Web development, AI & custom software — for Philippine businesses.
Practical takes on what we build, why we build it, and what it actually costs to ship software in Cavite, Metro Manila, and across the Philippines.
Latest from the studio
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How Much Does VFX Cost Per Shot? Simple, Medium, and Complex Explained
VFX cost per shot is driven by how hard the shot is, not how long it runs. Here is what sorts a simple, medium, or complex shot, and what each one buys.
November 6, 2026 · 5 min read
Booking System Development for Service Businesses in the Philippines
October 30, 2026What a booking system developer in the Philippines builds for service businesses: multi-staff scheduling, deposits, GCash payments, and reminders that work.
Websites for Construction Companies in the Philippines: Built to Win Bids
October 28, 2026A website for a construction company in the Philippines wins work through portfolio depth, accurate accreditations, and an RFQ form estimators can use.
School Website Design in the Philippines: Enrollment, Inquiries, and Parent Portals
October 26, 2026School website design in the Philippines lives or dies on enrollment season. What inquiry forms, online applications, and parent portals actually need to do.
Website Redesign Cost in the Philippines: What Drives the Price
October 21, 2026What website redesign cost in the Philippines depends on: content migration, design scope, platform changes, integrations, and keeping the SEO you have.
Website Maintenance Cost in the Philippines: What a Monthly Retainer Should Cover
October 16, 2026What website maintenance cost in the Philippines really buys: hosting, patches, backups, monitoring, content changes, and the red flags in a bad retainer.
Is Your AI Chatbot Working? Six Numbers Philippine Businesses Should Track
October 14, 2026How to measure AI chatbot performance without guessing: six numbers Philippine businesses should track, from containment rate to booking capture.
AI for Philippine Law Firms: Contract Review, Intake, and What Stays Human
October 12, 2026AI for law firms Philippines: where AI helps with contract review, intake triage, and document search, and which judgment calls must stay with a lawyer.
AI Video for Real Estate in the Philippines: Pre-Selling Walkthroughs, Listings, and What to Disclose
October 7, 2026AI video for real estate in the Philippines helps with pre-selling walkthroughs and listing variants. Here is where it works and what you must label.
Automating Quotations for Distributors and Suppliers in the Philippines
October 5, 2026Quotation automation in the Philippines fixes the slowest part of B2B selling. What to automate, what stays human, and what an RFQ build really costs.
Tagalog, Taglish, or English: Choosing the Language for Your Video Ad
October 2, 2026A Tagalog voiceover for video ads is not automatically the safer choice, and neither is English. A decision framework by audience, platform, and product.
AI Video for Restaurants and Food Brands: Where It Works and Where Real Footage Wins
September 30, 2026AI video for restaurants works for environments, variants, and seasonal scenes. The dish itself still needs a camera. Here is where to draw the line.
AI Product Photos for Shopee and Lazada Listings: What Works and What to Avoid
September 28, 2026AI product photography in the Philippines for Shopee and Lazada listings: where generated images win, where they fail, and how to keep your product accurate.
Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Custom E-commerce for Philippine Sellers
September 25, 2026Shopify vs WooCommerce Philippines: a stage-by-stage guide for local sellers on when a hosted store is enough and when a custom build earns its cost.
For US Startups: What to Know Before Hiring a Philippine Dev Team
September 23, 2026What US founders should know before hiring a Philippine development team for US startup work: timezone overlap, IP protection, pricing, and norms.
Logistics & Delivery Tracking Software: What Cavite-Based Operators Need
September 21, 2026Why off-the-shelf logistics software in the Philippines fails last-mile operators, and what to build instead: offline-tolerant tracking and SMS-first UX.
BIR E-Invoicing (EIS): What Philippine Businesses Need to Build by 2026
September 16, 2026What the BIR e-invoicing system Philippines rollout means for your software: EIS transmission, CAS registration, and what to build before you are covered.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom App in the Philippines?
