Welcome! I'm Colin Meeks

I'm a passionate Developer, Designer, and Engineer — and an all-around geek. Originally from London, UK, I've been based in Ottawa, Canada for over 20 years.

With a career spanning multiple disciplines, I bring a unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a deep curiosity for how things work. Whether I'm writing code, designing systems, testing applications, or exploring new technologies, I approach every project with enthusiasm and a commitment to excellence.

View My Work Download CV

About Me

Colin Meeks

Programming isn't just about writing code — it's about strong communication skills, collaboration, and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. Throughout my career, I have recognized that clear communication is just as important as technical expertise. Alongside my work in programming, I have always enjoyed writing. I have had articles published in a national Canadian newspaper, featured in several books, and written numerous reviews covering computer software, music, and new media. This writing experience has strengthened my ability to adapt my communication style to different audiences, ensuring that what I write is concise, accessible, and engaging.

Beyond programming and writing, I am deeply passionate about music. This passion led me to create Indie Launchpad, an online review website dedicated to independent music. What began as a personal project quickly grew into a well-regarded podcast, ultimately producing over 170 episodes and building a loyal international following. Through this endeavor, I honed additional skills in content creation, digital publishing, and audience engagement.

I also have a deep and long-standing passion for retro computing. I own several vintage machines and regularly explore retro software and emulators. This interest goes back to the early days of home computing — I wrote hardware and software reviews for CRASH, a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and taught myself 6502 assembly language to program the classic Atari VCS console. Those early experiences with severely constrained hardware gave me an enduring appreciation for efficiency and creative problem-solving that still informs how I approach software today.

Originally from London, UK, I have called Ottawa, Canada home for over 20 years. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with clients and collaborators around the world, including in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, and many others. This global experience has given me valuable insights into different cultures, working styles, and markets, further enriching my ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

Professional Portfolio

Here is a selection of professional projects and contributions. More details available upon request.

Maritime Risk Management System (GSTS Inc.)

Think of it as air traffic control for the oceans — but with added intelligence. The platform ingests AIS beacon data from vessels worldwide and layers risk assessment and management capabilities on top, designed to handle approximately 60,000 vessels within a defined region of interest.

As the lead architect and developer, I designed the initial database schema, built the full CRUD API, and created the core web application from the ground up. A notable feature was a built-in real-time chat system, built using WebSockets, allowing users to communicate and share files directly within the platform. The system is used by multiple government departments.

Book Reseller System

A full inventory and trading platform for a company that purchased and resold textbooks. Members of the public could sign up and sell titles directly through the system, with a handheld application providing real-time guidance on recommended purchase prices. The platform was tightly integrated with Amazon Marketplace for inventory management and sales.

DMACS — Database Marketing and Campaign Analysis System

Developed for The Economist, DMACS gave the organisation the ability to measure and analyse the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. The system provided insight into what was working, allowing the team to make data-driven decisions about their marketing strategy.

RFID Equipment Tracker

A real-time asset tracking system for a manufacturing environment, using active RFID tags and readers installed throughout the facility. Users could pinpoint the exact location of expensive equipment at any time, and the system also flagged when items had been removed from the site — for example, when out for repair — giving operations teams full visibility at all times.

Asset Management System

A barcode-based system for tracking all classes of assets — from furniture through to computer equipment — across an organisation. The system included a handheld audit component for conducting physical stock checks and provided extensive reporting capabilities, giving clients a clear and up-to-date picture of their assets at all times.

HOTS — Hydro One Tracking System

Developed to solve a very specific operational problem: ensuring that all powerline equipment had been delivered to a construction site before work could begin. Field workers used handheld units to scan equipment on arrival, with built-in GPS confirming the delivery location at the point of capture. The result was a reliable, real-time view of delivery status that allowed construction to start without costly interruptions or delays.

Personal Portfolio

Here are some of the personal projects I've worked on.

Indie Launchpad

A publishing platform dedicated to promoting independent musicians and bands, featuring over 500 reviews and 170+ podcast episodes. Artists reviewed on the site have gone on to feature in the accompanying podcast, building a loyal international following over the years.

Originally built on WordPress, the platform eventually outgrew it. I rebuilt it from scratch as a full publishing platform using React and Supabase, giving it a far more reliable and maintainable foundation.

View Project

Online Dev Utils

A growing suite of browser-based tools and utilities — no installation required. Originally created to host useful tools I kept returning to, it quickly proved its value for use on locked-down machines and Chromebooks where installing software isn't an option.

Key tools include:

  • Scratchpad — an online editor that persists your content in the browser cache across refreshes and restarts
  • Outline — a flexible tool for building to-do lists, specifications, and plans
  • Bug Capture — a lightweight bug tracking tool that exports findings as Markdown for direct use in GitLab and similar services
  • JS Launchpad — an in-browser JavaScript and TypeScript playground for experimenting and debugging on the fly

View Project

Reveal My IP Address

A clean, no-fuss diagnostic tool that goes beyond simply showing your IP address. It also reports useful system details — including display resolution and available memory — making it handy for quickly gathering environment information without digging through system settings.

