About
About TekForge
Built different. Literally.
From Apache Cockpits to Code
TekForge is a solo freelance development studio run by Dave. I'm based in Needham Market, Suffolk — but I work with clients across the UK and worldwide, entirely remotely. Before I was writing TypeScript, I spent 22 years in the British Army as an Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot in the Army Air Corps.
Web development is my second career and genuine passion. I bring the same precision, situational awareness, and attention to detail that flying operationally demands to every project I take on. Deadlines are real. Communication matters. Half-finished doesn't fly.
I work with small businesses, startups, and growing companies who need proper software — not templates, not page builders, not agencies that disappear after launch. Whether you're around the corner or on the other side of the world, I'm the developer who stays, iterates, and treats your project like it matters. Because it does.
Frontend
Mobile
Backend
Payments
DevOps
Tools
How I Work
Values
Not a manifesto. Just how I actually operate.
Honest Communication
I tell you what I think, not what you want to hear. If something is a bad idea, I'll say so — and explain why.
Proper Architecture
I don't bodge. Every project starts with a solid plan — database schema, API design, deployment pipeline — before a line of UI is written.
Always Deliverable
Code that only works locally isn't done. Everything I build is deployable from day one with CI/CD and proper environment management.
Long-Term Thinking
I build things I can maintain and extend. Clean, typed code with no black boxes. You should be able to hand it to another developer if needed.
More Than a Developer
A Business Partner Who Happens to Write Code
Every client I work with comes to regard me as a business partner, not just a developer. That distinction matters.
Twenty-two years of military planning — operational missions with real consequences — develops a particular kind of analytical thinking. I bring that to every project: identifying risks before they surface, spotting opportunities others miss, and understanding the business problem behind the technical brief.
I don't just build what you ask for. I understand why you need it, what could go wrong, and what success actually looks like for your business. That means better decisions earlier, fewer surprises, and software that solves the right problem.
The result is consistent: deadlines beaten, expectations exceeded, and clients who come back.
Deep business understanding
I take time to understand your market, your users, and your goals before writing a line of code.
Risk identification
Military planning demands anticipating what can go wrong. I apply that same rigour to every technical and commercial decision.
Opportunity recognition
Analytical thinking cuts both ways. I flag what could go wrong — and what you could be doing better.
Delivery you can rely on
Deadlines are commitments. I plan properly, communicate proactively, and deliver — consistently ahead of schedule.
Sound like the kind of developer you need?
Let's talk. Free consultation, no obligation, no sales pitch.