About Gilbert Software

I'm passionate about creating software that solves real problems and makes people's lives easier.

My Mission

My name's Chris Gilbert. I'm a software engineer, father of two girls, a guitarist and have recently begun building my own company.

I believe that great software should be as simple as possible, useful, and accessible. I build small pieces of software that solve specific problems for real people.

My approach is simple: identify a problem, build a focused solution, and iterate based on user feedback. I'm not trying to build the next big platform, but rather building the tools that make tasks easier and more efficient.

Current Focus Areas

I'm currently focused on these areas:

  • Data Engineering Tools: Simple solutions for data problems that are often overcomplicated by enterprise tools (planning phase).
  • TowElectric: Helping EV drivers with caravans and motorhomes plan and navigate their journeys with confidence (active development).
  • Direct Democracy: Building AI-powered tools for better decision-making and informed discussions (planning phase).
  • Experimental Apps: Various side projects and utilities that solve specific problems.
Chris Gilbert

My Development Approach

Building for Real Problems

I focus on building applications that solve genuine problems I encounter in my own life or that others have shared with me. This approach ensures that the tools I create are actually useful and well-designed. Since I am the customer, product manager, and developer, I have the perspective from several different angles and can use this to make specific tools which really solve the use cases they are designed for.

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Problem-First

Every project starts with a real problem that needs solving, not just a cool technology I want to explore.

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Practical Solutions

I prioritise practical, working solutions over perfect, theoretical ones. Good enough and shipped is better than perfect and never released.

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User Experience

Even utility apps need to be pleasant to use. I spend time on design and user experience to make tools that people actually want to use. I assume that the user will know the purpose of the tool, and their own problem within the domain, but not be an expert in terminology or technical detail.

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Iterative Development

I believe in shipping early, getting feedback, and improving based on real usage. The best features often come from user suggestions, and I'm always open to feedback.

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Product Led Growth

I believe in products selling themselves by providing value to the user. I think sales and marketing have their place in a business, but a good product doesn't need endless sales calls or endless marketing campaigns to be successful.

My Values

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Purposeful

I try to build features that matter, not features that look good on a roadmap.

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Practical

I focus on practical solutions that work in the real world, not theoretical perfection.

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Fast

I ship quickly and iterate based on real feedback. Speed matters when testing if the product really fits the problem it is designed to solve.

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Collaborative

I believe in the power of open collaboration to build better software. I write a lot of open source code, and share much of my work with the wider software community.

Ready to Work Together?

Whether you're interested in my products, want to collaborate, or just want to chat about software, I'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch