The short version
I’m Daniel. I write every article on this blog, build every tool on the site, and handle every project that comes in through the contact form. CipherForces is a one-person shop by design — you talk to the person writing your code.
How I got here
I started teaching myself to code when I was 10, which was an unusual thing to do in 2015 but is a lot more common now. No CS degree, no bootcamp — just ten years of shipping real projects for real people who expected them to work. That’s a different kind of education than a curriculum; it teaches you what actually matters (performance, clarity, maintenance) versus what only matters in exams (clever abstractions, trendy stacks, architectural purity).
CipherForces started in 2021 as a service-and-tools shop for small businesses in the Los Angeles area. The pitch was simple: most small business websites are slow, template-heavy, and locked into subscriptions. I build fast custom sites that you own outright, priced honestly, plus free browser tools that replace the endless stack of $10-$30/mo SaaS subscriptions small business owners accumulate.
What I actually work on
Day-to-day, my work splits three ways:
- Client web development— custom sites for small businesses across greater LA. Most builds are $2,500-$5,000 one-time, running on modern frameworks (Next.js, Astro) with proper SEO, mobile performance, and a CMS you can actually edit.
- The tools — 76+ single-purpose browser tools for PDF, image, business, and developer tasks. All run entirely in your browser — your files never upload to a server. Free with a generous daily cap; the $39 one-time Pro license removes the cap across everything.
- Print services + business automation — for small businesses that need both a website and business cards, or who want an internal tool built that replaces whatever SaaS they’re paying too much for.
The blog
I write every post on this blog personally. There’s no ghostwriter and no AI churning out 100 variations of the same listicle. Every article is based on real work I do for clients or real tools I build, with dollar figures and tradeoffs that reflect what actually happens in the market, not generic advice recycled from other blogs.
If you want a feel for my point of view before working together, start with “Should I hire a web developer or use Squarespace?” or “Small business website cost in Los Angeles.” Both are written specifically to help small business owners decide whether hiring me actually makes sense for them — which is sometimes “no, stay on Squarespace, it’s fine.”
What I’m expert in (and not)
What I actually do well:
- Modern frontend frameworks (Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind)
- Making websites fast — Core Web Vitals, Lighthouse, real-device testing
- Client-side data processing (WebAssembly, pdf-lib, Tesseract.js, FFmpeg.wasm)
- SEO fundamentals — structured data, internal linking, technical audits
- Print production — specs, proofing, delivery logistics for small-batch local jobs
- Payment integration (Stripe, LemonSqueezy) and small-business checkout flows
What I don’t do:
- Enterprise architecture or 20-person team engagements — I’m solo
- Mobile native apps (iOS/Android) — out of scope
- Large-scale SaaS products with millions of users — different shop for that
- Anything that requires ongoing 24/7 uptime guarantees — I’m one person
Being honest about what I’m not good for saves everyone time. If your project doesn’t fit, I’ll point you toward someone who does — which is part of why the small-business community in greater LA tends to refer me around.
How to reach me
Fastest ways, in order:
- Contact form: cipherforces.com/contact. I reply within 24 hours on weekdays.
- Phone (tech team): (808) 480-0800. Voicemail is monitored; I’ll call back same-day Mon-Fri.
- Email: sales@cipherforces.com.
- LinkedIn: CipherForces on LinkedIn.