Custom Software Development

I do custom software development for teams that need software shaped around how they actually work — not a generic SaaS subscription, not a spreadsheet with extra steps, not an agency that disappears after the kickoff deck.

Short answer: Fixed-scope web development engagements from roughly $2,000 to $15,000+, depending on complexity. Smaller features and internal tools often land in 2–6 weeks; multi-module platforms take 6–12 weeks. If you are still validating a single idea, start with MVP development services instead.

What custom software development covers

This service is for software that already has a clear job to do:

Web development is the default delivery surface: responsive frontends, API backends, databases, and deployment. When mobile is required, I use React Native and Expo against the same backend.

Custom software vs off-the-shelf

If your edge lives in a specific flow — how data moves, how users collaborate, how pricing works — custom development is usually the right call. If a $20/month tool already does 90% of the job, I will tell you to buy it.

What you get

Every engagement includes:

How I work

1. Discovery — you describe the problem, users, and constraints (email or 30-min call).
2. Written scope — features, milestones, fixed quote.
3. Build and ship — iterative delivery with regular check-ins.
4. Handover — deployed product, documentation, optional follow-on support.

I quote fixed-price, fixed-scope for defined builds. Open-ended retainers are available for ongoing product work after the first release.

Stack

I pick what fits the product and your team:

• Frontend: React, Next.js, Astro, TypeScript
• Backend: Python (FastAPI, Django), Node, Go, Java Spring Boot
• Data: PostgreSQL, Redis, object storage
• Default web stack: React + FastAPI + Postgres

If you have an existing codebase, I work inside it. Greenfield projects get a stack chosen for maintainability and hiring, not novelty.

Proof: recent custom builds

I am Ekky Armandi, a self-taught engineer with 5+ years of client delivery (Upwork profile).

Recent custom software and web development work:

• OpsGuide: multi-tenant workflow automation platform
• Uninote: AI meeting notes SaaS (React, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Stripe)
• Flaz: scan-to-design catalog tool with auth, canvas, and AI + OCR pipeline — 4 weeks
• Zixelise: render-configuration tool for Blender — ~$2K
• Trade Arena: algo-trading dashboard wired to the client’s engine — ~$800

More in my portfolio.

Who this is for

Good fit:

• You have validated demand and need v1.1, not another prototype
• A spreadsheet or manual process is costing real hours every week
• You need a web app that off-the-shelf tools cannot express
• You want one senior developer, not a ten-person agency roster

Not a fit:

• You have not validated the core idea yet (MVP development is the better entry)
• You need compliance-heavy enterprise rollout on day one without phased delivery
• You want the cheapest hourly rate with no scope definition

Start here

1. Email me with what the software should do, who uses it, and any deadline pressure.
2. Or **book a call to talk through requirements live.

I reply within 1–5 business days with an honest fit check — including when no-code, off-the-shelf, or a smaller MVP sprint makes more sense.

Related

• MVP development services: fixed-scope builds for early-stage validation
• AI system and integration services: RAG, agents, and AI features inside your product
• MVP development pricing: package tiers for early-stage products
• How to build an MVP: process guide if you are still scoping v1

FAQ

How is this different from your MVP service?

MVP development is scoped to validate one core idea fast, with packages from $800. Custom software development covers fuller products, internal tools, and post-validation builds where the scope is wider and the timeline is longer.

Do I own the code?

Yes. Your repository, your IP, documented handover.

Can you work on our existing codebase?

Yes. I regularly extend existing React, Python, and Node codebases rather than starting greenfield.

How long does custom web development take?

2 to 12 weeks depending on scope. A focused internal tool can ship in 2–4 weeks; a multi-module SaaS platform typically needs 6–12.

Do you do mobile apps?

When needed, yes — usually React Native + Expo sharing a backend with the web app. Web-first remains the default recommendation unless the product is inherently mobile.