September 14, 2026How long to build a custom app in the Philippines depends on scope. Realistic timelines by project type, what makes builds slip, and how to hold a date.
Which AI Video Model for Which Ad: Veo, Sora, Kling, and Runway
September 9, 2026Which AI video model for which ad: Veo, Sora, Kling, and Runway sorted by the job to be done, with a comparison table and an honest note on when to hire a studio.
Cavite vs. Manila Web Development: Where Should You Hire Your Team?
September 9, 2026Cavite vs Manila web development compared honestly: cost, talent depth, communication and on-site access, from a studio in Cavite that serves both.
Is AI Video Worth It for a Small Business?
September 9, 2026Is AI video worth it for a small business? Yes, when the film carries an idea rather than proof. Here is the decision rule, and the budget floor below it.
Building a Website for a Business in Bacoor: What You Actually Need
September 7, 2026Hiring a web developer in Bacoor? Here is what local businesses actually need from a website in 2026, which features earn their keep, and what to budget.
How AI Video Production Actually Works: From Brief to Master
September 4, 2026How AI video production works in practice: brief and boards, batch generation against locked references, a human finishing pass, and platform-native masters.
Restaurant Software in the Philippines: POS + Online Ordering Done Right
September 4, 2026A practical guide to restaurant POS Philippines setups and online ordering: aggregator commissions, direct channels, kitchen displays, and build economics.
The Corporate AVP, Rebuilt with AI
September 2, 2026Commissioning a corporate AVP in the Philippines in 2026: what it should cost, what it includes, and why the boards get approved before production starts.
Marketing vs Paid Ads: Where Philippine Startups Should Put Their Next Peso
September 2, 2026A practical look at startup marketing in the Philippines: when paid ads make sense, when organic compounds faster, and the CAC math founders skip.
AI Video Ads for Philippine Brands: What Actually Converts
August 31, 2026AI video ads in the Philippines win on creative volume, not one perfect cut. What belongs in the first three seconds, what to test, and where AI still fails.
Building Fintech in the Philippines: Lessons from the Digital Banking Wave
August 31, 2026A practical guide to fintech development in the Philippines, covering BSP licensing categories, the minimum compliance stack, and what to build versus buy.
Hiring a Web Developer in Silang, Cavite — A Local Guide from a Silang Studio
August 28, 2026Looking for a web developer in Silang, Cavite? A local studio breaks down what Tagaytay-corridor businesses need from a website, and what it costs in 2026.
AI Video vs Traditional Video Production: How to Actually Choose
August 27, 2026AI video vs traditional video production, compared honestly: the one variable that decides it, a full tradeoff table, and when we tell clients to shoot instead.
Google Preferred Sources: What It Is, and Who It Actually Helps
August 27, 2026Google Preferred Sources lets readers pin the publications they trust to the top of their own results. Here is how to add the button, what it really changes, and the honest answer on who benefits.
Why Industrial Park Suppliers Are the Philippines' Most Under-Digitized Businesses
August 26, 2026A website for industrial suppliers in the Philippines is still rare. Here is what ecozone vendors need to look procurement-ready and win more RFQs.
How Much Does AI Video Production Cost in the Philippines?
August 24, 2026AI video production cost in the Philippines runs from ₱20,000 to ₱350,000+ per package. Here is what moves the number, and where the money actually goes.
What Is an AI Visibility Audit? What It Covers and What It Should Cost
August 24, 2026An AI visibility audit shows how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews describe your business, which sources they trust, and what it costs to fix.
Finding a Web Developer in Lipa, Batangas — Beyond the Café Website
August 21, 2026Looking for a web developer in Lipa City? Here is what LIMA suppliers, cafes, clinics, and schools in Batangas actually need from a website in 2026.
Building SaaS in Makati: A Founder's Playbook
August 19, 2026SaaS development in Makati has its own rhythm. A founder guide to realistic timelines, studio versus agency models, budgets, and why MSP beats MVP.
Migrating from WordPress to a Modern Stack — Should You?
