James Allen system builder, problem solver
I build software that helps people solve real problems, with an emphasis on clear requirements, solid architecture, and systems that are testable, reliable, and understandable. Lately, my work has been moving toward AI-assisted development - exploring how code can better translate intent into working software without sacrificing safety, correctness or speed.
I value shared learning and collaboration, and I enjoy bringing builders and problem solvers together to exchange practices, pressure-test ideas, and improve how we build software.
What I do
Software development, systems architecture, failure handling and secure code, deployment and pipeline statistics.
Currently
Experimenting with AI-assisted workflows for software development - focusing on how requirements, testing, and iteration can be tightened and partially automated - while exchanging lessons with other developers navigating the AI shift.
Focus Areas
Raised in Katy, Texas, I was attached to computers early. Video games were my entry point, but modding communities were where I learned to build. I wrote small tools and scripts, modified games, and created online experiences for friends - learning by doing and by breaking things long before I had formal training.
I later attended the Game Design & Development program at the Art Institute of Portland. Through a school-affiliated placement, I moved into a contract role with Microsoft Game Studios, contributing testing and tooling work during the development of Halo: Combat Evolved - 10th Anniversary. That experience exposed me to large-scale software production and clarified where my strengths (and interests) really were.
I chose to leave the program before completing it. The decision was intentional: I realized I was more drawn to building software systems than to game development itself, and I believed that path would let me have more impact and satisfaction. I returned home to reassess, knowing the next step would require self-direction and risk.
Seeking both focus and a change of environment, I relocated near Texas A&M. Over the next several years, I taught myself web and software development from the ground up. With limited resources, I relied on library internet access to download materials for offline study, learned by reverse-engineering WordPress installations, and experimented across PHP, IIS, ASP.NET, and eventually Node.js. Progress came from curiosity, persistence, and learning through failure.
That foundation led to sustained professional work and a long-term career in software development. Today, I'm optimistic about the future and especially interested in how AI is fundamentally changing how we design, build, and reason about software - viewing it as a shift in leverage rather than a replacement for sound engineering judgment.