Discovery Call
Free30 min
Tell me about your app and where you're stuck. We'll see if I'm the right fit.
- Walk through your idea or prototype
- Honest take on what it'll take to launch
- Clear next step, no obligation
Software consulting for founders & small businessesIt's your idea.
It's your idea.
Let's make it real.
AI tools can take an app idea surprisingly far. Making it secure, reliable, and ready for paying customers is the hard part. I'm Kevin, a senior software engineer with nearly 10 years of experience, and that's exactly what I do.
I work with code from
- Cursor
- Lovable
- Bolt
- v0
- Replit
- ChatGPT
- Claude
The hard part
Where most app ideas get stuck
AI tools are amazing at getting an idea on screen. Turning that into a product people can trust with their data and their money is a different skill set, and it's the one I've spent my career on.
“It works on my laptop…”
…but you're not sure how to get it online with a real domain, hosting, and SSL.
Every fix breaks something else
AI-generated code piles up fast. Without structure or tests, each change is a gamble.
Is this actually secure?
Exposed API keys, wide-open databases, and weak logins are the most common issues I find.
How do I take payments?
Subscriptions, webhooks, refunds, receipts — payments are easy to get almost right.
Will it hold up with real users?
What works for 5 testers can fall over (or run up a huge bill) at 500.
What do I do next?
You need a clear plan from someone who has shipped production software before.
Services & pricing
Clear prices. No surprise bills.
Start with a free call. Most clients then book a Prototype Audit, so we both know exactly what it'll take before any bigger commitment.
Projects & consulting
Prototype Audit
$600flat
A senior engineer's review of the app you've built so far, plus a written plan for getting it launched.
- Security review (exposed keys, auth, database access)
- Architecture & scalability assessment
- Written report with a prioritized launch roadmap
- Time & cost estimates for each step
- 45-minute walkthrough call
Full audit fee is credited toward a Launch Package booked within 30 days.
Launch Package
From $3,500fixed quote
I take your prototype the rest of the way to production and hand you the keys.
- Production hosting, domain & SSL
- User accounts & authentication
- Payments & subscriptions (e.g. Stripe)
- Database setup, backups & security rules
- Automated testing & deployments (CI/CD)
- Error monitoring & handoff documentation
Scope and price are agreed in writing before work starts.
Hourly Consulting
$100per hour
Flexible help for when you just need an expert for a few hours.
- Live pairing & debugging sessions
- Code reviews of your (or your AI's) changes
- Tech stack & architecture decisions
- Billed in 30-minute increments
Monthly plans
Care Plan
$199/ month
Keep your launched app healthy, secure, and up to date.
- Uptime & error monitoring
- Monthly dependency & security updates
- Up to 2 hours of fixes or small changes
- Email support within 2 business days
Advisor Plan
$699/ month
A senior engineer on call — like a part-time technical co-founder.
- Up to 8 hours of hands-on work or advice
- Bi-weekly 45-minute strategy call
- Async Q&A and code reviews
- Priority response within 1 business day
Monthly plans are month-to-month — cancel anytime. Unused hours don't roll over. Work beyond plan hours is billed at the hourly rate.
How it works
From “almost working” to launched
A simple, predictable process. You'll always know what's happening and what it costs.
Free discovery call
We talk through your idea, what you've built, and your goals. No pressure, no jargon.
Prototype audit
I dig into your code and deliver a written report: what's solid, what's risky, and what's missing.
Roadmap & fixed quote
You get a step-by-step plan with a fixed price, so there are no surprise bills.
Build & launch
I do the engineering, keep you updated along the way, and hand over everything — code, accounts, and docs.
Ongoing support
Optional monthly plans keep your app maintained and give you an expert to call as you grow.
Client work
From prototype to real product
A recent project that's exactly the kind of help I offer.
A startup for creative professionals
Estimating and proposal tools for creative businesses
Where they started
The founder had built a working set of tools for writing estimates and client proposals: impressive, but every page saved its data in a single web browser. No accounts, no syncing between devices, and no way to charge for it.
What I did
- Rebuilt it as a real web app with secure accounts and sign-in
- Moved all saved work to the cloud, so it's available on any device
- Added image uploads, cost limits, and protection from spam and abuse
- Set up automated testing and automatic deployments
- Laid the groundwork for paid subscriptions
Result: Rebuilt in about a month and now getting ready for its public launch.
Other things I've built
Website · since 2018
The Interstate Gamers
The website for a video game podcast: game rankings, episodes, and more. I've built and maintained it for over seven years.
Video game · 2025 – now
Project Acorn
A video game I'm directing with an indie studio. I built the system that automatically packages and releases it for PC and Android.
Open source · 2025
LiveSplit
A free timer used by thousands of speedrunners (gamers who race to finish games as fast as possible). I contributed improvements to it.
NASA challenge · 2017
Lighting for the Space Station
A smart lighting system to help astronauts on the International Space Station keep healthy sleep cycles. My team won 1st place for our presentation, out of 14 teams across Texas.
About
Hi, I'm Kevin Lewis
I'm a senior software engineer in Tyler, Texas. For nearly a decade I've built software that real businesses depend on, from payment systems to live tracking for emergency responders.
I started KSlugs Software Solutions because I kept meeting people with great ideas who used AI to get surprisingly far, then hit a wall. Security, payments, hosting, and keeping things running are exactly what I've spent my career on.
You work directly with me: one experienced engineer who answers your emails, explains things in plain English, and treats your project like it matters.
- B.S. Computer Science, Texas A&M University
- NASA Presentation Award, Texas Space Grant Consortium
- ~10 years
- building software people rely on every day
- 4 companies
- from small startups to established software firms
- 4 industries
- public safety, hospitality, industrial, and business software
What I bring to your project
Taking payments
I've built payment systems that handle real customer transactions every day, without dropping them.
Keeping data secure
I've built secure sign-in from scratch, including two-factor login, and I know where apps leak data.
Systems that can't go down
I've built live tracking for police, fire, and EMS vehicles, where downtime isn't an option.
Making apps fast and stable
I've sped up slow apps and steered big ones through major overhauls without breaking anything for users.
Fixes that stay fixed
Every project gets automated tests, so new changes don't quietly break what already works.
Leading and reviewing
I've set the standards for engineering teams and reviewed outsourced code, so I can tell good work from bad.
FAQ
Common questions
I'm not technical. Can you still help me?
Absolutely — that's who I built this for. I'll explain everything in plain English, and you'll always know what's being done and why.
Can you work with code from Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, v0, Replit, or ChatGPT?
Yes. Most of my audits start with AI-generated code. I'll tell you honestly what's worth keeping and what needs to be rebuilt.
I only have an idea, not a prototype. Is that too early?
Not at all. Hourly consulting or the Advisor Plan works well for planning features, choosing a tech stack, and avoiding expensive mistakes before you build.
Who owns the code?
You do. Full ownership of the code and all accounts transfers to you once the project is paid in full.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes, happily. Your idea stays yours.
How does payment work?
Fixed-price projects are 50% up front and 50% at delivery. Hourly work is invoiced every two weeks. Monthly plans are billed at the start of each month and can be canceled anytime.
Will you build my whole app from scratch?
For the right project, yes — reach out and I'll put together a custom quote. My focus is helping people get existing ideas over the finish line.
Where are you located?
Tyler, Texas. I work remotely with clients anywhere in the U.S., and I'm happy to meet in person around East Texas.
Let's talk
Ready to get your app over the finish line?
Book a free 30-minute call. Tell me what you've built and where you're stuck, and I'll give you an honest assessment of what it'll take.