About
I'm Nik Brunner, a Software Engineer with 5 years of experience building frontend architectures and design systems.
I work closely with designers and have a strong sense for UX (user experience) and DX (developer experience). I'm also comfortable working independently and making design decisions when needed.
Currently seeking new opportunities starting February 2026.
Born in 1984, based in Landshut, Germany. Outside of code, I enjoy hiking, running, and photography.
Employment
DealerCenter Digital
Software Engineer
2020–2026
Worked across the full spectrum of frontend development—from feature implementation and bug fixes to code reviews, mentoring, and cross-team coordination for a mature Electron application serving hundreds of bike retailers.
Led major architectural migrations by championing TanStack Query adoption and migrating the codebase from legacy Redux to Redux Toolkit, authoring comprehensive code guidelines and best practices documentation. Completely rebuilt a Vendure storefront from Remix to TanStack Start/Router with TanStack Query, Form, GraphQL, ShadCN and Tailwind CSS.
Designed and implemented a comprehensive 10-variant color system with Figma integration, affecting 1.6k files across the codebase. Built and maintained BikeCenter's entire component library from scratch using React, TypeScript, and SCSS—no third-party UI frameworks.
Designed internal APIs for state management and GraphQL integration, establishing developer experience patterns across the team. Bridged design and engineering as a trusted decision-maker for UX and technical feasibility, collaborating with designers as both implementer and advisor.
Mentored junior developers through pair programming and code reviews. Established technical standards and conventions across the team, including translation guidelines, BEM naming, and TypeScript best practices. Served as technical hub between management, backend, and frontend teams.
diva-e
Junior Frontend Developer
2020
Contributed to a major e-commerce platform at digital agency. Built an internal social platform using React, GraphQL (Apollo), and SCSS. Created onboarding documentation for the company's proprietary framework. Successfully navigated remote work transition during COVID-19 outbreak.
Campudus
Intern
2019–2020
Built a fullstack accessories ordering application from scratch (design, architecture, backend, frontend) during a 3-month internship at DealerCenter Digital's sister company.
Projects
Projects are never finished, but they are always in progress. Here are some of my projects as a developer.
Black Atom Industries
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Platforms:Neovim, Zed, Ghostty, WezTerm, Tmux
Themes:27+
Open-source cross-platform theming system generating 27+ cohesive themes from a single source.
Built with an adapter pattern for consistent theme generation from a central source using OKLCH color space.
Maintained with focus on developer experience and cross-platform consistency.
AWDCS
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
AWDCS (App, Workspace, Document, Change, Symbol): A scope-based keymap architecture for modal editors organizing bindings by operational context rather than tool-specific functions.
Features systematic prefix patterns and semantic naming for consistent, memorable keybindings across workflows.
kōyō
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Custom QMK keyboard layout for 36-key split keyboards featuring vim-inspired navigation, smart layer design, and comprehensive CLI tooling for Moonlander and Corne keyboards.
nbr.nvim
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Highly customized Neovim setup for frontend development featuring AWDCS-based keymaps, Lazy.nvim plugin management, and workflows tailored for React and TypeScript.
Tech Stack
Dev Tools
Dev Tools
Primary editor:Neovim
Secondary editor:Zed
Terminal:Ghostty
Terminal multiplexer:Tmux
Git GUI:LazyGit
AI assistant:Claude Code
Password & Secrets manager:1Password
I am very passionate about workflow. You can check my dotfiles here.
AI
I am lucky enough to have entered the industry before AI became a thing. To have the learning hill to climb, with no tab completion or ChatGPT. I think this is very valuable. And I think it's still very valuable and even necessary to learn coding in the AI era. I would never recommend a Junior Developer to use AI during their initial learning phase. I could never use AI effectively as I do now, if I had not learned this craft without it.
The technology is fascinating, but it has real limits. If you rely too heavily on it, you will actively unlearn skills and knowledge - and maybe most importantly, you will no longer have fun.
That's why I'm deliberate about how I use it. My primary AI tool is Claude Code. I use it like a personal assistant for brainstorming, planning, debugging and implementing boilerplate. When the task feels manageable by AI code generation, I work out detailed plans and then let Claude Code handle the implementation, while reviewing the code step by step.
I also use personal slash commands and MCPs where applicable.
