I’ve been building SaaS platforms for over a decade now, and for the past two years, I’ve been focused on how AI can be thoughtfully integrated—not as a gimmick, but as a functional layer that improves the product experience. Every platform I’ve worked on—whether CRM, scheduling, or internal tools—has pushed me to ask better questions: What’s essential? What’s scalable? What genuinely improves how people work?
It’s easy to get distracted in this space. New frameworks. Shiny plugins. AI hype. But under all that,
Good software is still just a series of thoughtful decisions—stacked carefully and built to last.
That’s where I try to stay grounded.
Let’s Talk About AI (But Actually Talk About It)
AI is everywhere now—and too often, it’s thrown at problems it doesn’t actually solve. I’ve seen “AI-powered” features that are basically autocomplete in a trench coat. So I set a rule for myself:
If AI doesn’t make something faster, clearer, or less manual—I don’t ship it.
In the platforms I’ve built, AI shows up only where it earns its place:
- Smarter lead management and routing based on real usage patterns
- Context-aware interfaces that adapt by role, behavior, and history
- AI-generated summaries and insights that reduce busywork
- Natural language prompts to surface actions faster
When done right, AI disappears into the workflow. It’s invisible, seamless, and useful. If it feels like an add-on, it probably is.
Modular Everything (Because Flexibility Is Freedom)
One of the biggest unlocks this year has been leaning into modular development—especially when you’re iterating fast or supporting multiple use cases.
I’ve rebuilt core parts of these platforms using modular PHP and JS components so that every element can be reused, tested, and evolved independently. Scoped scripts. Smart defaults. Minimal bloat. Not glamorous—but it’s what keeps the product moving.
- A dynamic modal system used across profiles, leads, users, and settings
- Reusable search and filter logic that adapts to any dataset
- API-first routes that simplify mobile extensions and third-party tools
- Granular role logic that does more than just restrict access
The mindset is simple: Can this scale without becoming brittle? If not, I refactor until it can.
Testing Early, Testing Often
Here’s the part most indie devs gloss over: testing.
I’ve been leaning into lightweight automated testing and soft CI—not because I’m chasing “enterprise best practices,” but because I’ve lived the pain of broken updates. I’d rather catch issues with a validation layer than rely on luck and late-night QA scrambles.
- Backend tests to validate logic, input, and permissions
- Frontend sanity checks for key flows
- Change logging that helps me trace “what changed and why”
Testing doesn’t slow you down—it frees you up. It lets you move fast without fear. That’s a lesson I wish I’d absorbed earlier in my career.
I’m still obsessed with building software that respects people’s time. That removes friction. That feels intuitive from day one—and quietly improves behind the scenes.
If you’re building with the same mindset—modular, human-first, and focused on solving real problems—I’d love to connect and swap notes.
You can find me across social platforms at @jaythornton000, or reach out directly via my contact page.
There’s still so much to build. But it’s better when you build it right.
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Are you thinking about building a swimming pool in your backyard? Whether you are looking for a new way to relax and have fun or to improve the value of your property, building a pool is a great investment. But before you start digging, it’s important to have a good idea of the costs involved. This is where Custom Pool Estimator comes in.
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Custom Pool Estimator not only provides an accurate cost estimate, but also offers valuable information about the pool building process. The site provides information about the different types of pools available, such as inground and above ground pools, as well as the pros and cons of each type. You can also find information about the different materials used to build pools, including concrete, fiberglass, and vinyl liner.
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In recent months, I’ve redirected focus across the crypto space and firmly into NFT’s, smart contracts, and most recently, the Ghost Chain Society, a new and unique CNFT project with a great story, gaming elements, and some fantastic artwork.
What drew me to the project initially, pun intended, was that the project was placed on the Cardano blockchain. Having worked in and around the NFT space for a while, the Ethereum blockchain and its excessive gas fees were becoming tiresome to say the least. ADA doesn’t have those pesky fees and transfers are remarkably affordable. Now comes the setup.
CNFT Wallet
Step one, set up a place to do business in the CNFT space. I started with Daedalus. After an install and a long run at the first connection, I decided it used too many resources on my little MacBook Pro running Adobe CS, and made a move.
I chose Eternl, formerly CC Vault, a Lightweight Cardano Community Wallet with an app, chrome extension, and a fairly simple interface. To date, I’ve moved coin to and from & purchased CNFTs, and am pretty happy with it all. Check it out. If you’ve got a better one, I’m all ears. Comment below.
Partnership via Twitter… what?
Once I got into Ghost Chain Society and bought enough cards for a solid game of poker, I really got into the story behind each of the card characters and found myself sharing and promoting for them just from the interest I’d gained in the project. I must have moved the needle a little as one day I got a tweet from the partners asking if I’d like to join them. Uh… yeah.
My knowledge of NFTs and the space comes from other projects I’m currently working on and my social media marketing knowledge is decades long, so I jumped in with both feet. We’re planning some really fun projects and the artwork, strategy, & roadmap are really coming together well. We’re all really excited about it all.
You can learn a lot about the project via the website or as always, real-time updates can be found on their twitter. Follow them for specifics & follow me for the rest.
Ready to get involved? It’s super easy and really affordable, just 39ADA per card. Join the Discord & follow on Twitter for ways to win ADA, CNFTs, & more. We’ve got poker games all week! Sold on it and ready to mint? Just click the image below!
Recently I was asked to join a project combining art, crypto, wearable tech, and non-fungible tokens, so naturally, I was all in. Meet Lucyd Eyewear, the latest in wearable tech by way of bluetooth sunglasses and bone conductor technology, bringing music to your ears without isolating you from the world around you.
I was tapped to become a Lucyd Legend, producing one-off, themed editions of the classic Lucyd Lyte sunglasses, based around how we use the glasses in the real world. Naturally, mine tend to have a beach / blue water theme. My first is called “To The Moon”, inspired by my time on the Space Coast of Melbourne Beach, FL.
As Legends, we concept and develop unique boxes, included materials, & even customize the frames to fit our unique designs and styles. Once done, we’ve got a pretty cool little package with a great product, but that’s where the fun is just beginning.
Lucky recipients of these bluetooth sunglasses also receive an NFT based on the artwork and the artist involved to do with as they please. Pretty decent, right? Take a look. Google NFT, and check out Lucyd. Let me know what you think!
Curious about NFTs? Check out my profile on Rarible. I’m working on a new collection as we speak.
It sounds like a pirates life to me! @Dictador_Brands of Cartegena, Colombia has taken an interesting spin on the aging process for sure. See what @MasterofMalt has to say about it:
Just one question… Who’s coming with me?