Engineering for software that
already has users.
is being built from scratch.
cannot stop shipping.
needs careful changes.
needs experienced ownership.
Busy Beaver Software is an independent software engineering consultancy for product companies working on desktop software, backend systems, product architecture, new builds and mature codebases that need to keep moving. I lead the work directly and can bring in trusted developers when a project needs more hands.
Product engineering: from first version to mature system
I can join an existing product, understand how it really works, and help the team make changes without losing control of quality, performance or release risk. I can also start new systems when the work needs solid architecture, careful technical choices and someone who has shipped production software before.
You are not hiring a large agency. You are hiring a senior engineer who stays close to the code and can scale the implementation with a small group of known collaborators when that makes sense.
Legacy modernization
Incremental work on mature codebases: refactoring difficult areas, reducing build and release friction, improving safety, and making future changes less expensive.
The goal is practical modernization while the product continues to serve customers.
Complex feature development
New product development and feature work where the implementation is not obvious: architecture choices, unclear requirements, platform constraints, performance-sensitive code or areas where the product has to be shaped while it is being built.
This usually means reducing uncertainty first, then building the smallest useful version that can grow into a real product.
Windows desktop applications
Native product work on desktop software where UI behavior, performance, installers, licensing, crash handling and platform integration all affect the user experience.
Experience includes Modern C++, WinAPI, cross-platform desktop code, image processing, graphics-heavy applications and Windows driver software.
Backend systems
Backend services around commercial software: licensing, DRM, crash reporting, support workflows, online processing services and integrations that the product depends on.
I can also help with architecture decisions when the current shape of the system is making ordinary product work too slow.
Selected work
Modernizing a Commercial Desktop Application
Scan2CAD - Took ownership of a mature commercial C++ desktop application developed over many years. Worked on incremental modernization, architecture improvements, new feature development and long-term maintainability while continuously shipping production releases.
Modern C++ Desktop Applications Architecture Legacy Modernization Cross-platform
Human Presence Detection Platform
Synaptics - Developed commercial Windows software for Human Presence Detection systems, working on desktop applications, hardware integration and driver-related functionality as part of a small engineering team delivering enterprise software for laptop manufacturers.
Windows Drivers Hardware Integration C++ Product Engineering
Interactive Streaming Platform
sidestream.games - Designed and built a real-time backend platform enabling interactive experiences for live streams. Responsible for architecture, implementation, deployment and long-term evolution of the platform. Used commercially in branded online experiences.
Backend Real-time Systems Product Ownership Scalability Operational Ownership
Independent Product Development
Microtaur - Founded an independent software studio and shipped multiple commercial products across Steam, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Responsible for the complete product lifecycle, from concept and architecture through development, publishing and post-launch support.
Product Ownership Architecture Cross-platform Publishing Entrepreneurship
I have also led a software house in the past, so I am comfortable coordinating developers, planning delivery and keeping engineering work aligned with the product.
How I work
I start by understanding the product, the code and the constraints around the work. Then I look for a change path that is small enough to ship and useful enough to reduce future friction.
I am not trying to sell a rewrite by default. In mature product software, the right answer is often a sequence of careful changes that improve the system while the team continues shipping.
Get in touch
If your team needs senior engineering help with desktop software, backend systems, modernization, architecture or a difficult product area, send a short description of the problem.
I speak English and Polish.