC
  • WorryTree
    WorryTree
  • Event Illusions
    Event Illusions
  • ShoreHire
    ShoreHire
  • LuxoSoft
    LuxoSoft
  • RPowerMedia
    RPowerMedia

What my clients say

100% client satisfaction is always my goal

  • I would highly recommend Mike for you to consider as the developer on your project. He has been the best software developer, and one of the best consultants and professionals, that I have had the pleasure to work with.

    Charles McLane · McLane Environmental

  • Mike is amazing. He delivers products of the highest quality and works continuously on the product to make it perfect for the customer.

    Michael Rupp · GlobalTech Software

  • Upper management was really impressed with this project! I'd be glad if [Mike] would like to work with us again.

    Timothy Benitez · MRC Polymers

  • Mike has been great to work with, very helpful and patient and delivered exactly what was required. I'd highly recommend him!

    Louise Stephenson · WorryTree

About

About me

I created Rebrand Software, LLC in 2003, originally selling apps that companies could "rebrand" as their own. These days I help clients turn their own ideas into successful apps, and I have published more than 30 apps of my own across every major app store.

Outside of work I am happily married and raising two daughters. We enjoy rock climbing, playing intricate board games, and geocaching.

More about me →
Mike with his daughter in the mountains

Current rate

$90/hour

First-time clients get 20% off their first project, up to 100 hours.

Free estimate. No commitment.

Tell me about the project. I'll come back with a written estimate and a fixed scope or hourly cap.

Start a project →

Spitfire Mobile Field

Spitfire Mangement, LLC and CECO Construction

Spitfire Mobile Field

Spitfire Management, LLC and CECO Construction wanted to bring their existing project management service to iPad and iPhone. I developed the mobile app to integrate with their existing API and MS Entra, customized to meet CECO’s requirements. The finished app allows file sharing, PDF and image viewing, photo upload, task collaboration, mapping, contacts, phone and email integration, mass file download, and even offline document creation with automatic synchronization.

  • Mobile
  • Xojo

TS-CHEM

McLane Environmental

TS-CHEM

TS-CHEM is a cross-platform application that was created for McLane Environmental, LLC using Xojo for Windows and Mac. It is a state-of-the-art chemical solute and contaminant analysis tool featuring 32 widely used analysis models, graphing, real-world satellite mapping, 3D export and more. For this application I worked closely with Dr. Charles McLane, incorporating the latest science, and developing industry-first techniques for comparing multiple chemical contaminant plumes in a single view. As such, it is one of the applications that I am most proud of, and I think of it as an exemplar of my work. Read the full case study.

▶ Watch video overview

  • Desktop
  • Xojo

TS-CHEM Activation

TS-CHEM Activation

TS-CHEM Activation is an automated solution for delivering activation codes to users after they purchase TS-CHEM. Using NextJS, FaunaDB and Vercel, the application listens for purchase notifications. It then stores that information in FaunaDB and sends an automated email to the purchaser via SendGrid. The purchaser can click a link in the email and enter the System ID found in TS-CHEM. Then, an activation file is cryptographically generated and emailed to the user as an attachment. Once they open the attached file in TS-CHEM their software is activated for a 1 year period.

  • Web
  • Xojo
  • Next.js
  • Vercel
  • FaunaDB
  • Node.js
  • JavaScript

IviaSAT

HpA Engineering

IviaSAT

IviaSAT was developed for HpA Engineering & Consulting using Xojo for Windows and Mac. This application, used for installation of large turbines, was created in Xojo for Windows and Mac. It includes a custom file format for projects, charts, graphics, geometry, and trigonometry, and incorporates ChartDirector and DynaPDF plugins. It also contains a cryptographic registration system with key generator.

  • Desktop
  • Xojo

Scanner Drivers in Xojo

Scanned Inc.

Scanner Drivers in Xojo

Scanned Inc. develop a line of portable document scanners called Doxie. Their scanners work with companion desktop scanning software made in Xojo by their in-house developers.

They received new USB scanner drivers for macOS (dylib) and Windows (DLL), and had a requirement to use those drivers from within their existing Xojo application. My job started as simply interfacing Xojo with those drivers using declares and structures, but eventually evolved into developing proof-of-concepts features. Some example are detecting hardware, scanner capabilities, read/write settings, set scan parameters, scanning, printing raw data and compressed images, detecting button presses, and developing more in-depth features like allowing multiple scan-frame selections on flatbed scaners and creating driver testing environments for the team to use internally.

This project is ongoing and many project details are confidential, so I have deliberately avoided showing screenshots of any actual software or API documentation.

  • Desktop
  • Xojo

Easy Password Storage

Easy Password Storage

Easy Password Storage is a cross-platform application that was designed using Xojo for Windows and Mac, and Cordova PhoneGap/Javascript for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It features 512-bit encryption and automatically sychronized passwords. For data storage the app uses SQLite for desktop and IndexedDB for mobile. All data is encrypted with 256-bit AES or 512-bit blowfish encryption and transferred to the cloud via SSL. Also included is local-wifi synchronization via SSLSocket. Communication between the app and online MySQL database is handled with ASP and JSON using a custom cloud API that I designed.

  • Desktop
  • Mobile
  • Xojo
  • Cordova
  • JavaScript