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Legacy Application Modernization Lessons: Moving from a CodeIgniter Application into the Modern Web

Posted on by jfox015

Every developer eventually inherits software that was built for a different era. Sometimes the right answer is another patch. Sometimes it’s a complete rebuild. In this One(s) and Zeros to Grow On article, I reflect on the lessons I learned modernizing a legacy CodeIgniter application—and why the most important changes happened in the way I think about software, not just the code I wrote. Continue Reading →

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Listening to Feedback: A Change of Direction for SimLeaguesPro

Posted on by jfox015

Building software means listening when reality challenges your assumptions. After receiving thoughtful feedback from experienced online league commissioners, I’ve decided to step back, simplify the vision for SimLeaguesPro, and rethink where the platform can provide the greatest value. Rather than continuing to add features, the focus now shifts toward building a simpler, commissioner-first foundation based on real-world league experience. Continue Reading →

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SimLeaguesPro Road to 1.0: Part 3 — What Happens Between Sims Matters Most

Posted on by jfox015
What Happens Between Sims Matters Most: Improving the Online League Experience

Most online leagues only feel alive for a few minutes after each sim update. Then the activity fades until the next export deadline. In Part 3 of the Road to 1.0 series, I break down how SimLeaguesPro is being designed around the actual weekly rhythm of online sim leagues — focusing on engagement, visibility, league participation, league discovery, and the experience that happens between sims. Continue Reading →

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SimLeaguesPro Road to 1.0 – Part 1: The Online Sim League Platform Your League Deserves

Posted on by jfox015

If you’ve ever run an OOTP online league, you know the challenge: forums for recruiting, Discord for communication, FTP for league files, and multiple disconnected tools to hold everything together. SimLeaguesPro is a new online sim league platform built to bring league hosting, commissioner tools, fantasy leagues, recruitment, and community features into one connected experience. In Part 1 of the “Road to 1.0” series, longtime commissioner and developer Jeff Fox shares the story behind the platform, the problems it aims to solve, and the vision for the future of online sim leagues. Continue Reading →

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Rebuilding My Web Stack in 2026 (Part 2): Tools, Environments, and Lessons Learned

Posted on by jfox015

This 3-part series chronicles the transition from outdated legacy systems to modern cloud infrastructure. It details the emotional and technical journey of shutting down old websites, embracing current technologies like PHP 8.x and Vanilla JavaScript, and the challenges of setting up a comprehensive development workflow. The final installment will explore the newly launched ecosystem. Continue Reading →