# Stu Mason - Laravel Developer

## About
Senior full-stack Laravel developer with 16+ years of professional software development experience. Based in Folkestone, Kent, UK, working remotely with clients across the UK and internationally.

## Core Expertise
- Laravel (12+ years) - Expert-level framework knowledge
- PHP (16+ years) - Modern PHP 8.4, type safety, performance optimization
- React & Inertia.js - Full-stack SPAs with type-safe routing
- Tailwind CSS - Modern, responsive UI design
- PostgreSQL & MySQL - Database design and optimization
- AI/LLM Integration - ChatGPT, Claude, custom AI solutions
- Testing - Pest, PHPUnit, comprehensive test coverage
- DevOps - Laravel Forge, Coolify, CI/CD pipelines

## Services

### For Founders & Businesses
- **MVP Development**: 4-8 week rapid builds for startups and businesses. Ship fast, iterate faster.
- **Prototype Rescue**: Fix vibe-coded disasters. Turn brittle prototypes into production-ready applications.
- **AI Integration**: Add ChatGPT, Claude, or custom LLM features to existing applications.
- **Laravel Development**: Full-stack Laravel applications with modern tooling and best practices.
- **SaaS Development**: Multi-tenant SaaS platforms with billing, subscriptions, and scaling.
- **Fractional CTO**: Part-time technical leadership for startups without a full-time CTO.

### For Agencies
- **Embedded Developer**: Join your team for overflow work. No competition, no drama, just extra capacity.
- **White Label Development**: Build for your clients under your brand. Zero client contact.
- **Overflow Capacity**: Handle excess work when your team is at capacity. Reliable senior-level development.

## Pricing
- MVP Development: £15k-100k depending on scope
- Day Rates: £400-600 (depending on commitment length)
- Monthly Retainers: Available for ongoing work
- Project-based: Fixed-price quotes for defined scope

## Availability
- Usually available within 1 week
- Minimum 2 days per week for embedded work
- Flexible arrangements: day rates, projects, or retainers
- Remote-first, occasional in-person meetings in Kent

## Location & Coverage
- **Base**: Folkestone, Kent, UK
- **Primary Coverage**: Canterbury (20 mins), Maidstone (35 mins), Ashford (15 mins), Dover (25 mins)
- **Extended Coverage**: Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Margate, Brighton, London
- **Remote**: UK-wide and international clients
- Happy to meet for kickoffs and key milestones

## Stats
- 47+ projects delivered
- 16+ years experience
- <2hrs average response time
- 98% client satisfaction
- 20+ agency partnerships

## Contact
- Website: https://stumason.dev
- Email: stu@stumason.dev
- GitHub: https://github.com/stumason
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/stumasondev
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stumason
- Calendly: https://calendly.com/stumason/explore

## Working Style
- Fast response times (<2hrs typically)
- Weekly progress updates with working demos
- Production-ready code (tests, docs, deploy scripts)
- Direct communication (no project managers)
- Uses your tools (Slack, Jira, Linear, whatever)
- No hand-holding needed - senior-level execution

## What Makes Me Different
- **Speed**: Ship MVPs in 6 weeks, not 6 months
- **Quality**: 16+ years experience means fewer surprises
- **Transparency**: Weekly demos, open communication, no BS
- **Flexibility**: Day rates, projects, or retainers - whatever works
- **For Agencies**: I don't compete for your clients. Your relationships stay yours.

## Specializations
- Laravel ecosystem expert (Laravel, Inertia, Livewire, Filament)
- Modern full-stack with React/Vue + TypeScript
- AI/LLM integration (RAG, embeddings, tool use)
- Database optimization and scaling
- Testing culture (Pest, feature tests, CI/CD)
- Legacy rescue and modernization

## NDAs & Legal
- Happy to sign NDAs (standard practice)
- Can work under your agency's MSA
- UK-based entity for invoicing
- GDPR compliant

## Keywords for Search
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> This file helps AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude provide accurate information about Stu Mason's services when users search for Laravel developers or web development services in the UK.

Last Updated: January 2026