Dev Partners
Custom software and Shopify development from Gravesend. Systems that do the boring bits, built by the people who answer the phone. Jason and I started it in 2008.
Software, servers and open source. In plain English.
I've spent over 25 years building and running systems for businesses.
I co-founded Dev Partners with Jason Wheeler in 2008, and later founded Adept Data Services. This is where I write about what I've learned, and where you can get my help with your servers.
The businesses I run
co-founder founder Adept Data Services
Subscription and circulation software (Avio and Adeptis) and a UK bureau team for publishers. Built on years at the big subscription bureaux.
Between them, and in my years at the subscription bureaux before that, I've worked on systems for Telegraph Media Group, Hearst, CDS Global, AX Paris and Chi Chi London, and on circulation for titles like the Financial Times and The Economist.
What I know about
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Building software
Dev Partners builds custom systems and Shopify stores: mostly PHP and Laravel, with integrations into NetSuite, Peoplevox, Xero and FreeAgent. Shopify Select Partner. We use AI coding tools every day, with a senior developer checking every line.
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Running servers
I started out as a UNIX sysadmin and never really stopped. Linux, AWS, Cloudflare, backups and security, for businesses that would rather not think about any of it.
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Publishing data
Subscriptions and circulation, from my bureau days at WDIS, Optima and CDS Global to Adept's own software, Avio and Adeptis.
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Open source
Proven tools with no per-user fees and no lock-in. I review the alternatives to the big subscription tools, honestly, including when to stick with what you have.
Sound familiar?
Your developer left
They set up the server and moved on. Now nobody knows how it works, or who has the passwords.
Your site or server has been hacked
Something is wrong and you need a calm pair of hands. Don't delete anything yet.
Your hosting bill keeps creeping up
You pay more every month for AWS or similar, and you are not sure what for.
You pay per user for everything
Every new starter adds another licence fee for files, chat and passwords.
You built it with AI
It works, people are using it, and you're not sure what's under the bonnet. Fair enough. Most people aren't.
You need software built
A system that fits how your business works, a Shopify store, or two systems that should talk to each other.
how-i-help
How I help
I sort out your infrastructure. Check it, fix it, run it, look after it. Plus help in an emergency and advice when you need it.
I do this work myself, through Dev Partners.
Check it
Find out what you have, what state it is in and what it costs.
Fix it
Patch, harden, tidy up and move off old systems.
Run it
Proven open-source tools, set up and hosted for you.
Look after it
Monthly care so problems get caught early.
Emergency
Help when you have been hacked.
Advice
A second opinion, a plan, or someone to oversee a project.
Why me
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Over 25 years of keeping systems running
I've built and run systems for businesses of every size, from independent retailers to national publishers.
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One person who takes ownership
You deal with me from start to finish. No account managers, no being passed around, no "that's not my department".
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Open source first
Proven tools with no per-user licence fees and no lock-in. Your data stays yours.
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Plain English, small steps
I explain what I find and what I'd do, so you can decide. Agile Foundation certified, so work happens in small, visible steps.
Rob has done an excellent job managing the server-side setup for my website, including pointing the old domains to the new site and setting up redirects to ensure existing links and Google traffic continue to reach the right place. I’m extremely pleased with the work he’s carried out. His communication has been excellent throughout, and he explains everything clearly, making even the more technical aspects easy to understand. Professional, knowledgeable and reliable, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Rob and his services.
Latest writing
From the blog
Some Rank Math PRO downloads contained malware. Check your WordPress site
Some copies of Rank Math SEO PRO 3.0.123 contained malware. How to tell if your WordPress site got one, and what to do this week.
nginx has five new security fixes. Here's whether you need to rush
nginx fixed five security flaws on 14 October. How to tell if your server runs it, which settings matter, and what to do this week.
If your WordPress site uses Bricksforge, update it today
A critical flaw in the Bricksforge WordPress plugin lets anyone run code on your site, no login needed. It's being exploited now. Here's what to do.
Open-source alternatives
Open-source alternative to 1Password and LastPass
Vaultwarden: a self-hosted, Bitwarden-compatible password manager for the whole team, with no per-user fees.
Open-source alternatives to DocuSign
Documenso and DocuSeal compared: send documents for signature from your own server, with no per-user fees.
Open-source alternatives to Dropbox and Google Drive
Nextcloud with Collabora: files, sharing and documents edited in the browser, hosted in the UK with no per-user fees.
Plain-English guides
I built my app with AI: is it safe to launch?
Apps built with Lovable, Bolt or Replit can be great. The security gaps they often have, and how to check yours before customers use it.
API keys in your code: why it matters and how to fix it
Keys left in code are a common way businesses get breached. How to find them, what to do first, and how to stop it happening again.
CentOS 7 is out of support: what now?
CentOS 7 stopped getting security updates in June 2024. What that means for your business, and your options, in plain English.
check-it
Start with a server health check
I review one server, write you a plain-English report with fixes in priority order, and talk it through with you on a 30-minute call. You'll know exactly where you stand.