Projects

Tools built from things I care about

Over the years, many of the things I enjoy doing have led me to build small tools, websites and projects of my own.

These aren't commercial products or services. They are practical projects created to solve problems I've encountered myself, explore ideas that interest me, or simply make something I couldn't find elsewhere.

I make these projects available online, completely free for everyone to use. There are no subscriptions to pay, no recurring fees, and no expectation that you need to buy something to benefit from the work.

Writing

The Writer's Companion

The Writer's Companion is a free writing application for Linux, created to provide a straightforward, distraction-free environment for writing. Inspired by the traditional typewriter, it puts the emphasis on the words rather than the software, offering a clean and comfortable space in which to develop ideas and prepare written work.

It grew out of my own experience as a writer and my belief that writing software should support the creative process without getting in the way. It is a practical tool for anyone who prefers a dedicated writing environment without unnecessary complexity.

Visit The Writer's Companion →
https://thewriterscompanion.wdmayberry.com

Ctrl-D — WordStar 4.0 Tools

Ctrl-D.site is a collection of online tools built around one of the word processors that has had a profound influence on the way I write: WordStar 4.0.

WordStar is an old piece of software, but its approach to writing still makes a great deal of sense. It was designed around the writer and the keyboard rather than menus, ribbons and endless formatting options.

I created Ctrl-D to bring some of those ideas into the modern world and make WordStar-style tools useful again. The site includes utilities for working with WordStar documents and text, including conversion and formatting tools that make it easier to work with WordStar files today.

The tools are intended for writers, preservationists, retro-computing enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates the wonderfully direct way WordStar worked.

Visit Ctrl-D →
https://ctrl-d.site/

Things I Blog

Things I Blog is my personal blogging website, built and managed by me as an alternative to commercial subscription-based blogging platforms.

I wanted a place where I could publish my thoughts, experiences and writing without having to subscribe to a commercial blogging service or depend on a platform that dictates how I publish my work. Rather than paying for a place within someone else's system, I built and manage my own website.

Things I Blog gives me the freedom to publish on my own terms, maintain control over my writing, and share it with readers without adding another recurring subscription to my expenses.

It's not a commercial product or a tool for others to use. It's a working example of the same philosophy behind my other projects: with a little effort, some technical curiosity and a willingness to learn, it's possible to build and manage something of your own without automatically signing up for another paid service.

Visit Things I Blog →
https://thingsiblog.com/

Photography

PhotoLab 35

PhotoLab 35 is a project inspired by my interest in photography and, in particular, the character and limitations of traditional film photography.

It provides a collection of tools designed to help photographers experiment with the look, feel and workflow associated with film photography.

I created PhotoLab 35 because I enjoy the process of photography as much as the final image. Digital cameras give us enormous technical freedom, but sometimes imposing a few limitations can make photography more interesting.

Visit PhotoLab 35 →
https://photolab35.com/

My Field Guide

My Field Guide is a personal field-guide project built around photography, observation and identifying the world around us.

The idea is simple: a field guide should be useful when you're actually out in the field. My Field Guide brings that idea into a digital format, providing an accessible resource for exploring and photographing the natural world.

It's another example of turning a personal interest into something useful that can be shared with others.

Visit My Field Guide →
https://myfieldguide.netlify.app/

Why I Build These Projects

It seems the whole world has gone subscription crazy. Everywhere you turn, another application, another service or another useful little tool wants a monthly payment. Buy something once, and increasingly you're told that isn't enough. You must keep paying to continue using it. Over time, those small monthly charges add up, turning everyday tools into a growing collection of ongoing expenses.

I think there's room for another approach.

I build these projects because I enjoy creating things that are useful, and because I believe practical tools shouldn't always come with a price tag attached. Not everything needs to make money, and not everything needs to cost money. Sometimes the satisfaction of making something that works well, and knowing that someone else might find it useful, is reward enough.

These projects are my small contribution to pushing back against the idea that every useful thing must become a commercial product. Whether it's a writing application, a collection of WordStar utilities, a blogging website, or tools for photographers and nature enthusiasts, my aim is to make something worthwhile and share it freely.

All of these projects are free to use. No subscriptions, no recurring fees, and no requirement to buy anything from me. I make no promise that every project will remain unchanged forever, but I do believe that sharing useful work freely is worthwhile in its own right.

Sometimes I need a tool that doesn't exist. Sometimes I want to experiment with an idea. Sometimes an old technology deserves another look. And when I create something useful, I see little reason to keep it locked away.

These projects reflect the interests that have followed me over the years: writing, photography, technology, and the simple pleasure of making things.

This is my workshop on the web.

Have a look around. Use the tools. Share them with others if you wish. And if something here makes your life a little easier without adding another subscription to your monthly bills, then the project has done exactly what I hoped it would do.