August 17, 2026A practical look at WordPress to Next.js migration in the Philippines: when a rebuild pays back, when it does not, and how to protect your rankings.
Decide What to Build Before You Spend Building It: A Founder's Digital Strategy Brief
August 12, 2026A digital strategy in the Philippines costs a fraction of a build and prevents the expensive kind of mistake. Here is what a written strategy brief covers.
Do You Need a Fractional CTO or a Studio? A Decision Guide for PH Startups
August 12, 2026A fractional CTO in the Philippines and a product studio solve different problems. Here is how founders decide which one their startup actually needs.
Web Development for Santa Rosa, Laguna Businesses — What the Motor City Needs
August 10, 2026Looking for a web developer in Santa Rosa, Laguna? Here is what Nuvali startups, auto-parts suppliers, and township retailers actually need from a website.
The Prototype Is Free Now. The Foundation Still Is Not.
August 8, 2026AI made building a prototype almost free, which quietly destroyed the argument for the MVP. Here is what Philippine founders should build instead in 2026.
How Much Does Custom Software Cost in the Philippines? (2026 Estimate Guide)
August 7, 2026Custom software development cost in the Philippines ranges from small tools to full platforms. This 2026 guide covers estimate ranges and what drives price.
SaaS Pricing for the Philippine Market: What Works in 2026
August 5, 2026SaaS pricing in the Philippines is not a simple peso conversion. This guide covers peso-denominated tiers, freemium math, and usage-based models for 2026.
AI Audit vs AI Consultant: What Filipino Businesses Actually Need
August 3, 2026Choosing between an AI audit vs AI consultant? Learn the real difference and find out which approach fits your Philippine SME budget and timeline.
Building Software That Complies with the Data Privacy Act in 2026
July 31, 2026A practical guide to data privacy act compliance Philippines: what NPC requires, which privacy-by-design choices cost little now and a fortune to retrofit later.
Web Accessibility Stopped Being Optional for Philippine Businesses in 2026
July 30, 2026The European Accessibility Act is now being enforced, turning web accessibility into a market-access and design-quality issue. What Philippine SMBs and startups need to know in 2026.
AI Chatbots for Filipino Businesses - Where They Actually Pay Back
July 29, 2026An AI chatbot for Filipino businesses can save hours in customer support, but only if it fits your industry. Here is an honest look at where it pays back.
How AI Is Changing Social Media Management in the Philippines
July 27, 2026AI social media management in the Philippines is reshaping how brands create, schedule, and listen. Where it helps, where it still produces slop, and how to build a workflow that works.
Why Most Philippine Product Launches Fall Flat (and How a 2-Week Sprint Fixes It)
July 26, 2026Why do product launches in the Philippines fall flat? Three failure patterns common to Filipino founders, and how a focused marketing sprint turns the tide.
Web Development Along Governor's Drive — Trece Martires, Carmona, and the New Cavite
July 20, 2026Need a web developer in Trece Martires or Carmona, Cavite? This guide covers what Governor Drive corridor businesses actually need from a website in 2026.
What AI Automation Actually Costs a Philippine SME in 2026
July 17, 2026A clear cost breakdown for AI automation for small business Philippines, covering setup ranges, monthly costs, and which workflows pay back fastest.
How to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT (and Google AI Overviews)
July 15, 2026AI engines recommend businesses they can read, verify, and corroborate. The evidence-backed levers: answer-first pages, specific numbers, real freshness, structured data, and a third-party footprint. Plus a 15-minute self-audit you can run today.
Websites and Booking Systems for Philippine Resorts — Stop Losing Weekends to DMs
July 15, 2026A resort website in the Philippines should take bookings, collect deposits, and sync your calendar. Here is what to actually build and what it costs.
How We Orchestrate 100+ AI Coding Agents With Claude Code
July 14, 2026The Blackbyrds way to run AI agent fleets: three escalating tiers, guardrails enforced by the tooling instead of the prompt, and a verification gate before anything ships.
