I'm Martin, a software engineer based in Austria.

I've been building for the web since the `cgi-bin` 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. I've worked across the stack: web, backend, mobile. Shipping products and libraries 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.

Building is what I love most. That hasn't changed.

## What I Do

By day, I work as a Senior Staff Engineer for a SaaS company, leading technical initiatives from architecture to LLM integrations. I also run [topmind GmbH](https://www.topmind.eu), taking on select consulting engagements where I can make a real impact and as a vehicle for my software projects.

My work sits at the intersection of software, 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 Engineering

AI introduced a fundamental shift in how I work. Coding agents are part of my daily toolkit from exploring unfamiliar codebases to pair-programming on complex features.

==I have zero patience for AI slop==. The goal isn't to just 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](https://www.strava.com/athletes/mgrzr), do some strength training, and occasionally still [climb](https://www.8a.nu/user/martin-gratzer). 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 engineering
- **Projects:** things I'm building or have built
- **Links:** stuff I find interesting

## Get in Touch

The best way to reach me is through [email](/imprint/). For professional inquiries, check out [topmind.eu](https://www.topmind.eu).

You can also find me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/martingratzer/), [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/mgratzer.com), [GitHub](https://github.com/mgratzer), [Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/@mgratzer), and [X](https://x.com/mgratzer).