About
Building products and writing songs
I'm Josh Holtzclaw — a senior full-stack developer, agency co-owner, and recording artist living in Birmingham, Alabama.
Over the last 14+ years I have built and shipped websites and web applications across stacks, from C#/.NET and PHP to modern React-based front ends and API-driven systems. My sweet spot is where product strategy meets execution. I care as much about how something feels to use as I do about how it is engineered.
I am known for strong UI/UX instincts and the psychology behind user behavior, SEO/SEM expertise, and an obsession with performance. I build systems that are maintainable, scalable, and measurable with clean architecture, thoughtful data flows, and pragmatic automation.
I am also an entrepreneur and co-founder of OP Solutions, always thinking in terms of leverage: building products, systems, and repeatable processes that create real-world value. On the creative side, I am a singer and songwriter with a folky, soulful rock edge, and I design too: UI/UX, branding, and digital experiences that feel intentional. Lately I have been deep in 3D printing and CAD modeling, which scratches the same itch as software: iteration, precision, and turning ideas into something real.
This site is the hub for all of it, my software work, design, builds, and music.
Journey
Timeline
2025
Senior Web Developer at Books-A-Million, leading team of 8
2024
Released debut album "Safe in Sound" | Partner at OP Solutions
2020
Developer at O'Neal Steel, e-commerce platform development
2018
Lead Developer at Brilliance LLC, 800K+ SKU e-commerce
2010
Founded Territory 3, enterprise client solutions
2009
First professional web development role at Student Life
Philosophy
What I Optimize For
Clarity
In UI, in code, in communication
Speed
Performance + shipping velocity
Outcomes
SEO rankings, conversions, retention, usability
Maintainability
Clean boundaries, clear conventions
Pragmatism
The simplest thing that works, then iterate
Process
How I Like to Work
- —Tight feedback loops, working increments, visible progress
- —Clear ownership and a "measure twice, cut once" mindset
- —Design + engineering collaboration early
- —Data-informed decisions without losing common sense
Tools
What I Reach For
What I Am Not
Keeping it real.
- xA move-fast-and-break-things cowboy
- xSomeone who over-engineers simple problems
- xA fan of meetings that should have been emails
- xImpressed by complexity for its own sake
Gallery
Personal
Beyond the Code
Married to Laura (10+ years). Dad of three kids (all under 10). Based in Birmingham, Alabama. When I'm not coding or recording, I'm probably 3D printing something practical or figuring out how to organize my workspace better.