Connect
About
I'm Nik Brunner, a Software Engineer with 5 years of experience building frontend architectures and design systems.
I work closely with designers and have a strong sense for UX (user experience) and DX (developer experience). I'm also comfortable working independently and making design decisions when needed.
Currently seeking new opportunities starting February 2026.
Born in 1984, based in Landshut, Germany. Outside of code, I enjoy hiking, running, and photography.
Tech Stack
Dev Tools
Dev Tools
Primary editor:Neovim
Secondary editor:Zed
Terminal:Ghostty
Terminal multiplexer:Tmux
Git GUI:LazyGit
AI assistant:Claude Code
Password & Secrets manager:1Password
I am very passionate about workflow. You can check my dotfiles here.
AI
I am lucky enough to have entered the industry before AI became a thing. To have the learning hill to climb, with no tab completion or ChatGPT. I think this is very valuable. And I think it's still very valuable and even necessary to learn coding in the AI era. I would never recommend a Junior Developer to use AI during their initial learning phase. I could never use AI effectively as I do now, if I had not learned this craft without it.
The technology is fascinating, but it has real limits. If you rely too heavily on it, you will actively unlearn skills and knowledge - and maybe most importantly, you will no longer have fun.
That's why I'm deliberate about how I use it. My primary AI tool is Claude Code. I use it like a personal assistant for brainstorming, planning, debugging and implementing boilerplate. When the task feels manageable by AI code generation, I work out detailed plans and then let Claude Code handle the implementation, while reviewing the code step by step.
I also use personal slash commands and MCPs where applicable.
Employment
DealerCenter Digital
Software Engineer
2020–2026
Worked across the full spectrum of frontend development—from feature implementation and bug fixes to code reviews, mentoring, and cross-team coordination for a mature Electron application serving hundreds of bike retailers.
Led major architectural migrations by championing TanStack Query adoption and migrating the codebase from legacy Redux to Redux Toolkit, authoring comprehensive code guidelines and best practices documentation. Completely rebuilt a Vendure storefront from Remix to TanStack Start/Router with TanStack Query, Form, GraphQL, ShadCN and Tailwind CSS.
Designed and implemented a comprehensive 10-variant color system with Figma integration, affecting 1.6k files across the codebase. Built and maintained BikeCenter's entire component library from scratch using React, TypeScript, and SCSS—no third-party UI frameworks.
Designed internal APIs for state management and GraphQL integration, establishing developer experience patterns across the team. Bridged design and engineering as a trusted decision-maker for UX and technical feasibility, collaborating with designers as both implementer and advisor.
Mentored junior developers through pair programming and code reviews. Established technical standards and conventions across the team, including translation guidelines, BEM naming, and TypeScript best practices. Served as technical hub between management, backend, and frontend teams.
diva-e
Junior Frontend Developer
2020
Contributed to a major e-commerce platform at digital agency. Built an internal social platform using React, GraphQL (Apollo), and SCSS. Created onboarding documentation for the company's proprietary framework. Successfully navigated remote work transition during COVID-19 outbreak.
Campudus
Intern
2019–2020
Built a fullstack accessories ordering application from scratch (design, architecture, backend, frontend) during a 3-month internship at DealerCenter Digital's sister company.
Projects
Projects are never finished, but they are always in progress. Here are some of my projects as a developer.
Black Atom Industries
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Platforms:Neovim, Zed, Ghostty, WezTerm, Tmux
Themes:27+
Open-source cross-platform theming system generating 27+ cohesive themes from a single source.
Built with an adapter pattern for consistent theme generation from a central source using OKLCH color space.
Maintained with focus on developer experience and cross-platform consistency.
AWDCS
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
AWDCS (App, Workspace, Document, Change, Symbol): A scope-based keymap architecture for modal editors organizing bindings by operational context rather than tool-specific functions.
Features systematic prefix patterns and semantic naming for consistent, memorable keybindings across workflows.
kōyō
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Custom QMK keyboard layout for 36-key split keyboards featuring vim-inspired navigation, smart layer design, and comprehensive CLI tooling for Moonlander and Corne keyboards.
nbr.nvim
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Highly customized Neovim setup for frontend development featuring AWDCS-based keymaps, Lazy.nvim plugin management, and workflows tailored for React and TypeScript.
