Hey, I'm Cody.
Senior Software Engineer
Husband, father, and Senior Software Engineer. I currently build scalable, automated systems in Azure. I've shipped everything from NASA web apps and e-commerce platforms to enterprise SaaS automation at scale. I care deeply about developer experience, system reliability, and clean, maintainable code.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
About Me
I have always been drawn to technology. Even without regular access to a computer growing up, I found any excuse to be around it. Family desktops, borrowed laptops, and eventually a MacBook Air gifted to me for graduation. Gaming pulled me into the world of tech, but curiosity kept me there. I tinkered, broke things, learned to fix them, and stumbled through Codecademy exercises late into the night. I never thought of it as a career. It was just something I felt at home doing.
College introduced me to programming more formally. C, Java, simple games, small APIs. But I was not ready for it, and I dropped out despite having a full ride. A few years later, I was married, working retail, and expecting our first child. That was the moment I knew I needed a real path. I taught myself web development through FreeCodeCamp, built my first personal site, built one for my stepdad’s lawn care business, and eventually landed freelance work with Mindvolt in 2019. Six months later, I got my first full time engineering role working on a NASA contract. That is where I became an actual software engineer.
I wanted to keep climbing, so I went back to school and finished my BS in IT from WGU in one year while earning several certifications including the CompTIA trifecta. In 2022, I joined OneStream Software where I found my lane in Azure, serverless architecture, Durable Functions, and technical leadership. I have grown into a development lead, architect, mentor, and someone who cares about building reliable systems and helping other engineers grow. In 2023, I launched Spectacle Software as my freelance brand, which I continue to build on the side.
Featured Articles
Thoughts, case studies, and deep dives into the projects I'm working on.
Satisfaction is Futile
I can ship 10x more than I could a year ago. So why am I less satisfied than I've ever been?
The Race to Nowhere
I'm a software engineer who uses AI every day. The productivity is intoxicating — and so is the anxiety. Here's what the race to ship more, build faster, and never stop is doing to us, and why the craft of engineering isn't going anywhere.
AI and the Problem of Responsibility Laundering
I use AI daily. It makes me a better engineer. But there's a growing pattern in our industry where developers cite AI as the source of their solutions instead of owning them. This behavior has a name: responsibility laundering. And it needs to stop.
Featured Case Studies
In-depth looks at projects I've built — the decisions, trade-offs, and lessons behind shipping them.
Revisiting Autonomous Development with Opus 4.8
I gave Claude Opus 4.8 a build spec and let it run end to end — repo, server, parser, UI, tests, commits, a GitHub release. It worked. But the thing that made it work wasn't the model's autonomy, it was the scaffolding around it — most of it baked into the spec. Here's the framework, including the moment 48 green tests lied to me.
Autonomous VPS Monitoring with Claude Agent SDK
I moved to a VPS, hated the maintenance, and built an AI agent that does it for me. It runs twice a day, fixes what it finds, improves its own tools, and reports everything to Discord. Here's how it works and what I've learned after a month of letting it run.
Work Experience
7+ years building scalable systems, leading teams, and delivering business value
Senior Software Engineer I
Building cloud infrastructure and distributed services for a global SaaS platform using Azure, C#, and Durable Functions.
Software Engineer
Modernized legacy systems into secure .NET applications under NASA contract, meeting strict federal compliance requirements.
Founder & Freelance Web Developer
Building modern web applications and automation solutions for small businesses—from e-commerce to headless CMS and internal dashboards.
Open to Opportunities
Looking for an experienced full-stack developer or need a consultation? Let's connect!
Get in TouchPortfolio
A selection of projects I've built over the years—from e-commerce platforms to personal experiments.
Auburn Vet Magazine
Digital magazine platform for Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine quarterly publications. Collaborated with Mindvolt to transform print content into an immersive web experience with smooth page transitions, responsive layouts, and accessibility-first design. One of my favorite early freelancing projects.
CodyWilliamson.com
My personal portfolio and blog—a living showcase of my growth as a developer. This site has evolved through multiple iterations since 2018, always serving as a playground for learning new technologies. Currently built with Astro 5, Vue 3, and Tailwind CSS 4 featuring the Dracula theme.
Holter Pickguards
Custom e-commerce platform showcasing precision-crafted acoustic guitar pickguards. Built with a focus on clean design and exceptional UX that mirrors the craftsmanship of the products. Features seamless WooCommerce integration, optimized product galleries, and a streamlined checkout experience for musicians worldwide.
Isbell Lawn Care
My very first professional website, built in 2018 for my stepdad's lawn care business. This project has evolved alongside my career—continuously updated with modern technologies and design patterns. A testament to long-term client relationships and iterative improvement over 7+ years.
