Julien Brancher, Developer in Sofia, Bulgaria
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Julien Brancher

Full-stack Developer

Sofia, Bulgaria

Toptal member since September 14, 2022

Bio

Julien is a full-stack developer specializing in web technologies with experience designing, implementing, testing, refactoring, and maintaining advanced web applications. Passionate about designing complex systems to answer business needs in the most effective, reliable, and secure way, he is attentive to standards compliance, source code cleanliness, ergonomics, semantics, accessibility, and scalability. Julien is eager to take on new challenges and work on cutting-edge technologies.

Portfolio

Ferryroute
Vue, PHP, PostgreSQL, APIs, NGINX, Ubuntu, Payment Gateways...
Foxbee Technology
Bash, Git, Debian Packaging, Common Lisp (CL), NGINX, PostgreSQL, DevOps...
Kiddies Kingdom
Symfony, PHP, eCommerce, Shopware, JavaScript, Bash Script...

Experience

  • PHP - 10 years
  • Software Architecture - 10 years
  • Linux - 10 years
  • REST - 10 years
  • Vue - 5 years
  • PostgreSQL - 5 years
  • Common Lisp (CL) - 5 years
  • PWA - 3 years

Preferred Environment

Vue, PHP, Ubuntu, Linux, PostgreSQL, NGINX, Sass, Software Architecture, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), Docker

The most amazing...

...app I’ve developed is Ferryroute, a ferry ticketing platform aggregating over 40 European operators, available on Google Play and Apple App Store.

Work Experience

Software Architect, System Administrator, Full-stack Developer

2021 - PRESENT
Ferryroute
  • Built the Ferryroute web application from initial MVP to production deployment for a travel agency, now actively selling ferry tickets from 42 ferry companies to customers across Europe.
  • Implemented a framework with a resource system as its foundation with inegrated user and role based access control and shared / private cache.
  • Developed a Google Maps interface for users to select their trip destinations.
Technologies: Vue, PHP, PostgreSQL, APIs, NGINX, Ubuntu, Payment Gateways, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Maps, Google Tag Manager, Linux, Vuetify, Quasar, FFmpeg, ImageMagick, CSS3, HTML5, Webpack, Git, Composer, Bash, SSL Certificates, REST, DevOps, JavaScript, CSS, Hybrid Apps, Software Architecture, Architecture, PWA, HTML, Full-stack, eCommerce, Front-end, Back-end, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Maps, CTO, Solution Architecture, Role-based Access Control (RBAC), Cache, User Permissions, MVP Design

Founder

2020 - PRESENT
Foxbee Technology
  • Worked on a web development framework based on the Common Lisp language and PostgreSQL database.
  • Built a custom shell based on Bash with autocomplete ability, documentation generation, and an important set of functions.
  • Automated the creation of Debian packages, targeting the development environment and online servers.
Technologies: Bash, Git, Debian Packaging, Common Lisp (CL), NGINX, PostgreSQL, DevOps, Software Architecture, Architecture, Full-stack, Functional Programming, CEO, Docker, Solution Architecture, Technical Writing, Clean Code, Documentation, Back-end

Lead Full-stack Developer

2022 - 2024
Kiddies Kingdom
  • Led the shop's transition from PrestaShop to Shopware 6, combining community and custom plugins. Implemented a Figma-based design with advanced techniques for a seamless user experience across devices.
  • Developed a customized database migration strategy involving automated and guided database cleanup. This was executed as part of transitioning from a monolithic infrastructure to a highly scalable, multi-service cloud solution within AWS.
  • Implemented integrations with 3rd-party services, including FreshRelevance for product recommendations, Yotpo for product reviews, and Mollie for payment processing.
  • Developed a Chrome extension to automatically login into, navigate to and refresh web based dashboards displayed in the warehouse.
Technologies: Symfony, PHP, eCommerce, Shopware, JavaScript, Bash Script, AWS Cloud Architecture, Cloud Infrastructure, Load Balancers, Apache, Amazon CloudFront, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon RDS, Amazon EC2, Chrome Extensions, CI/CD Pipelines, SEO Tools, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Back-end, Front-end

