Hi, I’m Muhammad Riyad.
I'm a full-stack and mobile software engineer. Over the past five years, I've worked across web applications, React Native mobile apps, backend APIs, and operating system automation.
Unlike developers who jump straight to heavy enterprise frameworks for every small project, I approach software with a craftsman's pragmatism: what is the simplest, most resilient way to solve this problem?
My technical roots trace back to childhood hobbies in digital illustration and visual design. That visual training gives me a sharp eye for layout balance, typographical hierarchy, and UI subtleties, while my engineering discipline ensures the architecture underneath is solid, fast, and maintainable.
// Engineering Core
How I make decisions
Clarity Over Cleverness
Clever code is a liability in production. I prefer readable, self-documenting code with clear boundaries and predictable failure modes over dense abstractions that require an architecture manual to debug at 2 AM.
Boring Stack, Fast Delivery
Trendy frameworks come and go every six months. I stick to battle-tested primitives: relational databases (PostgreSQL/SQLite), typed JavaScript/TypeScript, standard REST/WebSocket protocols, and simple shell automation.
Respect the End User’s Device
Heavy client bundles, 5MB background videos, and unoptimized re-renders punish users on mid-tier phones and spotty 4G connections. I treat memory budgets and frame rates as first-class constraints.
Automate Repetitive Friction
Any manual task done more than twice is a candidate for a script. Building small, focused tools like GitNinja or SortMyFiles removes cognitive friction and human error from day-to-day work.
// Journey & Evolution
The road so far
Full-Stack & Mobile Engineering
Designing and shipping full-stack web applications and cross-platform mobile apps with React Native, Astro, Node.js, and TypeScript. Deep-diving into system automation, API reliability, and offline data sync.
Web, Mobile & Automation Exploration
Built production-ready projects across Android (Java/Kotlin) and web ecosystems. Created custom Python tools for file management, scraping, and repository hygiene.
The Mobile Dev Lab That Made an Engineer
Before having a dedicated computer, I turned an old smartphone into my personal development lab. I configured virtual machines (VMs) and terminal environments on Android to run compilers and editors, learning the art of computer science: algorithms, data structures, and low-level memory management in C. Using minimal resources, I completed the entire 6-month Harvard CS50 curriculum directly on my phone, built custom automation tools, deployed my very first portfolio, and earned my first profit from software.
It All Started with "How?"
It all started with a single relentless question as a kid: how do people write software? With no resources, guides, or computers available to me at the time, I spent four years independently researching and finding answers the hard way, driven by pure curiosity until I finally uncovered the world of code.
Visual Design & Creative Foundations
Started with childhood passions in graphic design, illustration, and visual composition. This foundation gives me a designer's empathy for spacing, typography, and UX detail when writing code.
Let’s Connect
I’m always happy to talk code, discuss contract opportunities, or share thoughts on software architecture and design.