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FOR PROJECTS BIG AND SMALL
Welcome to Brainy Giraffe Programming!
I’m thrilled to have you here. My name is Franco, and I’m a Software Engineer with over 5 years of full-stack development experience, creating a diverse range of websites, cross-platform mobile applications, and IoT systems. I am a natural problem solver who embraces challenges and thrives on finding innovative solutions.
In 2025, I proudly graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Software Engineering). My passion lies in making your life easier through software, automation, and seamless integrations—from custom Flutter apps to complex PHP/MySQL backends and bespoke hardware.
Whether you need a streamlined business website, a robust mobile application, or a revolutionary system like ticketless parking, I’m here to help. I approach each task with dedication, ensuring premium-quality products that scale with your ambitions without straining your budget.
If you're ready to discuss your project or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to collaborating with you!
Education & Qualifications
- BSc in Information Technology (Software Engineering) – Magna Cum Laude (Class of 2025)
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Cambridge CCA Certification Authority:
- HTML Level 1 & CSS Level 1 (April 2020)
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Udemy Certifications:
- HTML5 MasterClass Using Video & Audio in HTML5 (July 2021)
- Create a Netflix clone from Scratch: JavaScript PHP + MySQL (Dec 2019)
- Responsive Design HTML CSS Web design - Dreamweaver CC (July 2019)
- UI & Web Design using Adobe Illustrator CC (July 2019)
My Projects & Ventures...
PIE Parking (Pty) Ltd
As the founder and lead developer of PIE Parking (Pty) Ltd, I created a revolutionary, IoT-based ticketless parking system. Designed to modernize access control, the system replaces traditional remotes and tickets with secure, dynamic QR codes and a dedicated mobile app to trigger gate controllers seamlessly.
This venture involves true end-to-end engineering. Beyond software, I designed custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) and programmed ESP8266 and ESP-07S microcontrollers for the physical gate infrastructure, including the implementation of reliable Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates.
Built from the ground up to ensure robust security and high-availability for property managers, the system architecture pairs complex hardware integration with a streamlined user experience.
The Degasity App
I designed, developed, and currently manage the ongoing expansion of The Degasity App, an innovative LPG gas ordering and delivery platform. Now actively used by hundreds of users and growing daily, it makes ordering LPG intuitive with a reliable interface.
The platform is built with a responsive Flutter/Dart frontend and a highly robust PHP/MySQL backend. It handles complex business logic under the hood, featuring real-time cylinder verification, seamless third-party API integrations, and a dynamic, tiered loyalty rewards system for frequent users.
I oversee the entire application lifecycle, managing production deployments and automated CI/CD pipelines across both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Furthermore, the platform's architecture and privacy policies were meticulously designed to align with South Africa's POPIA and CPA regulations.
Budgee (In Development)
Currently in active development, Budgee is a fully-fledged personal finance and budgeting web application engineered to solve the most common pain points found in modern financial tracking software: manual data-entry fatigue.
Recognizing the immense friction in standard budgeting apps, Budgee is built with a specialized focus on frictionless data importation. It allows users to seamlessly upload and parse standard CSV files as well as PDF bank statements directly into the system, bypassing tedious manual input.
By automating the heavy lifting of financial tracking and transaction categorization, Budgee is designed to give users immediate, clear, and actionable insights into their financial health and spending habits with minimal effort.
AfriCamb.co.za
Launched in 2019, AfriCamb.co.za is a foundational video streaming web app designed to help Afrikaans homeschoolers in South Africa learn the English Cambridge Curriculum in their mother tongue, preparing them for English examinations.
Operating as a robust subscription service, it features a secure user registry, a comprehensive profile dashboard for managing active packages, and seamless API integration with the PayGate payment gateway to handle recurring billing safely.
Lesson videos stream directly to learners' devices with auto-saved progress tracking, allowing them to pick up exactly where they left off. The platform delivers a seamless, intuitive user experience that mirrors major media platforms like Netflix or YouTube.