Lead Full-stack Developer

2017 - 2020
iProject
  • Provided support to the web development team on key system components like payment gateways, code and query optimization, security compliance, and Linux server administration.
  • Developed a framework on top of Vue to be one day used as the foundation of the new system supporting the client applications.
  • Implemented a custom WebQL-like SQL language to support the report application, allowing it to perform complex filtering across multiple database tables.
  • Implemented a comprehensive email system to send messages via multiple APIs.
Technologies: PHP, Vue, MySQL, Bootstrap, Linux, D3.js, SVG, HTML5, CSS3, RequireJS, Git, Composer, JavaScript, CSS, Software Architecture, Architecture, Frameworks, HTML, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), AWS Lambda, Solution Architecture

Senior Full-stack Developer

2014 - 2015
Peugeot
  • Improved the embedded authentication system found on most Peugeot and Citroën cars.
  • Developed a hardware monitoring system to maintain custom computers used by official shops.
  • Participated in the customization of a Linux kernel and the operating system.
Technologies: PHP, OAuth 2, Zend Engine, HTML5, CSS3, Zabbix, GLPI, Subversion (SVN), JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Back-end, Front-end

Co-founder

2012 - 2013
LiLiRUN
  • Conceived an innovative XML/XSL data format used by manufacturers to publish their products in our B2B marketplace.
  • Developed a custom PHP framework inspired by Symfony and Laravel.
  • Participated in the elaboration of the business plan.
Technologies: PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, Front-end, Back-end, Memcached, FTP, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Subversion (SVN), Bash, Laravel, Symfony, Technical Writing, API Design

Senior Full-stack Developer

2010 - 2012
Bright Network
  • Designed and developed a system to match job offers with candidates.
  • Developed a database visualization tool displaying data across graphs.
  • Managed the database migration from MySQL to PostgreSQL using different table structures.
Technologies: PHP, SVG, Bash, PostgreSQL, HTML5, CSS3, Amazon Web Services (AWS), JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end

Full-stack Developer

2009 - 2010
Arkine
  • Improved the existing process management system dealing with importing data coming from resellers.
  • Implemented a Google Maps interface to help clients find the best garage to install their tires.
  • Worked on different interface components to improve sales conversion rate.
Technologies: PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, Subversion (SVN), Memcached, CSS, Google Maps, HTML, Full-stack, eCommerce, Front-end, Back-end

Founder

2008 - 2009
Wibeo
  • Developed a PHP framework inspired by Doctrine, Symfony, and Zend Framework.
  • Developed several websites for a communication agency.
  • Provided consulting services around web technologies.
Technologies: PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, jQuery, Front-end, Back-end, Doctrine, Zend Framework, Full-stack, Symfony

Experience

Ferryroute

Ferryroute is a website and mobile application selling ferry tickets from 42 European companies. The application is already available on the Google Play Store and will eventually be released on the iOS App Store.

I designed, implemented, and deployed the whole system. On the back end, I implemented a custom framework, a resource system inspired by data-driven development, sourcing the data from different APIs. On the front end, I built a framework on top of Vue, allowing fast implementation of new functionalities and pages.

Foxbee AI

I designed an AI orchestration platform supporting multiple local and commercial language models, with explicit context management to control agent behavior and coordination. I implemented a fully voice-driven interaction layer, enabling voice-based control of the system and spoken responses from specialized agents. I also implemented Docker-based isolation as the main security boundary, with MCP servers enabling agents to interact with local resources, including their own code, through controlled interfaces.

Foxbee Shell

A tool I designed after years of experience in server maintenance. A custom shell built on top of Bash and a framework to build amazing scripts for servers. Includes automatic Pandoc documentation, command line auto-completion, text formatting (colors, style, icons, and tables), and a Debian package builder.

Foxbee Compiler

What I feel should be the right way to write code, a modern language I implemented built on top of Common Lisp and its associated interface, dedicated to website development in a serverless infrastructure. An attempt to bring a new programming paradigm to the market!

