Lance — building software that actually ships.
Software engineering student writing real backend systems, not just exercises — currently shipping a production booking platform from database schema to deployment.
Flask backend — auth, rate limiting, CSRF and validators complete. iCal sync in progress.
Guest-facing booking site. Frontend prototypes complete and wired to the API.
PayFast, SendGrid and Railway deployment scheduled for the next build phase.
Currently in the build phase.
The short version: I learn by shipping something that has to work for a real person.
I'm a software engineering student working through HyperionDev's curriculum — Python fundamentals, OOP, databases, and Git workflow — while running a larger project on the side: a full booking system for a boutique guesthouse, L&D Boutique Hotel, covering everything from the Flask backend to the guest-facing app.
That project is where most of my real learning happens. It's forced me past tutorial-sized problems into the stuff that actually matters in production: input validation, authentication, rate limiting, CSRF protection, and error handling that doesn't just fail silently.
I prefer understanding a problem over copying a solution — most of my coursework was done by working through my own attempt first, then refining it against feedback rather than starting from someone else's answer.
Dependencies.
What I build with today, and what's currently being installed.
Languages
- Python — OOP, recursion, file I/O
- SQL — SQLite, schema design
- Shell — PowerShell scripting
- HTML / CSS / JS
Backend & Data
- Flask — routes, models, blueprints
- Auth, CSRF & rate limiting
- Input validation
- NoSQL concepts
Tools & Workflow
- Git & GitHub — branching, PRs
- Git Bash / CLI-first workflow
- VS Code
- Local LLM tooling (Ollama)
Currently Installing
- PayFast payment integration
- SendGrid transactional email
- Railway deployment
- iCal channel sync
What I've built.
One flagship system, and a handful of smaller builds that each taught me one thing well.
L&D Boutique Hotel
in active developmentA full booking system for a boutique guesthouse — a guest-facing website and companion mobile app, backed by a Flask API I designed and built from the schema up.
Shipped
- Frontend booking prototypes
- Database models & schema
- Route handlers & validators
- Auth, rate limiting & CSRF protection
- Structured error handling
In progress
- iCal export / import
- Guest mobile app wiring
Next up
- PayFast payment processing
- SendGrid email confirmations
- Railway production deployment
- Channel manager integration
Task Manager (Capstone)
doneA Python task-management app with admin-level controls and automated report generation, built as a capstone piece pulling together OOP and file handling.
Desktop Weather App
doneA PyQt5 desktop app pulling live weather data through a REST API, with a debugged UI layer and proper error states for failed requests.
Minesweeper Engine
doneA grid-logic implementation of Minesweeper built with nested loops and helper functions — a clean exercise in decomposing spatial logic.
Local AI Agent Environment
doneSet up and configured a local LLM environment using Ollama, exploring self-hosted AI tooling outside of cloud APIs.
Live from GitHub
auto-updates on page loadFetching latest repos…
Changelog.
My path through HyperionDev's software engineering curriculum, in the order it happened.
Python fundamentals
Pseudocode, string manipulation, loops, and a from-scratch finance calculator to get comfortable with core logic.
OOP & recursion
Class design and inheritance across several projects, plus recursive solutions for problems like largest-number search.
File I/O & databases
Reading, writing, and debugging file-based data, then moving into SQL with SQLite and NoSQL design concepts.
Git, GitHub & shell scripting
End-to-end version control practice via Git Bash, public repos on GitHub, and PowerShell scripting for automation.
L&D Boutique Hotel (ongoing)
Applying all of the above to a real system — the current build, and where most of the active learning is happening now.
Let's talk.
Open to internships, junior roles, and collaborators who want to build something real. Reach out directly, or check the repos.