Connect
About
I'm Nik Brunner, a Software Engineer with 5 years of experience building frontend architectures and design systems.
I work closely with designers and have a strong sense for UX (user experience) and DX (developer experience). I'm also comfortable working independently and making design decisions when needed.
Currently seeking new opportunities starting February 2026.
Born in 1984, based in Landshut, Germany. Outside of code, I enjoy hiking, running, and photography.
Tech Stack
Dev Tools
Dev Tools
Primary editor:Neovim
Secondary editor:Zed
Terminal:Ghostty
Terminal multiplexer:Tmux
Git GUI:LazyGit
AI assistant:Claude Code
Password & Secrets manager:1Password
I am very passionate about workflow. You can check my dotfiles here.
AI
I am lucky enough to have entered the industry before AI became a thing. To have the learning hill to climb, with no tab completion or ChatGPT. I think this is very valuable. And I think it's still very valuable and even necessary to learn coding in the AI era. I would never recommend a Junior Developer to use AI during their initial learning phase. I could never use AI effectively as I do now, if I had not learned this craft without it.
The technology is fascinating, but it has real limits. If you rely too heavily on it, you will actively unlearn skills and knowledge - and maybe most importantly, you will no longer have fun.
That's why I'm deliberate about how I use it. My primary AI tool is Claude Code. I use it like a personal assistant for brainstorming, planning, debugging and implementing boilerplate. When the task feels manageable by AI code generation, I work out detailed plans and then let Claude Code handle the implementation, while reviewing the code step by step.
I also use personal slash commands and MCPs where applicable.
Employment
DealerCenter Digital
Software Engineer
2020–2026
Worked across the full spectrum of frontend development—from feature implementation and bug fixes to code reviews, mentoring, and cross-team coordination for a mature Electron application serving hundreds of bike retailers.
Led major architectural migrations by championing TanStack Query adoption and migrating the codebase from legacy Redux to Redux Toolkit, authoring comprehensive code guidelines and best practices documentation. Completely rebuilt a Vendure storefront from Remix to TanStack Start/Router with TanStack Query, Form, GraphQL, ShadCN and Tailwind CSS.
Designed and implemented a comprehensive 10-variant color system with Figma integration, affecting 1.6k files across the codebase. Built and maintained BikeCenter's entire component library from scratch using React, TypeScript, and SCSS—no third-party UI frameworks.
Designed internal APIs for state management and GraphQL integration, establishing developer experience patterns across the team. Bridged design and engineering as a trusted decision-maker for UX and technical feasibility, collaborating with designers as both implementer and advisor.
Mentored junior developers through pair programming and code reviews. Established technical standards and conventions across the team, including translation guidelines, BEM naming, and TypeScript best practices. Served as technical hub between management, backend, and frontend teams.
diva-e
Junior Frontend Developer
2020
Contributed to a major e-commerce platform at digital agency. Built an internal social platform using React, GraphQL (Apollo), and SCSS. Created onboarding documentation for the company's proprietary framework. Successfully navigated remote work transition during COVID-19 outbreak.
Campudus
Intern
2019–2020
Built a fullstack accessories ordering application from scratch (design, architecture, backend, frontend) during a 3-month internship at DealerCenter Digital's sister company.
Projects
Projects are never finished, but they are always in progress. Here are some of my projects as a developer.
Black Atom Industries
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Platforms:Neovim, Zed, Ghostty, WezTerm, Tmux
Themes:27+
Open-source cross-platform theming system generating 27+ cohesive themes from a single source.
Built with an adapter pattern for consistent theme generation from a central source using OKLCH color space.
Maintained with focus on developer experience and cross-platform consistency.
AWDCS
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
AWDCS (App, Workspace, Document, Change, Symbol): A scope-based keymap architecture for modal editors organizing bindings by operational context rather than tool-specific functions.
Features systematic prefix patterns and semantic naming for consistent, memorable keybindings across workflows.
kōyō
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Custom QMK keyboard layout for 36-key split keyboards featuring vim-inspired navigation, smart layer design, and comprehensive CLI tooling for Moonlander and Corne keyboards.
nbr.nvim
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Highly customized Neovim setup for frontend development featuring AWDCS-based keymaps, Lazy.nvim plugin management, and workflows tailored for React and TypeScript.