How Much Does an AI Marketing Agency Cost in 2026? (Real USD Numbers)
July 13, 2026Boutique AI SEO and GEO retainers in the US run $2,000 to $5,000 a month, mid-market runs $5,000 to $15,000, and almost nobody publishes their rates. Here is the full cost breakdown, what drives the price, and where the affordable end of the market actually is.
RAG or Fine-Tuning? Picking the Right AI Approach for Your Business Data
July 13, 2026RAG vs fine tuning Philippines: an honest 2026 breakdown for SMEs choosing how to connect business data to AI without wasting budget on the wrong approach.
The Chat Bubble in the Corner Is Not a Product Feature
July 10, 2026The 2026 UX consensus is turning against AI bolted onto every screen. What calm, transparent, copilot-style interfaces mean for Philippine products and how to design AI users actually trust.
What an AI Marketing Agency in the Philippines Actually Does (and Costs) in 2026
July 10, 2026AI marketing is two jobs: using AI to run your marketing faster, and getting your business recommended inside AI answers. What that looks like for Philippine businesses, what it costs in pesos, and how to spot an agency that is faking it.
Custom POS Systems in the Philippines — When Off-the-Shelf Stops Working
July 10, 2026When a custom POS system in the Philippines makes more sense than off-the-shelf: multi-branch ops, BIR receipt compliance, and offline-first design.
Content Marketing That Generates Real Pipeline for Philippine B2B
July 8, 2026A practical guide to content marketing in the Philippines that builds inbound pipeline for B2B businesses instead of chasing vanity metrics.
Freelancer vs. Agency for Web Development in the Philippines — Honest Comparison
July 6, 2026The freelancer vs agency Philippines decision depends on scope, risk, and timeline. Here is when each is the right answer and what you give up either way.
Shipping a Real SaaS in 11 Weeks: The MSP Playbook
July 3, 2026How to ship a Philippine SaaS in 11 weeks with the MSP playbook: reach your first paying customers without building something you will need to rewrite.
When an AI Audit Pays For Itself: ROI Math for Philippine SMEs
July 1, 2026The AI audit ROI case for Philippine SMEs: how a five-day diagnostic prevents failed builds and guides your first real investment in automation.
Go-To-Market Checklist for Philippine Software Products in 2026
June 29, 2026A practical go to market Philippines checklist for founders: the channels that work in 2026, founder-led sales tactics, and the B2B vs B2C ads mix.
Content Pillars: The Backbone of a Social Strategy That Does Not Wilt
June 26, 2026Discover how social media content pillars give Philippine businesses a consistent posting rhythm, stop the daily panic, and make every post intentional.
Web Development Agency vs. Freelancer vs. In-House Team: Which Is Right for Your Business?
June 25, 2026Agency, freelancer, or in-house team for your website? Here is an honest breakdown of cost, speed, risk, and control for Philippine businesses deciding who should build their web project.
Website for a Dental Clinic in the Philippines — Features That Convert
June 24, 2026The features every website for a dental clinic in the Philippines needs to convert patients: booking, mobile design, BIR invoicing, and data privacy.
Voice AI Receptionists for Filipino Clinics and Service Businesses
June 22, 2026Voice AI receptionists are now handling bookings and FAQs for Filipino clinics and service businesses in the Philippines. Here is what to know in 2026.
TikTok vs Meta for Philippine Brands in 2026: Where Attention Actually Lives
June 19, 2026TikTok marketing Philippines vs Meta in 2026: honest channel-fit by industry, production economics for SMEs, and where attention actually lives.
Writing a Positioning Thesis That Wins Filipino Buyers
June 17, 2026How to write a positioning thesis in the Philippines that wins the right buyers, why competing on price and speed always leaves you exposed, and how a 2-week sprint fixes it.
Our Developer Disappeared After Launch: Now What?
June 15, 2026When your developer disappeared after launch in the Philippines, here is the recovery plan: asset control, code audit, new hire criteria, and prevention.
