Pokécompanion
Started in 2021, this is my longest-running project, complete with an Android app and website.
My projects
I have an intrinsic drive to build things, and nine times out of ten, they end up being digital. So have a nosey, try things out, and explore as much or as little as you like!
Timesheet
A self-hostable, easy-to-use, web-based time-tracking tool, complete with user authentication.
TTS Reddit finder
Surfaces videos, thumbnails and proper app deep links for a select number of YouTube channels that upload TTS Reddit threads.
qr.helbling.uk
Quickly turn any link into a scannable QR code to allow for easy sharing across different device ecosystems.
avatar.helbling.uk
JDenticon avatar microservice to quickly provide profile avatars in different apps.
img.helbling.uk
Strips sensitive metadata from images to allow for safe storage in external media.
mp4.helbling.uk
POC using ffmpeg in the browser to power an MP4 video converter. It's slow. Don't use this.
socialpreview.helbling.uk
Renders a website's meta tags to allow for easier debugging.
Approach
I believe the best products are built through collaboration, a shared sense of ownership, and an understanding of the role they play in our users' lives. My job is to help create that environment, with tools and processes that make it easier for everyone, especially non-technical teammates, to try out ideas.
I like to validate solutions in production early and responsibly, delivering value to users sooner and learning from real-world use. In practice, this means understanding both how our systems are performing and whether the product is helping users, designing for graceful degradation when things go wrong, and continuously improving without being afraid to challenge the status quo.
In high-performing teams, everyone has room to grow beyond their core skills, and roles become less rigid in day-to-day work. Engineers create designs, product owners fix bugs, and designers draft tracking specifications. Everyone benefits from a greater understanding of each other's work. This takes psychological safety, open minds, and genuine collaboration. I’m always looking for opportunities to learn and grow, and I’m honoured to help create those opportunities for others.
Tech Stack
Code is just the means by which we trick computers into doing what we want. I'm always keen to work with a new language, but these are the tools and technologies I use every day, the ones I know well and can can execute with quickly.
In a nutshell, I love working with Typescript!
Rendering
Build once, debug everywhere with React Native.
This made transitioning from WebDev to Mobile easy, and rendering system-native elements (as opposed to flutter) is much preferred.
Data
APIs abstracted behind a BFF with full-stack typesafety.
Product tracking with Google Analytics.
New Relic for technical health.
Testing
Unit tests with Jest, React Testing Library and Mock Service Worker.
E2E tests across platform with Maestro.
Professional Experience
Professional Experience I joined the industry in 2021 after graduating from the University of Kent with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science. I've known I wanted to work in computing since I was 13, and I’ve worked hard to turn that ambition into a career.
?
Later this month, I'll be starting a new adventure!
On the Beach
2023-2026
UK-based online travel agent with ~500 employees, ~100 of those in the interal Product & Technology department.
NHS Digital
2021-2023
Graduate scheme with England's digital public health body. Later absorbed into broader NHS England.