Real Tech Advice from a CTO Who Builds and Ships

I’m Jim Caldwell — fractional CTO, VP of GSD, and the guy startups call when things break. I share real-world tools, playbooks, and sharp insights from the trenches.

Who I Am and Why This Site Exists

I’ve led dev teams, scaled messy startups, and built full-stack products under pressure. This site is my no-fluff playbook — what I use, how I use it, and why. It’s for founders, builders, and tech leads who want real-world results, not shiny nonsense.

Tactical Playbooks from the Field

Business man, data and tablet hologram with digital overlay for tech, statistics or stock market. 3d, augmented reality and person with touchscreen for futuristic map, global trading or investment.

How I Ship MVPs in 7 Days

A full stack, setup guide, and what to cut

More info
BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND CONCEPT

The Fractional CTO Starter Pack

Tools, habits, and what clients really need

More info
Leadership Coaching

Scaling Without Overengineering

When to rewrite and when to duct tape

More info

What You’ll Find (and What You Won’t)

If I wouldn’t use it, I won’t recommend it.

You'll find

  • Tools I’ve actually used in production
  • Advice I give clients and use myself
  • Playbooks tested in real-world builds

You won't find

  • Sponsored filler
  • Tools I don’t trust
  • Reviews written for SEO

The Drop: Smart Tools & Tactical Advice, Monthly

One email per month with the best tech tools, frameworks, and lessons from the trenches. No hype. No spam.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Need a Fractional CTO or Tactical Tech Audit?

If your startup is stuck, your roadmap’s a mess, or you’re wondering “Why is our stack like this?”, I can help. I offer fractional CTO services, product audits, and tech team advising.

Transform Your Tech Strategy

Join Caldwell CTO and leverage expert guidance to enhance your tech decisions, streamline app scaling, and accelerate your development process.