Tech Stack for Philippine Real Estate Brokers in 2026
June 12, 2026Real estate software Philippines: a practical guide to lead capture, virtual tours, commission tracking, and CRM tools built for how PH brokers actually work.
When to Skip the MVP and Build an MSP Instead
June 10, 2026A decision guide for founders on when to skip the MVP and build an MSP instead - scalable architecture from day one prevents costly Philippine startup rebuilds.
Most Philippine AI Projects Never Leave the Pilot Stage. Here Is Why.
June 2, 2026PH firms adopt AI widely but stall in proof-of-concept. The gap is not the model — it is workflow design. How to move an AI project from demo to daily use.
Post-Launch Product Growth in 2026: Cost Discipline Beats Aggressive Scaling
May 29, 2026Cloud and infra costs are squeezing margins for Philippine SMBs running their own products. Post-launch growth in 2026 is a discipline problem, not a marketing problem.
Digital Strategy for Philippine MSMEs in 2026: Buy Tools Last, Not First
May 26, 2026DTI is pushing MSMEs to digitally transform ahead of ASEAN trade integration. Before you buy tools, you need a digital strategy. Here is what that actually means.
What a Real AI Audit Looks Like: Inside Our 5-Day Diagnostic
May 25, 2026What our ai audit deliverables philippines businesses actually receive: a five-day diagnostic covering workflow mapping, leverage scoring, and a priced roadmap.
AI Coding Agents Are Shipping Code Faster. Should You Still Hire a Studio?
May 25, 2026AI coding agents in the Philippines are reshaping how software gets built. An honest look at where they help and where a studio still matters.
Digital Marketing for Philippine SMEs in 2026: Where to Actually Spend
May 24, 2026The honest channel breakdown for digital marketing in the Philippines: which channels move the needle for SMEs in 2026 and which ones drain budget.
On-Device AI for Mobile Apps in 2026: What Filipino Developers Can Now Ship
May 24, 2026On-device AI for mobile apps in the Philippines is now production-ready. What Filipino developers can build with Apple Intelligence, Gemini Nano, and on-device LLMs.
Business Automation in the Philippines — One Workflow, Four Weeks
May 23, 2026Discover how business automation in the Philippines saves SMEs time and money: real workflow examples, honest cost trade-offs, and when to build vs buy.
Generative UI: What It Changes for Product Design in 2026
May 23, 2026Generative UI is reshaping Philippine product design timelines. Here is what generative ui philippines means for designers and what AI still cannot replace.
Integrating GCash, Maya & QR Ph in Custom Software: 2026 Edition
May 22, 2026A practical guide to GCash integration in the Philippines, covering PayMongo vs Xendit, QR Ph interoperability, and the key gotchas that matter in 2026.
Social Media Management for Philippine Businesses: What "Done Right" Looks Like
May 22, 2026Effective social media management in the Philippines means far more than frequent posts. Learn what a real engagement covers and what to demand from your agency.
Why Your Product Launch Falls Flat — and How a Marketing Sprint Fixes It
May 21, 2026Most Philippine product launches underperform not because of the product but because of the go-to-market. A product marketing sprint fixes the gap in four weeks.
How to Hire a Web Developer in Cavite (Without Getting Burned)
May 21, 2026Learn how to hire a web developer in Cavite without getting burned: a practical checklist for vetting candidates, spotting red flags, and protecting ownership.
Agentic AI for Philippine SMEs in 2026: Beyond Chatbots
May 20, 2026Agentic AI lets Philippine SMEs delegate entire multi-step workflows, not just answer questions. Here is what is working in real PH businesses in 2026.
Scalable Architecture from Day One: What MSP Actually Means
May 20, 2026Discover what a minimum scalable product means for Philippine startups: production-grade foundations from sprint one so you never pay for a rebuild.
What "Product Growth" Actually Means After You Launch (and What Most Agencies Skip)
May 20, 2026Product growth in the Philippines goes beyond maintenance. It covers monitoring, retention experiments, and steady feature shipping after you launch.