View Project

Barcode Launchpad

A free tool for generating single or serialised barcodes in a wide range of formats, including QR Code. Each supported format comes with background information on its origins and where it is best used — making it useful not just as a generator, but as a reference for choosing the right format for the job.

View Project

Podabra

A browser-based audio mixer designed specifically for podcasters. No installs, no DAW complexity — just the controls you actually need, right when you need them, so you can stay in the moment instead of fighting your software. Built for a more organic approach to podcast creation, rather than painstakingly splicing everything together after the fact.

View Project

Skills

Languages

  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • Python
  • SQL
  • PHP
  • C#
  • VB.NET
  • Delphi

Databases

  • PostgreSQL
  • SQLite
  • MSSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • Oracle

Web

  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • React
  • Node.js
  • Express.js
  • Deno
  • Supabase
  • Leaflet

Technologies

  • React Native
  • AWS
  • CI/CD
  • Playwright
  • Docker
  • AI-Assisted Dev
  • Git
  • GIS
  • RFID
  • Barcodes
  • Bluetooth BLE
  • UI/UX Design
  • Bruno
  • Jest
  • Vitest

Methodologies

  • Software Architecture
  • Technical Leadership
  • Agile & Scrum
  • Test Strategy
  • Product Lifecycle
  • API Design
  • Stakeholder Comms
  • Team Mentoring

Experience

Director of Testing — GSTS Inc.

February 2024 – Present

  • Led the company's Testing and SDET initiatives, establishing formal quality assurance processes across the platform to support commercial rollout readiness.
  • Designed and implemented end-to-end testing strategies using Playwright for user workflow automation and Bruno for API testing.
  • Independently managed the testing framework, release validation, and environment verification processes across Development, Staging, and Production environments.

Director of Software Development — GSTS Inc.

March 2021 – February 2024

  • Led a multidisciplinary team of 10 across Database Administration, DevOps, Software Engineering, and Full Stack Development.
  • Drove architecture and product direction for GSTS's Maritime Risk platform while working closely with the engineering team on feature delivery, scalability, and long-term technical strategy.
  • Led planning and implementation efforts for a new Collaborative Seaway web application.

Senior Software Product Architect — GSTS Inc.

January 2019 – March 2021

  • Led the architecture and development of GSTS's initial Maritime Risk web platform as the company's second employee.
  • Designed and implemented the core application stack using HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Node.js, Express, Passport, and PostgreSQL.
  • Managed and mentored a small engineering team with two direct reports.

Independent Systems Developer & Consultant

May 2015 – January 2019

  • Delivered custom software development and consulting services across a range of clients and industries.
  • Designed and developed web applications, backend systems, and business workflow tools.
  • Managed client relationships, project scoping, and end-to-end solution delivery.

Senior Software Product Architect / Systems Developer — SageData Solutions Inc.

July 2003 – May 2015

  • Designed and developed asset tracking and inventory management systems used in operational and logistics environments.
  • Worked directly with customers to understand operational requirements and deliver tailored technical solutions.
  • Helped evolve legacy systems into more scalable and maintainable platforms.

Earlier Career

Prior to 2003

  • Systematic Marketing — Developed client solutions using Delphi for major clients including The Economist and Economist Intelligence Unit. Served as webmaster for the company's Web Directory and UK Index platforms, and developed the initial web presence for National Trust and The Caravan Club.
  • Loot — Production & Management roles.
  • Design in Print / Garner Holloway — Studio Manager role. Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing.

Writing & Publications

Alongside a technical career, I have written extensively across technology, music, and culture — published in national print media, in print and online reviews, and across digital platforms.

The Globe and Mail

Published articles in the Report on Business — the Globe and Mail's Thursday business supplement. Initially commissioned to write on how businesses were leveraging podcasts, I went on to contribute further tech-focused pieces to the supplement.

CRASH Magazine

Contributed hardware and software reviews to CRASH, a print magazine dedicated to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. A nod to my long-standing passion for retro computing and an early taste of writing for a specialist technical audience.

Indie Launchpad

Founder and editor of an independent music review platform and podcast. Over 500 reviews published and 170+ podcast episodes produced, building a loyal international following covering emerging artists, album reviews, and industry commentary.

Visit Site

Medium

I publish articles on Medium covering technology, software development, and the occasional opinion piece. All articles are open to read — no paywall.

Read Articles

Professional Writing

Throughout my career I have produced extensive technical documentation — including system specifications, user guides, manuals, and support materials. Clear, well-structured documentation has always been as important to me as the systems it describes.