Building Software
From the Ground Up
I'm Chris Weiner, a software architect who thinks like a general contractor. Solid foundations, iterative building, and solutions that last.
About Me
From Construction Sites to Cloud Architecture
Before I wrote my first line of production code, I was running a construction company. That might seem like an unusual path to software architecture, but it taught me something crucial: you can't skip the foundation.
In construction, rushing the foundation means cracks appear later. In software, skipping process means technical debt compounds. The parallel is exact. When I transitioned into tech, I brought that builder's mindset with me—measure twice, cut once, and always build for the long term.
Today I lead cloud-native transformations, architect mobile solutions, and coach teams through Agile adoption. But my approach is still that of a general contractor: understand the blueprint, involve the stakeholders, build iteratively, and never sacrifice structural integrity for speed.
Outside of work, you might catch me on the dance floor—a different kind of building, but the same principle applies: master the fundamentals before you try the fancy stuff.
Yes, that's me on the dance floor—fundamentals first, fancy footwork later.
95%
Faster Deployments
$650K+
Cost Savings
100%
UX Improvement
60%
License Reduction
My Process
Building from the Ground Up
Years of construction taught me that solid foundations create lasting value. Navigate through the layers to see how I build solutions.
Foundation
Solid Process First
Framework
People in the Process
Structure
Build to Learn
Iteration
Learn from Failures
Delivery
Continuous Value
Completion
Built to Last
Foundation
Solid Process First
Before writing code, I establish a strong foundation. Yes, it can slow things down initially—but like any good construction project, skipping the foundation creates costly problems later.
Key Principles
"Measure twice, cut once" applies to software just as much as construction.
Technical Skills
Tools I Use to Build Solutions
A decade of hands-on experience across the full stack. I choose tools based on what solves the problem, not what's trendy.
Languages & Frameworks
- React / React NativeExpert
- TypeScriptExpert
- .NET / .NET CoreExpert
- Next.jsAdvanced
- Node.jsAdvanced
- ExpoAdvanced
Cloud & Infrastructure
- AWS (Lambda, API Gateway)Expert
- Microsoft AzureExpert
- OpenShift / KubernetesAdvanced
- DockerAdvanced
DevOps & CI/CD
- GitHub ActionsExpert
- ArgoCD / GitOpsAdvanced
- JenkinsAdvanced
- CodeQL / OWASPAdvanced
Data & APIs
- SQL ServerExpert
- PostgreSQLAdvanced
- REST API DesignExpert
- Shopify / Salesforce APIsAdvanced
- Microsoft Graph APIAdvanced
Content Management
- Hyland OnBaseExpert
- SharePointAdvanced
- Power PlatformAdvanced
- Microsoft 365Expert
Design & Documentation
- FigmaAdvanced
- Miro / MuralExpert
- Mermaid.jsAdvanced
- Jira / ConfluenceExpert
Featured Work
Projects That Made an Impact
Each project represents real challenges, real tradeoffs, and real outcomes. I focus on what matters: systems that work, teams that grow, and users who succeed.
Writing & Insights
Sharing What I've Learned
Technical deep dives, architecture decisions, and lessons from a decade of building enterprise solutions. Published on CTRL+SHIFT Consulting.
More Articles
Automated Testing for Power Platform
Practical guide to maintaining quality when anyone can modify production apps. Shift-left approach for catching issues early.
ECM Governance That Actually Works
Why governance programs fail and what works instead. Reduce friction to zero, make compliance the default, measure what matters.
Why Incremental Transformation Beats Big-Bang
The case for identifying highest-pain points first and delivering working solutions in weeks instead of years.
Building with Microsoft 365 Planner & Graph API
Expanding Planner using Power Automate, Microsoft Forms, and the Graph API for advanced task management workflows.