A One-Week AI Audit: Finding Where AI Pays Back for Philippine Businesses
May 19, 2026An AI audit Philippines businesses can actually use: 5 days to map your workflows, score AI leverage, and get a priced roadmap with an honest no-go list.
Document Intelligence for Philippine Businesses: PDF Hell, Solved
May 19, 2026Document automation in the Philippines is now viable for SMEs. Here is where AI-powered document intelligence actually works and what realistic projects cost.
Mobile App Development Cost in the Philippines — A 2026 Estimate Guide
May 18, 2026What does mobile app development cost in the Philippines? This 2026 guide covers honest estimate ranges, key cost drivers, and how to scope your project.
MVP vs. MSP: Which One Should a Philippine Startup Actually Build?
May 18, 2026For MVP development in the Philippines, founders face a real choice: build fast and cheap, or build to scale. Here is how to decide which path fits.
E-commerce Development in Dasmariñas — Local Sellers Going Online
May 17, 2026Looking for an ecommerce developer in Dasmariñas? Compare custom builds vs Shopify, PH payment gateways like GCash and PayMongo, and local logistics options.
UX/UI Design for Philippine Products: Why It's Not Just About Looking Pretty
May 17, 2026In the Philippines, ux ui design does more than make screens look good. See how integrating design early prevents costly rebuilds and products nobody uses.
How Much Does a Website Cost in the Philippines? (2026 Estimate Ranges)
May 16, 2026Honest estimate ranges for building a website or web app in the Philippines — from simple brochure sites to custom SaaS platforms. Every project is scoped individually.
SEO in the Philippines in 2026: What Actually Ranks
May 16, 2026AI Overviews have reshaped Philippine search. Here is what actually works for SEO Philippines 2026: local SEO, GBP, schema, geo-modified content, and GEO.
Anatomy of a Great Kickoff Week
November 8, 2025What a strong week-one looks like for a custom software project kickoff in the Philippines: specific rituals, deliverables, and red flags to watch for.
Eight Years In: Why We Are Still Based in Cavite
August 30, 2025In 2025 Blackbyrds Digital crossed eight years operating as a software studio out of Silang, Cavite. A look back at what worked, what almost did not, and why the studio is staying.
Six AI Features That Flopped (and What We Learned)
April 5, 2025An honest postmortem on AI features Blackbyrds Digital shipped that did not work as intended in the Philippines, with patterns to avoid in 2025 builds.
Why We Redesigned blackbyrds.digital in 2025
January 14, 2025The reasoning behind Blackbyrds Digital website redesign in 2025: not aesthetics but information architecture, answer engine optimization, and conversion paths.
Building Voice AI for Clinic Intake
September 25, 2024First voice AI deployment for a multi-branch clinic in the Philippines: Tagalog and English handling, latency considerations, and how we evaluate call quality.
Two Years of AI in Production: What Actually Works
June 20, 2024Looking back at two years of shipping AI features inside real products. What we kept, what we threw away, and what we tell every founder asking us to add AI to their business in 2024.
We Stopped Accepting Web3-Adjacent Briefs
April 17, 2024Two years after our initial Web3 skepticism, Blackbyrds Digital explains why we now decline blockchain and crypto-adjacent project briefs in the Philippines in 2024.
New Year, No Predictions
January 30, 2024Why Blackbyrds Digital stopped publishing annual predictions for the Philippine software industry in 2024 and what we are watching instead.
Six Things ChatGPT Changed in Our Scoping Calls
November 21, 2023Practical shifts in how Blackbyrds Digital runs AI scoping in the Philippines now that every client has read about ChatGPT. Better questions, sharper no-go list.
A Short Defense of the Written Thesis
September 12, 2023Why Blackbyrds Digital still delivers a written thesis at the start of every software engagement in the Philippines, even in the era of AI-generated everything.