Connect
About
I'm Nik Brunner, a Software Engineer with 5 years of experience building frontend architectures and design systems.
I work closely with designers and have a strong sense for UX (user experience) and DX (developer experience). I'm also comfortable working independently and making design decisions when needed.
Currently seeking new opportunities starting February 2026.
Born in 1984, based in Landshut, Germany. Outside of code, I enjoy hiking, running, and photography.
Tech Stack
Dev Tools
Dev Tools
Primary editor:Neovim
Secondary editor:Zed
Terminal:Ghostty
Terminal multiplexer:Tmux
Git GUI:LazyGit
AI assistant:Claude Code
Password & Secrets manager:1Password
I am very passionate about workflow. You can check my dotfiles here.
AI
I am lucky enough to have entered the industry before AI became a thing. To have the learning hill to climb, with no tab completion or ChatGPT. I think this is very valuable. And I think it's still very valuable and even necessary to learn coding in the AI era. I would never recommend a Junior Developer to use AI during their initial learning phase. I could never use AI effectively as I do now, if I had not learned this craft without it.
The technology is fascinating, but it has real limits. If you rely too heavily on it, you will actively unlearn skills and knowledge - and maybe most importantly, you will no longer have fun.
That's why I'm deliberate about how I use it. My primary AI tool is Claude Code. I use it like a personal assistant for brainstorming, planning, debugging and implementing boilerplate. When the task feels manageable by AI code generation, I work out detailed plans and then let Claude Code handle the implementation, while reviewing the code step by step.
I also use personal slash commands and MCPs where applicable.
Employment
DealerCenter Digital
Software Engineer
2020–2026
Worked across the full spectrum of frontend development—from feature implementation and bug fixes to code reviews, mentoring, and cross-team coordination for a mature Electron application serving hundreds of bike retailers.
Led major architectural migrations by championing TanStack Query adoption and migrating the codebase from legacy Redux to Redux Toolkit, authoring comprehensive code guidelines and best practices documentation. Completely rebuilt a Vendure storefront from Remix to TanStack Start/Router with TanStack Query, Form, GraphQL, ShadCN and Tailwind CSS.
Designed and implemented a comprehensive 10-variant color system with Figma integration, affecting 1.6k files across the codebase. Built and maintained BikeCenter's entire component library from scratch using React, TypeScript, and SCSS—no third-party UI frameworks.
Designed internal APIs for state management and GraphQL integration, establishing developer experience patterns across the team. Bridged design and engineering as a trusted decision-maker for UX and technical feasibility, collaborating with designers as both implementer and advisor.
Mentored junior developers through pair programming and code reviews. Established technical standards and conventions across the team, including translation guidelines, BEM naming, and TypeScript best practices. Served as technical hub between management, backend, and frontend teams.
diva-e
Junior Frontend Developer
2020
Contributed to a major e-commerce platform at digital agency. Built an internal social platform using React, GraphQL (Apollo), and SCSS. Created onboarding documentation for the company's proprietary framework. Successfully navigated remote work transition during COVID-19 outbreak.
Campudus
Intern
2019–2020
Built a fullstack accessories ordering application from scratch (design, architecture, backend, frontend) during a 3-month internship at DealerCenter Digital's sister company.
Projects
Projects are never finished, but they are always in progress. Here are some of my projects as a developer.
Black Atom Industries
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Platforms:Neovim, Zed, Ghostty, WezTerm, Tmux
Themes:27+
Open-source cross-platform theming system generating 27+ cohesive themes from a single source.
Built with an adapter pattern for consistent theme generation from a central source using OKLCH color space.
Maintained with focus on developer experience and cross-platform consistency.
AWDCS
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
AWDCS (App, Workspace, Document, Change, Symbol): A scope-based keymap architecture for modal editors organizing bindings by operational context rather than tool-specific functions.
Features systematic prefix patterns and semantic naming for consistent, memorable keybindings across workflows.
kōyō
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Custom QMK keyboard layout for 36-key split keyboards featuring vim-inspired navigation, smart layer design, and comprehensive CLI tooling for Moonlander and Corne keyboards.
nbr.nvim
Status:Active
Stack:
Topics:
Highly customized Neovim setup for frontend development featuring AWDCS-based keymaps, Lazy.nvim plugin management, and workflows tailored for React and TypeScript.