────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Nel404 Labs is a solo software consultancy based in Pretoria, South Africa. I write code, solve problems, and build things that work. No team, no subcontractors, no discovery workshops that last three weeks.
I work on WordPress sites, bespoke web apps, AI integrations, and the occasional thing that doesn't fit a category. If a client needs a map-based referral tracker written in PHP with a Leaflet frontend, that's a normal Tuesday. If they need a Telegram bot that manages their WooCommerce inventory via phone, also fine.
The 404 in the name is a reference. If you need it explained, we'll probably get along fine anyway.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
How I work
~/about $ cat process.md
1. You tell me what you need. Plainly. I tell you if I can build it.
2. We agree on scope. I write it down. You confirm.
3. I build it. You see progress, not status updates.
4. I ship it. You get source code, not a SaaS subscription.
5. I fix what doesn't work. That's part of building it.
# No retainer unless you want one.
# No monthly "maintenance fee" for doing nothing.
# Direct communication, no project manager in the middle.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
What I work with
web
WordPress + WooCommerce
Custom themes, plugin development, WooCommerce configuration, transactional emails, technical audits.
backend
PHP, Node.js, Python
Bespoke web apps, API integrations, automation scripts, Electron desktop tools, cron-based workflows.
ai
LLM integration
Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), local open-weight models (Falcon, Mistral) on local GPU. Telegram bots. Vision APIs.
frontend
Astro, vanilla JS, Tailwind
Static sites, Astro frameworks, GSAP animation, plain JS when React is overkill (which is often).
infra
cPanel, Linux, DNS
Shared hosting, VPS management, DNS configuration, SSL, email deliverability, server hardening.
monitoring
IoT and dashboards
MQTT, ntfy, real-time dashboards, fail2ban monitoring, smart-home integrations. Single pane of glass for ops.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Why Nel404 Labs
~/why $ cat rationale.txt
The market for "web development" is full of agencies with nice decks
and slow turnaround. It's also full of freelancers who disappear after
the first payment.
Nel404 Labs sits in between: solo, so you get the person who wrote the
code, not a junior who was assigned your ticket. Small enough to move
fast. Senior enough to not need hand-holding.
South African market, specifically: there's a real gap in technical work
that understands local context. POPIA compliance. South African payment
gateways. SA hosting infrastructure. Mail and DNS behaviour on local
nameservers. Knowing this stuff matters.
If you want a team, there are agencies for that.
If you want the code done right, by someone who owns it, that's this.
> get in touch
> see the work
