Hi — I’m Martin.
I build software that feels calm to use and solid over time. I like simple interfaces, reliable systems, and decisions you can explain six months later.
Right now I work as a developer at Kashing Limited (UK), The “real world” kind of engineering where hardware exists, networks wobble, reconciliation matters, and security isn’t optional.
I also write at mjdk.io under the theme “making better developers”: clearer thinking, better debugging, and safer defaults — with occasional detours into practical life systems (money, caffeine, health).
I’m not looking for work. This site is simply a clear picture of who I am now — for the next few years — and how I tend to show up.
How I work
- Calm under pressure — fewer moving parts, clearer priorities.
- Accountable delivery — progress you can see, and a trail you can trust.
- Small, testable increments — reduce risk, keep options open.
- Security-minded defaults — pragmatic guardrails, not theatre.
- Kind + direct feedback — clear communication, no drama.
Where I add value
- Complex systems made understandable (interfaces, boundaries, ownership).
- Debugging discipline (repro steps, observability, smallest failing case).
- Integration thinking (APIs, webhooks, failure modes, reconciliation).
- Trust & privacy (minimise data exposure; design for consent and clarity).
Tip: press and hold near the middle to open the wheel — then drag and release.
History
I care about work that holds up: clear decisions, honest tradeoffs, and software that keeps working when conditions aren’t perfect. I’m drawn to products where trust matters — payments, privacy, and systems people depend on.
Present — Kashing Limited (UK)
software designed for real-world constraints (reliability, integration, reconciliation, and security).
2018–2019 — Standard Bank: SORTED platform
Worked on SORTED — a Standard Bank platform that digitises school activities through cashless payments, reconciliation, and chat, with additional modules like events and marketplace.
2 Dec 2021 — Quench acquired by TFG
Built on Quench through growth, leading to acquisition by The Foschini Group (TFG) via TFGLabs.
ELCE IO (PTY) Ltd — privacy without friction
An initiative exploring how to deliver privacy-first experiences legally and responsibly — reducing reliance on sign-ins/sign-ups while keeping systems transparent and accountable.
Projects
A few anchors that reflect the kind of work I do:
Kashing Limited (UK) — Payments (Present)
Building payment software for unattended environments and “cashless upgrades” — where reliability, integration, and security have to be designed in from the start.
Standard Bank: SORTED (2018–2019)
Contributed to SORTED — a platform for schools enabling cashless payments and reconciliation, with digitised campus features like chat, events, and marketplace modules.
Quench (→ acquired by TFG, 2 Dec 2021)
Part of the journey through growth to acquisition — focused on practical delivery and building software that stays dependable as complexity increases.
ELCE IO (PTY) Ltd
Privacy-first product exploration — how to reduce friction and data exposure while staying legal, transparent, and respectful of users.
Blog
Writing lives at mjdk.io — “making better developers”: debugging, architecture thinking, and security/privacy notes (for example: how DNS tooling can reduce exposure to malicious domains).
GitHub
Code, experiments, and pragmatic utilities — with a bias for clarity, safe defaults, and the kind of debugging discipline that holds up under pressure.
Gallery
A few frames from my world.
Future (Mission)
Build useful, human-centered software — true to nature, compliant to self and community.
- Less intimidation, more clarity.
- Focus-first design that retains information.
- Efficient systems that respect attention.