About Custom Forged Software
Anaheim-based freelance full-stack developer turning business ideas into fast, reliable software.
Freelance Full-Stack Developer
I am a freelance full-stack developer with deep experience across the entire stack. I design, build, and ship complete solutions: modern web applications (Flask + Tailwind), offline-first desktop tools (Python + Tkinter + MySQL with SQLCipher), automation scripts, and complex data/database fixes. From concept to production-ready code, I handle front-end UX, back-end logic, databases, and deployment so you get one reliable partner who delivers fast.
My Story
Hi, I'm Andrew Finney. In 1995 my grandma built me my first PC when I was just a three-year-old boy. That early start with technology sparked a lifelong passion for gaming and problem-solving that eventually led me into professional software development.
The first two games I played taught me how to think critically and to never give up: Freddi Fish and the Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds (1995) and Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside (1996).
My love for fantasy, role-playing, and storytelling grew more when I discovered BioWare's Neverwinter Nights in 2003. That game let me combine my passion for Dungeons and Dragons with actual coding and world building. I started manipulating scripts, fixing bugs, designing quests, monsters, and other new experiences.
That curiosity exploded with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) and later The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011). These games allowed an easy way to develop coding skills from editing databases, manipulating meshes, working with texture files (jpg, png), and scripts. Some advanced modding tools I learned when creating Skyrim mods were to use python automation tools to manipulate databases. In 2017 I released the Bruma + Ordinator compatibility patch, a complex bug-fix that made two major mods work together perfectly, my fix involved manipulating database files to resolve conflicts. Today it has over 1.3 million downloads and is still actively used in 2026.
Every late-night debugging session and creative solution taught me the same thing I bring to my freelance clients today: fast, clean, reliable full-stack code that solves real problems and delivers results.
Proven Full-Stack Projects
- CFS Finance Manager - Complete offline-first desktop application (Python + Tkinter + MySQL with SQLCipher + Matplotlib). Used daily at Custom Forged Software for professional financial tracking, encryption, and PDF/CSV reports.
- DMV Fee Quoter - Full-stack web app (Flask backend + responsive Tailwind frontend) live for Anaheim Insurance Services. Handles complex California DMV rules and instant quotes.
- Accessibility Auditor - Internal tool I built to ensure all client projects meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards automatically.
- Skyrim Mod Compatibility Patch - 1.3 million downloads. Complex database manipulation to resolve mod conflicts - real-world full-stack problem solving at scale.
Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. I completed one year of coursework toward the Master of Library and Information Science (24 units). This is graduate coursework, not a finished degree. The work covered user experience design, metadata, user-centered systems, digital preservation, archival records, and practical AI interaction, including prompt engineering.
In fall 2022, in INF STD 279 (User Experience Design), I was on a six-student team researching the public NASA Exoplanet Watch website with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. See the research notes in the portfolio.
University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Arts in History, minor in Education.
The research and writing from that degree still shape how I break a software problem into a clear story.
Dean's Honor List in Humanities, four terms, 2020-2021.
Business and Real-World Experience
- Marketing Project Coordinator, Card Addiction
- Credentialed substitute teacher (K-12) in California public schools for over two years.
- High school tutor while earning my degree.
- Car salesman at Cerritos Mitsubishi - learned how to listen to customers and solve real problems quickly.
- Account Executive at Alliance Funding Group - negotiated and closed multi-million dollar deals.
These experiences taught me how businesses actually work and what small business owners really need: simple, reliable tools that save time and make money.
What Drives Me
I love combining solid engineering with creative thinking. Whether I'm building a custom DMV fee quoter for an insurance agency, an offline-first finance manager for small businesses, or helping a client automate repetitive tasks, my goal is always the same: deliver working software fast that actually moves your business forward.
Why Work With Me
As a solo freelance developer based right here in Anaheim, you get:
- Direct communication with the person writing the code
- Fast turnaround times and honest project estimates
- Software built specifically for your workflow
- A local California business owner who understands small business realities
Ready to turn your idea into working software that grows your business?
Let's Build Something Together