Shipping Our First AI Feature Inside a Clinic Product
May 30, 2023First production AI integration in a healthcare workflow in the Philippines: what we got right, what almost broke us, and what we would do differently.
ChatGPT Just Changed Our Studio. Here Is What We Are Doing About It
February 15, 2023Three months into the GPT-4 era, the way we scope, design, and build software at Blackbyrds Digital has shifted. An honest write-up of what is working, what is not, and what we are betting on next.
Inflation, Dollar Pricing, and a Cavite Studio
October 4, 2022How Blackbyrds Digital adjusted software pricing in the Philippines for international clients during the 2022 dollar surge without losing trust or margin.
Our First Mobile App Shipped on React Native
July 15, 2022Why we chose React Native for our first mobile app development project in the Philippines, what surprised us during the build, and how it shaped our mobile scoping process.
Notes on Web3, and Why We Are Not Chasing It
February 22, 2022An honest take on why Blackbyrds Digital declined Web3 briefs in early 2022. Not anti-crypto, just skeptical of projects that do not actually need a blockchain.
Year Four, Looking Back
December 15, 2021A brief milestone reflection from Blackbyrds Digital: what 2021 produced as a software studio in the Philippines, what we got wrong, and what 2022 needs to look like.
The MVP Is a Lie. We Now Build Minimum Scalable Products Instead
July 22, 2021Why we stopped recommending the classic MVP framing in 2021, and introduced the Minimum Scalable Product (MSP): a launchable product with scalable architecture from day one.
Why We Hire Generalists in Year Four
March 9, 2021Why Blackbyrds Digital prioritizes generalist software engineers over deep specialists, and how we screen for breadth at a small studio in Cavite.
Async Client Check-Ins That Actually Work
November 4, 2020The async client communication cadence and written update template we built after eight months of remote-first delivery in the Philippines during 2020.
A Three-Week E-commerce Sprint Pattern for PH SMEs
August 11, 2020A repeatable three-week ecommerce development pattern for Philippine SMEs built during 2020 lockdowns: scope, stack choices, and what makes a defensible foundation.
Building Software in Lockdown — Notes from a Cavite Studio
April 30, 2020Sixty days of remote-only product work from Silang during the 2020 ECQ. What we learned about distributed engineering, async collaboration, and shipping under genuine uncertainty.
Why We Stopped Using WordPress as a Default
November 8, 2019In 2019 we made a quiet internal change at Blackbyrds Digital. WordPress stopped being our default stack. Here is what triggered the shift and what we use instead.
The Case for Fixed-Quote Pricing
August 2, 2019Why we use fixed-quote software pricing in the Philippines instead of time-and-materials, covering aligned incentives, scope discipline, and hard lessons learned.
When a Redesign Is the Wrong Fix
May 14, 2019Three cases where a Philippine business asked for a website redesign and the right answer turned out to be something cheaper and faster to implement.
Three Small Business Websites in Imus and Bacoor
October 26, 2018Pattern recognition from three back-to-back SME website projects for businesses in Imus and Bacoor, Cavite: what local businesses needed versus what they asked for.
Year One Lessons from Running a Software Studio in Cavite
August 14, 2018Twelve months into Blackbyrds Digital. What we got right, what we got wrong, and what we wish someone had told us before we shipped our first commercial project from Silang.
Hiring Our First Engineer
March 19, 2018How we wrote the role, screened candidates without a formal HR process, and onboarded a junior engineer at a small software studio in Cavite.
How We Wrote Our First Scoping Document
December 18, 2017The software scoping document template we built after three projects ran over budget, covering what goes in, what stays out, and why every section earns its place.
Shipping Our First Custom Web Application
November 30, 2017Lessons from delivering our first custom web application in the Philippines: database design, deployment pain, and talking to non-technical clients.
Why We Started a Software Studio in Cavite
September 22, 2017The founding story of Blackbyrds Digital. Why we set up shop in Silang, Cavite in 2017 instead of Makati or BGC, and what we believed about software development from day one.
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