Build-from-scratch, done like adults
We take greenfield from idea → production with real architecture, clean interfaces, and an ops-ready baseline—not a one-off demo.
WHY COLIBRICODE • DENVER, USA
Why teams chooseColibriCodewhen the work has to hold up in production.
ColibriCode is a Denver-based engineering workshop for build-from-scratch delivery, modernization, and stabilization. Clients come to us when they’re tired of throwaway builds and want systems they can trust, operate, and grow.
Less PowerPoint, more commits. Less “resource allocation,” more senior engineers who care how this works a year from now—under load, during incidents, and through handoff.
Build-from-scratch deliveryDrupal engineeringSymfony & Laravel backendsReact / Next.js frontendsPython jobs & APIsGo microservices & workersDevOps, CI/CD & Cloud
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE
We behave like an internal senior squad: helping you make trade-offs, documenting decisions, pairing with your team, and leaving you with a system you can own.
- We build the boring fundamentals early: CI/CD, deploys, rollback, visibility.
- We surface risk early instead of hiding behind process and status reports.
- We say “no” when something endangers maintainability, security, or operability.
HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT
A workshop mindset, not an agency machine.
We stay close to the code and optimize for long-term outcomes: systems that ship cleanly, run predictably, and don’t collapse when the original builders leave.
Workshop over factory
Small, senior-heavy teams who think with you. No rotating bench of anonymous juniors pushing tickets.
A stack we actually live in
Drupal, Symfony, Laravel, React/Next.js, Python, Go, and DevOps. We stay in the tools we can ship and support in production.
Production-first decisions
Performance, security, observability, and operability are part of the build. “Works on demo day” doesn’t count.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WORK WITH US
If you've worked with generic agencies before, this is different.
Team structure
COLIBRICODE
Lean senior engineers who stay on the project and carry context across months.
NOT US
Ever-changing squads where you re-explain everything every sprint.
Build-from-scratch approach
COLIBRICODE
Start with a thin vertical slice (auth → core workflow → deploy) and expand with strong foundations.
NOT US
A big bang build with a “we’ll harden it later” plan that never happens.
Scope & planning
COLIBRICODE
Clear phases and milestones, trade-offs explained in plain language, no hidden work.
NOT US
Vague estimates that slide, with surprises showing up near launch.
Communication
COLIBRICODE
Written updates, documented decisions, async-friendly collaboration that doesn’t depend on constant calls.
NOT US
Chaos in group chats, decisions lost in meetings nobody wrote down.
Tech choices
COLIBRICODE
Choose proven tools where possible and explain why. Save novelty for where it actually matters.
NOT US
Chasing hype frameworks and leaving you with a unique snowflake nobody wants to maintain.
FIT
When ColibriCode is the right partner—and when it isn't.
Teams we work best with
- Leaders who care about long-term quality, not just hitting a date.
- Teams starting from scratch who want a real foundation—not a throwaway MVP.
- Organizations feeling the pain of ad-hoc systems and rushed prototypes.
- Teams that want a partner who will push back when something doesn’t make sense.
Kinds of work we love
- Greenfield product builds with a tight feedback loop and real production requirements.
- Turning complex Drupal/PHP stacks into maintainable platforms.
- Building solid React/Next.js apps backed by Python/Go services.
- Designing CI/CD, observability, and ops around real-world usage.
- Modernization work: migrations, performance, reliability, and security hardening.
Signals we might not be a fit
- You want the cheapest possible build to pitch once and throw away.
- You want to switch stacks every quarter “to try the new thing.”
- You prefer yes-saying vendors over honest technical feedback.
- You need a large content factory rather than senior engineering execution.
HOW WE USUALLY WORK TOGETHER
A simple path from first email to real shipped work.
01
Understand the current picture
We start with your context: goals, constraints, users, deadlines, and what’s forcing a decision right now. If there’s existing code, we review the risky parts: architecture, pipelines, deploys, and production pain.
02
Propose a concrete first phase
We map a small but meaningful start—often a 4–6 week phase that proves value and reduces risk. For greenfield, this is usually a thin vertical slice shipped end-to-end.
03
Iterate with production in mind
We ship in slices, not in one big bang. Every phase leaves your system better than before—even if we stop tomorrow—because the foundations (tests, CI, deploys, visibility) are real.
Most collaborations start as a focused phase. If we both like how it feels, we extend into a longer roadmap or an embedded squad.
DENVER-BASED • REMOTE-FIRST
US-based engineering that plays nicely with distributed teams.
We’re based in Denver, and we work remote-first with teams across North America and Europe. Collaboration is built around overlap hours when needed, async updates by default, and clear ownership.
- Written updates you can forward to stakeholders without rewriting.
- Standups and reviews in overlapping hours when they’re useful—not compulsory.
- Decision logs and handoffs so knowledge doesn’t disappear.
HOW CLIENTS OFTEN DESCRIBE US
- “Senior bench.” The team you call when you need adults in the room for architecture, refactors, and sensitive launches.
- “Engineers who explain trade-offs.” You don’t just get a yes/no answer—you get the why and the alternatives.
- “Calm under pressure.” Incidents and deadlines are handled with clear steps, not panic.
NEXT STEP
Want a workshop that can ship and support what it builds?
Send a brief with your goals, stack, constraints, and what “better” looks like in six months. We’ll reply with a concrete recommendation for a first phase—often a 4–6 week slice that proves value and reduces risk.
No long forms required—two or three paragraphs are enough for a first conversation.