I'm a freelance web developer who creates websites and web applications, based in Manchester, UK.

Primarily a PHP and JavaScript developer, I love creating useful and usable software.

I'd like to help you achieve these goals:

I have over 11 years experience working in the digital sector, as a freelance PHP web developer and as a business owner and director. I have delivered web applications and websites for clients ranging from small businesses to PLC's.

I have experience in designing and building web applications which improve business operations, generally replacing painful manual processes or converting Excel spreadsheets to web applications. Software I build often integrates with financial systems such as Xero or Stripe, or are systems which create opportunities for data collection and analysis, such as auditing. I've always had a particular focus on security and data privacy, especially with the new data protections laws following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation - the GDPR.

As a web developer, my primary focus is designing and coding bespoke PHP web applications or websites, which often interact with databases and other systems via APIs, webhooks or a variety of web-based technologies.

Web applications need somewhere to live, and so I'm experienced at advising on, setting up and managing Linux cPanel server hosting environments and using Amazon Web Services to leverage the power of their scalable cloud infrastructure and serverless computing. I have years of experience using MySQL databases and am now working with schemaless databases like DynamoDB.

That's a lot of long words

I know, sorry. But I'm also a very experienced project manager capable of delivering the technology while being aware of the commercial goals and working closely and transparently with other individuals and teams.

I'm a certified Scrum Product Owner, and I like to use the Agile software development methodology Scrum for every product that I build. Scrum helps teams address complex problems while productively delivering products of the highest possible value.

Some more techy stuff

My primary technologies include PHP, MySQL, Apache, Node.js, JavaScript, HTML, CSS & SASS, Gulp, jQuery, Linux WHM/cPanel, Amazon Web Services including IAM security, Elastic Beanstalk, Lambda and DynamoDB and .architect. I use Git version control, and have lots of experience with DNS and domain setups including AWS Route53.

I use Yii 2 as my primary PHP development framework, although I have experience of other MVC frameworks and publishing platforms.

Anything else?

I've recently founded Si Novi, a digital product studio based in Manchester. At Si Novi we partner with entrepreneurs and established businesses to create digital products and services.

I'm also one of the founders of, and formerly Director of Operations at Human, an online software development consultancy.

My university degree was in Psychology (BSc Hons. at Manchester), where my interests were around Human-machine interaction and Human Error. I love to bring these psychological principles into the digital sector and apply them to user interface and interaction design as well as business operations.

I'm a keen outdoorsman, with a preference for high, snowy places. I love hiking, mountaineering, rock and winter climbing.

There's also a chance you might have seen me in my former career playing drums with Nine Black Alps - a Manchester rock band who came to fame in 2004. After over 14 years in the business, we're still around, somehow...

Say hello!

Please get in touch to discuss your requirements: hello@jamesgalley.com