About Jon-Michael Hartway

About Jon-Michael Hartway

Hi! I'm Jon-Michael, a Senior Software Engineer based in Bossier City, Louisiana. I'm a lifelong learner and entrepreneur with a passion for technology, programming, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with code.

What I Do

I specialize in building enterprise applications, experimenting with unconventional web technologies, and exploring the intersection of systems programming, web development, and machine learning. From wacky server-side rendered 3D game engines to production-ready enterprise platforms to diving deep into neural networks and LLMs, I enjoy tackling challenging problems with creative solutions.

Current Work

Senior Software Engineer at City Tele Coin, Inc. (May 2024 - Present)

I'm currently building an enterprise jail commissary platform using ASP.NET Core and C#, leading frontend development across multiple React-based projects, and driving end-to-end product ownership. My work includes:

  • Architecting scalable multi-facility systems supporting thousands of concurrent users
  • Leading frontend development with accessibility compliance (WCAG)
  • Designing CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes
  • Mentoring junior developers and establishing coding standards
  • Leveraging AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate delivery

Previously, I worked as a Software Engineer at Hampton Roads Pickup Man (April 2021 - May 2024), where I architected cloud infrastructure on AWS, helped accelerate daily business operations.

Speaking & Community

I've had the privilege of speaking at Big Sky Dev Con about innovative approaches to web development:

  • 2025: "Server-Side Rendered HTMX 3D Game Engine" - Presenting novel architecture for real-time 3D graphics without traditional client-side engines
  • 2024: "Abusing Hypermedia" - Invited to speak after a side project gained traction on Reddit, covering best practices and pitfalls in hypermedia-driven systems

Open Source

With 65 repositories and 460+ stars on GitHub, I actively contribute to the open-source community and enjoy experimenting with new technologies. Past projects include Frate, a C/C++ project management tool, and various experimental web applications that push the boundaries of hypermedia-driven architecture.

Technical Skills

Languages: C#, Go, Java, C, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, Python, Rust, Lua, Assembly

Frameworks & Libraries: ASP.NET Core, React, Next.js, Vue.js, Nuxt.js, Express.js, Spring Boot, Modern OpenGL, Tailwind CSS

Developer Tools: Git, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS (S3, RDS, EC2, Route 53, EKS, ECS Fargate), Jenkins, Terraform, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, SQLite

Machine Learning & AI: Neural Networks (traditional, RNNs, CNNs), Text Embedding, LLM Architecture, Data Science Techniques

Specialties: Full-stack development, systems programming, graphics programming, DevOps, cloud architecture, enterprise accounting systems

Certifications

  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (March 2024)

Philosophy

I believe in experimenting with technologies to discover new possibilities. Whether it's building a multiplayer 3D game with server-side rendering and HTMX, building enterprise systems for thousands of users, diving into the inner workings of large language models, or exploring the technical depths of enterprise accounting, I'm always looking for creative ways to solve problems and push boundaries.

I've been programming for nearly a decade, and I still find myself eager to learn new skills every day! Currently, that means exploring the fascinating world of machine learning and data science alongside my professional software engineering work.

My Journey

2014 - My journey into software development began by hosting and managing game servers, optimizing configurations, and diving into C++ programming.

2015 - Switched to Python and immediately fell in love with programming, building mathematical visualizations and small games with a low barrier to entry.

2016 - A pivotal year! Started experimenting with Java in high school, dove into object-oriented concepts and design patterns. Built a local "internet" for friends inside Minecraft using ComputerCraft mod. This is when I knew: "I'm going to do this for the rest of my life."

2017 - Broadened horizons into web development with PHP, creating Xiacon (a social media site for friends and teachers). Started using GitHub and got into graphics programming with OpenGL. Founded a Discord server for graphics programming that grew to 10,000+ members.

2018 - Year of intermediate projects: custom image encoders (YAIF format), version control systems for ComputerCraft, and custom socket libraries in C#. Started college while balancing a heavy workload.

2019 - Worked at UPS aiming for management while exploring entrepreneurship. Successfully sold 3D models, tried woodworking business, and eventually climbed to management position at UPS.

2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic hit. A challenging year overwhelmed with work responsibilities—first year in a long time without writing a single line of code.

2021 - Took the leap into entrepreneurship! Financed a pickup truck and started a junk removal business. Leveraged web development and technical SEO skills to outshine competitors, driving all traffic organically without paid advertising.

2022 - Business was booming! Advanced SEO techniques and content strategies drove sustainable organic traffic, allowing the business to thrive.

2023 - Faced reality of unsustainable business demands. During seasonal "drop" in local business, spent time working on Frate—a C/C++ project management tool born from dissatisfaction with C++ development process.

2024 - Transformation from business owner to software engineer! Started at City Tele Coin as a Software Engineer, immediately taking on DevOps responsibilities: building developer scripts, creating CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins, and building integration testing environments. Later that year, spoke at Big Sky Dev Con about HTMX Flappybird—a side project that started as a joke but became a deep dive into high-frequency low-latency HTTP communication, multi-region deployment, and geo-locality based DNS load balancing.

2025 - A big learning year! Continuing at City Tele Coin while diving deep into the technical nature of enterprise accounting. On the side, exploring data science techniques and machine learning: traditional neural networks, recurrent neural networks (RNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), text embedding, and the inner workings of large language models (LLMs).

Connect With Me