About Me

Hi, I'm Mal, and I'm the kind of person who can't help but tinker with how things work.

Started out as a graphic engineer, became a web administrator, also got really into shaders and game development, and somehow ended up being the person people call when they need someone who can bridge the gap between "we need this to work" and "here's how we actually make it happen." when it comes to all technology in-between.

These days I spend most of my time helping everyday people and small businesses solve problems that usually get handed off to expensive consultants or just go unsolved entirely. I like working with folks who are building something real, whether that's a food truck trying to get their POS system talking to their inventory software, a creator who needs their brand to actually look like a brand, or a small shop that wants a CCTV system that doesn't require a degree in computer science to operate and maintain.

What I Actually Do

The honest answer? A lot of different things, depending on what's needed.

I build systems, write code, design graphics, set up networks, automate workflows, whatever makes sense for the situation. If you've got disconnected tools that should be working together, I can usually figure out how to make that happen. If you need something built from scratch because it doesn't exist yet, that's where it gets interesting.

I think of myself as a solutions person more than anything else. The technical skills are just tools in the toolbox. What matters is understanding what you're actually trying to accomplish and finding the most practical way to get there, not the most expensive or complicated one.

How I Think About This Work

I genuinely believe small businesses and independent creators should have access to the same quality of tools and solutions that big companies get, just without the enterprise price tag or the six-month implementation timeline. When you know where to look and how to communicate what you need, there's almost always a way to get there that doesn't involve mortgaging the future.

Community matters to me. Not in a buzzword way, but in a practical sense. When small businesses win, when independents can actually compete, when people support each other instead of getting steamrolled by whoever has the biggest marketing budget, that creates something sustainable. I like being part of that.

I've been contributing to Google Maps as a local guide for almost a decade or more now, which started when I was traveling and just ended up turning into yet another way to help businesses get visibility. At this point I've racked up something like 17 million photo views and 21 million contribution views.

It's a simple thing, but it works. Good photos and honest reviews help small shops compete with chains that have marketing departments. I've used it to help increase foot traffic and sales for everything from tiny mom and pop stores to larger liquidation warehouses. Just another tool in the toolkit for getting people noticed.

I'm also a big believer in explaining things so people actually understand them. If I'm building something for you, you should know how it works and why we're doing it that way. No magic boxes, no "just trust me," no jargon unless it's actually necessary.

What I Enjoy

Honestly, I love a good challenge. Give me something with a high difficulty curve and I'm probably going to enjoy figuring it out. Game development scratches that itch, which is why I'm usually involved in some project or another. Same with reverse engineering old systems or getting legacy hardware to do things it wasn't designed for.

I like when technology actually helps people instead of just adding more complexity to their lives. Building a system that just works, that people don't have to think about, that makes their day easier instead of harder, that's satisfying.

And yeah, I do a lot of things. 3D printing, CNC work, shader programming, network infrastructure, brand development, video production, whatever's needed. I get bored with the "unplug it and plug it back in again" things, so having variety helps. Plus it means when someone comes to me with a weird problem that crosses multiple disciplines, I can usually help instead of having to punt it to three different specialists that each need their own paychecks for it.

Where I'm At

I'm based in Bellingham, Washington, though I end up all over the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Arizona but this is home now. I like the rain, the proximity to both mountains and water, and the community up here. I weirdly even like the freezing cold, but that just depends on the morning.

When I'm not working with clients, I'm usually working on personal projects, gaming with my wife, messing around in VRChat, or hanging out with our border collie (my ESA) Tater. I stream occasionally when I feel like it, mostly development work and gaming. I run my own streaming setup because I prefer controlling my own infrastructure.

Currently building a warehouse inventory system for fun, maintaining a few game servers, contributing to open source projects when I can, and always learning something new. Right now that's diving deeper into ML integration for practical applications, not just because it's trendy.

Want to Work Together?

If any of this resonates with what you're trying to do, reach out. I work with people I actually want to work with, on projects that are interesting or meaningful. No corporate pitches needed, just tell me what you're trying to accomplish and let's figure out if it makes sense.

"Because Integrity should always outweigh ego."

I'm pretty straightforward about what I can and can't do, what things will cost, and how long they'll actually take. If I don't think I'm the right person for something, I'll tell you that too.

Wanna Connect or Hang Out?

🗒️ Name: Mal Smith
🗺️ Location: Bellingham, WA (USA)
📧 Contact Me: [email protected]
🖥️ Discord: Ikadar
🔗 LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/that-guy