About the Author
Hi, I’m Steve.
I have about 30 years of programming experience, which is roughly equivalent to a really good programmer’s eight years. I’ll pause here for the laugh.
I’ve never been big on titles, awards, or credentials. No books published, no major accolades, and no impressive headlines. I’ve always been more of a working, everyday software engineer just doing the job and figuring things out as I go.
Most of my early work involved building small programs and tools for local companies. Eventually, I spent a large part of my career working for the government. I like to joke that they hired me because they needed people, but in reality, I did my best and held my own. A lot of that work required top secret clearance, which means I cannot share details about what I worked on.
What I can say is that I got to work with great people in places like Tennessee, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. It was a solid experience, and I genuinely enjoyed the people I worked with.
How It Started
One of the main reasons I built my website in the first place was to beat my friend Birdman at Scrabble.
That was the real motivation.
I told him I was going to build something to help me win, and he basically said if I made it, I could use it. So I did. And when I finally beat him, I was honestly thrilled. He knew exactly what I was doing, so it was all in good fun. We were both laughing, and that is really what the whole thing was about.
After that, I shared the site on Facebook, thinking people would enjoy it. I remember Mark Zuckerberg talking about how the platform supported open expression and would not ban people without serious cause.
Then I got banned the next day.
That experience stuck with me. Let’s just say I am not a fan of Facebook, and I have not gone back since.
Background
I studied Computer Information Systems at Strayer University. My path into programming was not easy.
I had people tell me to quit, that I was not good at it, and even that I was not smart enough. It took me a couple of years to get past that initial learning curve, while others seemed to pick it up in a few months. But I stuck with it. With persistence, help from a few friends, and a lot of repetition, things eventually clicked.
That experience shaped how I approach everything. Consistency matters more than talent.
What I Do Now
These days, I focus on building fun, creative websites and tools. Projects like Scrabble Cheat are exactly what I enjoy working on. They are simple, useful, and designed to help people learn something new or just have a good time.
I like creating things that people can actually use without overcomplicating them.
Collaboration
I work closely with my friend Norbert, a talented programmer based in Europe. We have never met in person, but we have built a strong working relationship.
Where I tend to experiment and push ideas forward, he brings deep technical skill and precision. He understands things at a level that I respect a lot, and he helps me whenever I need it, which is often.
A Note on Photos
You will not find a picture of me here.
A friend once saw my driver’s license photo and called it an “ugly mug,” and that was enough for me. So I decided to keep things text only.
Most of the people I work with are also spread out across different countries, and I have not met many of them in person. It is just how things have worked out.
Interests
Outside of programming, I enjoy anything competitive.
Chess is probably my biggest interest. I like studying openings and improving my game. At one point, I reached around a 2100 online rating, which felt great until I started getting completely outplayed again. That is part of the challenge.
I have also spent time playing online games, including first person shooters and open world games like Grand Theft Auto, where I made plenty of friends and a few rivals along the way.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I am just someone who enjoys building things, solving problems, and creating experiences that people can have fun with.
There is no big story here. Just persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to keep going.
And most days, that is more than enough.
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