Hire Max Howell
Open Source Legend
I build products that actually ship and get used. If you need someone who can take an idea from zero to a working system without a committee, I do that.
I’m the creator of Homebrew and a longtime startup founder and product builder. I specialize in turning vague ideas into real software, quickly, and in making complex systems understandable and usable.
I’m available for work like:
- Building and shipping new products from scratch (web apps, developer tools, AI products, mobile apps, desktop apps, backend systems, and more)
- Acting as a fractional CTO to help early-stage companies make the right technical decisions
- Rapid prototyping of new ideas to determine if they’re worth investing in
- Architecting systems that scale without turning into a maintenance nightmare
- Fixing or simplifying overly complex codebases and developer tooling
- Advising founders on product direction, developer experience, and technical strategy
Best fit
I work best with small teams, founders, or companies that need someone who can move fast and make decisions. If you’re stuck turning an idea into a real product, or your technical direction has become messy and slow, that’s where I’m most useful. I prefer practical work that leads to shipped software and measurable progress.
Interested in working together?
Reach out with a short description of the problem you’re trying to solve and what outcome you want. If it sounds like something I can materially improve, we’ll talk.