I started programming in 1969. Since then I have worked across large companies, startups, consulting, project management, and my own agency work. Today I am semi-retired in Ilheus, Brazil, building fast prototypes, taking on a small number of interesting projects, and finally making room for writing on the same site.
I help founders and product teams validate ideas quickly with working software. The goal is not a polished long-term product. The goal is speed, clarity, and a concrete answer to the question: is this worth building?
That usually means short engagements, a narrow scope, and something real enough to click, test, and react to. It does not usually mean maintenance work, large teams, or six months of roadmap theatre.
Fortran, punch cards, teletypes, acoustic couplers, and a long front-row seat to several waves of technical change.
PMP certified. Managed 70+ projects across Boeing, EMC, Los Alamos, Dell, and numerous startups.
Ran an iPhone app development agency from Brazil for twelve years, building products and managing distributed teams remotely.
AI-assisted development makes rapid validation possible in a way that finally matches how I have always liked to work: fast, concrete, and pragmatic.
The projects show what I can build quickly. The essays show the longer arc behind that work: a career that started decades before modern software, the decision to live in Brazil, and the kinds of stories that do not fit inside a portfolio card.
I do not want the site to pretend those are separate people. The prototype builder and the essay writer are the same person, and this version of the site finally reflects that.
Email: alan@alanhalley.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanhalley