About
I’m Martin Gratzer, a software engineer based in Austria.
I’ve been building for the web since the Perl days, then moved through PHP and .NET in my first corporate job. It didn’t take long to realize that being a cog in a big enterprise wasn’t for me. I wanted to be my own boss. So I started my computer science degree and launched my freelancing business at the same time.
When mobile came along (Windows CE, Symbian, Java ME) I jumped in. When iOS arrived, I went deep. Over 20+ years I’ve worked across the stack: web, backend, mobile. Shipping products used by millions, leading teams, and learning that the hardest problems are rarely just technical. Mobile is where I have the most depth, but I’m happiest when I can move fluidly between layers.
I still love writing code. That hasn’t changed.
What I Do
By day, I work as a Senior Staff Engineer at a B2B SaaS company, leading technical initiatives from mobile platforms to LLM integrations. I also run topmind GmbH, taking on select consulting engagements where I can make a real impact.
My work sits at the intersection of code, people, and business. I care about developer experience, architecture decisions that don’t haunt you later, and connecting technical work to outcomes that matter.
AI-Assisted Development
I’m deep into AI-assisted programming. Not as a novelty, but as a fundamental shift in how I work. Claude, Cursor, Copilot, and custom MCP servers are part of my daily toolkit for everything from exploring unfamiliar codebases to pair-programming on complex features.
I have zero patience for AI slop. The goal isn’t to generate more stuff faster. It’s to think better and ship higher quality work. AI is a tool, not an excuse to stop caring about craft.
Beyond Code
Most importantly, I’m a father and partner. My family (Mirjam and our two kids) is everything.
Outside of work, I chase alpine passes on my road bike, do strength training, and occasionally still climb. These days it’s less about performance and more about healthspan. Live long and prosper.
I love photography, especially black and white. Used to organize local Photowalks. The muse went quiet and the phone replaced the camera, but the itch to pick up a real camera and be creative again is still there.
This Site
This is my personal corner of the internet. I write about things I’m learning, problems I’ve solved, and occasionally things that have nothing to do with technology.
You’ll find:
- Technical posts: deep dives on mobile, architecture, DX, and AI-assisted development
- Projects: things I’m building or have built
- Links: stuff I find interesting
Get in Touch
The best way to reach me is through LinkedIn or Bluesky. For professional inquiries, check out topmind.eu.