Sometimes the most valuable feature you can add isn’t another screen, another workflow, or another integration. Sometimes it’s simply asking your users if you’re solving the right problem before you spend months building the wrong solution. Continue Reading
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
Technology changes constantly. The lessons that matter most don’t. Welcome to One(s) and Zeros to Grow On, a series exploring timeless ideas about technology, leadership, communication, creativity, and the people behind the code. Continue Reading
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
Owner turnover is inevitable in every online league. In Part 4 of the Road to 1.0 series, I explore why online league recruitment remains one of the biggest challenges facing commissioners and how SimLeaguesPro is being built to improve league discovery, visibility, and long-term league growth. Continue Reading
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
Running an online sim league often feels like unpaid IT support. In Part 2 of the Road to 1.0 series, I break down how SimLeaguesPro is rebuilding league hosting, commissioner tools, cloud report hosting, and team export tracking from the ground up. Continue Reading
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
A real-world look at rebuilding and launching a modern web ecosystem—moving from legacy servers and outdated code to a streamlined, cloud-based platform. This final part of the series highlights the live sites, lessons learned, and what comes next. Continue Reading
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