Jordan's Guide To Software and Music

DTK: A Developer Toolkit for Writing Runbooks

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The Problem

Every developer has a folder of one-off scripts. A Python file that exports some records. A Node script that migrates a value across two systems. A shell script that prods an API and dumps the result. They do the job but they accumulate, each slightly different in structure, each requiring you to remember how they work when you come back to them six months later.

The real problem is the setup cost. Authentication, retries, chaining data between steps, error handling, TypeScript types for API responses. You either invest in all that upfront or you write something sloppy and move on. Most of the time it’s the latter.

Mini and Mighty: A Full Rewrite

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Where Things Left Off

In a previous post I wrote about building a product management portal for Mini & Mighty. The core problem was straightforward: product data living across multiple systems, updated manually in each. The solution was a single portal sitting in front of AWS, syncing changes outward through a Lambda pipeline. It worked, it cost next to nothing, and the team used it.

That was the end of the story, until it wasn’t. The scope grew. They needed a customer-facing portal, order management, Xero invoicing, customer data from their wholesale contact group, and real-time notifications when customers placed orders. None of that was unreasonable, but it was enough to justify starting fresh rather than extending a codebase that wasn’t designed for it. The original was a product management portal. This needed to be a commerce platform.

HexTile - Version 1.0.1

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:01:00 +0000

Introduction

It’s been around 2 months since I finalised version 1.0.0 of HexTile. I’ve been using it every now and then during this time and thought I’d give an update to a small update which makes the software a lot more useable and friendly.

When I shipped HexTile v1.0.0, the goal was simple: a clean desktop interface for controlling a Line 6 HX Stomp over MIDI without needing to reach down to the pedal. Typically in a home studio environment rather than live. It worked.

About

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for stopping by.

I’m Jordan, a Senior Developer at Zen Internet. Outside of work I’m usually playing or practising something — primarily bass and piano, though I’ve dabbled in a few other instruments along the way. I have a soft spot for pedals and love building big, layered soundscapes by blending different effects together.

On this site I post about software I’ve built, things I’ve picked up throughout my career, and whatever I’m currently studying in the music world.

Mini and Mighty Espresso

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:23:00 +0000

Introduction

A while back I had the pleasure of building a product management portal for Mini & Mighty, a brilliant local coffee organisation run by some great people. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favour and pay them a visit.

I won’t be diving into the code itself, but the core problem they needed solving is one that a lot of small businesses face: their product data lived in multiple places, such as their online store, their accounting software, and more. Every price change or new product meant updating each system individually, which is not only time-consuming but surprisingly easy to get wrong when you’re dealing with hundreds of SKUs.

Midi Captain Config

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:04:00 +0000

Introduction

A little while ago I picked up a MIDI Captain by Paint Audio — specifically the MINI 6 Controller, which you can also find on Amazon.

I have a few MIDI-capable pedals but I primarily use it with my HX Stomp and occasionally with a DAW. It’s a well-built unit, but getting started can be a struggle. There are some YouTube videos out there, though I had a hard time finding the right ones, and the manual isn’t the most intuitive read either.

HexTile - Version 1.0.0

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Over the last few days I built a WPF desktop application that sends MIDI commands to the HX Stomp (and XL variant).

My setup means I can’t always reach the switches by foot, particularly when using it in USB interface mode and my USB cable is long enough that the unit sits nowhere near my desk. I’d been using a Bluetooth MIDI controller and occasionally a mobile app to work around this, but since my laptop is on almost all the time, building something native just made sense.