Build with context.
Understand the business rules before choosing the architecture. Build applications, APIs and integrations that solve the actual problem.
01 / Profile
Engineering with
ownership.
I’m Martin. I build the systems that businesses depend on.
Senior PHP / Laravel engineer and hands-on technical lead with more than 20 years of commercial experience. From an unclear requirement to a carefully reviewed release, I take responsibility for the whole journey. I actively use modern technologies, including PHP 8.5 and Laravel 13.
/**
* The person behind the code.
* @location Bratislava, Slovakia
*/
final class MartinDurec
{
public const ROLE = 'Senior PHP Engineer';
public array $stack = [
'PHP', 'Laravel', 'MySQL',
'REST APIs', 'Linux', 'Docker',
];
public array $principles = [
'Keep it simple.',
'Understand the business.',
'Own the delivery.',
];
}- Years in software
- 20+
- Years in technical leadership
- 6+
- Remote collaboration
- UK / EU
// HOW IT STARTED
Programming since childhood.
My first lines of code came long before my first job in software. I started programming at around eight years old.
AROUND AGE 8
BASIC
My introduction to programming as a child, starting with BASIC.
THE NEXT STEP
Pascal → Delphi
From BASIC I moved on to Pascal, and later Delphi and desktop development.
THE INTERNET ARRIVES
HTML + CSS + JS
With the arrival of the Internet, I discovered web development through HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
AT AGE 17
PHP + MySQL
Soon after, at seventeen, I started working with PHP and MySQL — the foundation of my path into backend development.
// HOW I WORK
Practical by design.
Modernise with care.
Get comfortable with an existing codebase, simplify what gets in the way and improve it with focused regression coverage and careful releases.
Stay hands-on.
Lead through architecture, implementation and review. Work directly with teams and stakeholders, and follow through after the release.
// TOOLKIT
The right tools. Used well.
Backend
Data & integrations
Delivery & monitoring
Quality & testing
Frontend & mobile
Additional experience
AI-assisted engineering
// NEXT CONNECTION