Mike Hartl

I support companies in sustainably developing, modernizing, and making backend systems and established software landscapes technically future-proof. My focus is on PHP, Symfony, software architecture, API development, as well as improving code quality and development processes.

For over 17 years, I have been working as a software developer and have been involved in various projects, both as a permanent employee and as a freelancer, ranging from the further development of existing applications to the conception and implementation of new systems.

A large part of my work involves understanding complex and established systems, gradually reducing technical debt, and developing solutions that remain maintainable and scalable in the long term. Topics such as clean code, automated testing, refactoring, API design, and software architecture have accompanied me for many years.

It is important to me to develop pragmatic solutions that are not only technically sound but also meet the actual requirements of the company. Not every challenge requires the most complex architecture; often, it's about finding the most sensible balance between effort, maintainability, and business value.

Through my experience in various industries and project environments, I can quickly familiarize myself with existing systems, processes, and teams. In addition to development itself, I regularly support architectural decisions, code reviews, technical concepts, and the improvement of development and quality processes.

Currently, I am intensively engaged with the use of AI tools in software development. My focus is on the sensible integration of modern development tools into existing engineering processes to sustainably improve productivity and quality.