7 years of coding.
No Vibe-Coder.
In 1989, I started on a 286 with DOS, using BASIC and dBase. Today, I build AI systems with local LLMs. In between: Windows 3.11, Clipper, FoxPro, Visual Basic, ASP, C#, .NET, WPF, ASP.NET, JavaScript, WordPress, Python, LangChain. I use AI tools every day, but I understand how they work. That’s the difference.
Timeline
A journey through time with hardware, operating systems, and languages. Each decade has shaped how I build software today.
989, late 80s
First own programs. Understanding data instead of clicking data. Those who learned to code back then also learned how a computer truly functions—no marketing layer in between.
990s
First client projects for SMEs. Database applications, inventory management, simple websites. The internet went mainstream, and software moved from the specialist shop to every desk.
000s
Web applications for SMEs, backend logic in C#, .NET 1.x → 3.5. Here I learned how to architect software that goes beyond a simple script.
010s
Desktop and web in parallel. First mobile apps. APIs as standard. This was the realization: Separation of data, logic, and presentation isn’t just academic—it pays off over time.
020s, today
Local AI on your own hardware. Mistral, Qwen, GLM, DeepSeek, all executable on-site. AI tools are used for programming, but never blindly. I read and understand every suggestion before it goes into the repo.
AI is my tool. Not my crutch.
Vibe coding produces code that works somehow. Real software craftsmanship builds systems that you can still debug in five years. I use AI tools every day, but I understand what they do. That’s the difference.
What AI does for me
- Generate boilerplate code
- Review of architectural proposals
- Documentation available in other languages
- Quick “what was the syntax for … again”
- Provide refactoring ideas
What I do myself
- Designing architecture – how components interact
- Data models that will still be relevant in five years
- Performance tuning under real loads
- Security reviews and edge cases
- Understand why something works or doesn’t work
Why it matters
- Vibe-Coder copies solutions until the first production bug arrives
- AI hallucinates. I don’t when I have domain knowledge.
- You want someone who can fix bugs without having to explain them to the model first.
- When it comes to data sovereignty (KOBAI), AI help isn’t enough—you need experience.
From the archives.
A small selection from 35+ years of projects, ranging from Swiss SMEs to international pharmaceutical corporations. Most are still operational today.
NextPoint Padel League
Marcel Steiert · nextpointpadel.ch
Next.js · TypeScript · Vercel · Vitest E2E · Standard Tables Loader
League, season, and club management for padel tournaments. Developed with AI assistance using v0.app, production stack with automated test pipeline and Linkwerk reporting.
KOBAI, semantic AI search
international pharmaceutical corporation
Local LLMs · RAG · Chroma DB · LLMProxy · on-premises
0,000+ documents. Search time from 45 minutes to seconds. 1st place jury and 1st place audience at the Digital Game-Changer Award 2024.
F-SCAN<sup>T</sup> 3.0, Frequency Generator Control
F-SCAN<sup>®</sup> / <a href=’https://fscan.com’ target=’_blank’>fscan.com</a>
C# · .NET · WPF · plugin architecture · device drivers · serial/USB
Terminal software for the F-SCAN hardware: DIRP analyses (Double Integrated Resonance Procedure), comparison functions, customer master data, and frequency editor. Plugin system for hardware and configuration extensions over time. Still in use today; inquiries come directly to me.
F-SCAN Mobile + Website
Medical Technology CH
ASP.NET · C# · SQL Server · Device Integration
Website, backend, and database for a medical handheld device. Complex configuration logic with service interface.
PIA-7, forensic software (Projectina AG)
Projectina AG (PAG) · Heerbrugg
C# · WPF · Hardware control · Camera control · Filters & decoding · Plugin system
Forensic workstation software with hardware control (almost IoT-like): filters, cameras, decoding algorithms, and processes. Strong plugin focus, enabling dynamic changes in software, hardware, and configurations over decades without rebuilding the core.
Color-Pen C14, industrial laser
industrial manufacturer
Embedded · Device branding · Product website
Control software and product presentation for an industrial alignment laser. Branding, website, datasheet.
GrowDoser
In-house product
Embedded firmware · Web backend · App · GSM
Full product from hardware to app. Automatic nutrient dosing system with cloud connectivity.
Battery-Monitor, Windows App
SME Switzerland
WPF · C# · Windows Push Notifications
Battery monitoring as a tray app. Custom icon, custom animation, custom update mechanism.
DJ CAN, app + branding
Event Industry
Web App · Logo Design · Promo Material
Complete visual branding and website for DJ performances. Hand-drawn logo with a gold finish.
ATF Productions, script workflow
TV Production
Word Automation • PDF Pipeline • Version Control
Script version control for soap opera production with daily episodes
Mailing Service Switzerland
Marketing service provider
Classic ASP · Access → SQL Server
Address database with over 1 million records. Printing pipeline for personalized mailings.
Sonnenbräu / Schwardt-App
SMEs in Southern Germany
FoxPro · Clipper · DOS Multi-User
Inventory management + accounting. Ran on a token-ring LAN with 6 workstations. Some installations lasted over 15 years.
You’re not hiring a prompt operator. You’re hiring a developer who can read, write, and refactor code—and understand it ten years from now. AI is my brush, not my hand.