Paul – PHP Developer

Forcing static binaries with glibc and Go on Linux

By Paul August 20, 2025Go

go build dynamically links against glibc on Linux by default, resulting in errors like this when you run the binary: ./db2xlsx: /lib64/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by ./db2xlsx) ./db2xlsx:…

Automating Nextcloud app updates

By Paul August 13, 2025System administration

Like all good system administrators, I am lazy. If something can be automated, I will do my best to ensure that it is. Things I already automate include: Installation of…

What I like and dislike about C

By Paul August 6, 2025C

Although I primarily write PHP, I do also use C. There are lots of things I like and dislike about the language. Size C is a very small language -…

New email notifications from NeoMutt

By Paul July 30, 2025Email, Linux

Although I use Thunderbird for work emails, due to its ability to manage HTML and accept meeting invitations, my personal email client of choice is NeoMutt. I wanted to be…

Electronic Dreams by Tom Lean

By Paul July 23, 2025Book Reviews

This review was originally printed in the 2016 edition of the UKUUG newsletter, which is now defunct. Authors: Tom LeanPublisher: Bloomsbury SigmaIBSN: 978-1472918338Pages: 288Price: £15.00Published: February 2016 Disclosure: I was…

How long should your initial consultation be?

By Paul July 16, 2025Business, Freelance Questions, Freelancing

Unsurprisingly, most prospective clients want at least a brief chat before deciding whether to hire me, and likewise I want to know a bit more before working for them -…

What are your niches and how did you find them?

By Paul July 9, 2025Business, Freelance Questions, Freelancing

I have four niches or specialisms: Sector: IT for financial services Programming language: PHP Type of work: Bespoke/legacy applications Working arrangement: Retainer-based These make up the majority of my business,…

Why and how do you set client financial exposure limits?

By Paul July 2, 2025Business, Freelance Questions, Freelancing

A financial exposure limit is the maximum amount of work I allow to be outstanding for a single client at any one time, which I've currently set at £1500. I…

10 years of freelancing full time

By Paul July 1, 2025Business, Freelancing

On 30th June 2015, I officially left my job as Software Support Officer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, and started freelancing full time the…

How do you find clients as a freelancer?

By Paul June 25, 2025Business, Freelance Questions, Freelancing

Probably the most frequently asked question I get asked from other freelancers - especially those just starting out - is: how do you find clients? There are two aspects to…