Report Application

https://iproject.io/
I developed the entire application, including the back end in PHP/MySQL and the front end in Vue.js. A data-driven reporting application with dynamic forms and graphs, including a timeline, a histogram, a pie chart, and a data table, all with interactive, highlighting, grouping, ordering, and filtering capabilities, and the ability to display records on a map too.

I implemented a custom WebQL-like SQL language to support the report application using prepared statements to avoid any SQL injections.

Project Management Application

http://iproject.io
I developed the entire application: the back end in PHP/MySQL and the front end in Vue.js. The main screen is a Gantt chart where we can add and edit tasks with simple drag and drop. The system recognizes managers and people assigned to tasks across multiple projects and avoids time overlaps. It also takes into account weekends and bank holidays, so the duration of a task is known on both business days and regular days.

Order Monitor Application

http://iproject.io
The Order Monitor is a Vue.js application for restaurants to track their online orders, from pending to delivered. It takes into account client specificities and includes grouping, ordering, and filtering functionalities.

Secure Access Web Portal

I developed a security-focused web portal that safeguards sensitive internal workflows by utilizing behavior-based access control, eliminating the need for exposed authentication endpoints. I implemented a custom PHP routing layer and employed a hardened NGINX configuration to minimize the attack surface and prevent direct route discovery.

In addition, I applied advanced PostgreSQL access controls with strict role separation to ensure data isolation and maintain resilience even in compromised scenarios. I designed environment-aware error handling and containerized the system using Docker Compose, ensuring predictable behavior across both development and production environments.

Education

2005 - 2010

Master of Science Degree in Software Engineering

Graduate School of Computer Engineering (ESGI) - Paris, France

Certifications

MAY 2010 - PRESENT

Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)

ETS Global

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Vue, Google Maps, Vue 2, ImageMagick, D3.js, FFmpeg, RequireJS, jQuery, Doctrine, Node.js, Vuex, JSON API, Claude API

Tools

NGINX, Webpack, Zabbix, GLPI, Subversion (SVN), Git, Composer, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Zeplin, Vue CLI, NPM, GeoNames, Pandoc, Docker Compose, Apache, Amazon CloudFront, ChatGPT, Claude

Languages

PHP, Bash, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, CSS, HTML, Bash Script, Common Lisp (CL), Sass, C++, C, Java, MathML, SCSS, PHP 7

Paradigms

REST, Clean Code, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), DevOps, Functional Programming, Serverless Architecture, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Role-based Access Control (RBAC)

Storage

JSON, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Memcached, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Cache

Frameworks

Vuetify, OAuth 2, Zend Engine, Quasar, Bootstrap, Serverless Framework, Laravel, Zend Framework, Symfony, Agentic Frameworks, PHP MVC

Platforms

Ubuntu, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Android, iOS, AWS Lambda, Ollama, Amazon EC2

Other

Software Architecture, Frameworks, PWA, Full-stack, Web & Mobile Applications, Mobile App Development, Architecture, Back-end, Maps, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), Full-stack Development, Web Development, APIs, SVG, Payment Gateways, SSL Certificates, Debian Packaging, English, Hybrid Apps, SSH, SSL, Terminal Servers, eCommerce, Front-end, AWS Cloud Architecture, SEO Tools, Documentation, Algorithms, Performance Optimization, Data Security, Cloud Architecture, IT Project Management, Google Tag Manager, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Doxygen, Serverless, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Symphony, FTP, Vue Router, Mobile First, Mobile-first Design, Back-office System Development, CTO, CEO, Solution Architecture, API Design, Technical Writing, Shopware, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), AI Agents, Agentic AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI Integration, Cloud Infrastructure, Load Balancers, Amazon RDS, Chrome Extensions, CI/CD Pipelines, User Permissions, MVP Design, Voice Chat, AI Model Integration, Gemini, Grok, Gemini API, Google Antigravity, Row-level Security (RLS), Large Language Models (LLMs)

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