Zach Schapel

A combined data source platform engineered for strategic US military partners to monitor, collect, and respond in real time to hundreds of event types. Optimized for low or no connectivity, a minimal mobile app with an advanced offline/online queue seamlessly connects to a secure private server.

Architecture: Deployed on secure, isolated Virtual Private Servers on dedicated instances, the system leverages a standard Apache stack to ensure full resource compartmentalization. A scalable Kafka event bus efficiently ingests and distributes both single reports and bulk data sets to specialized ingestion services. The frontend is built with pure JavaScript and jQuery, while real-time notifications and alerts are managed via Websockets, enhanced by a Redis pub/sub server that delivers group-specific, geohashed data alerts.

Technology: Kafka, jQuery, Postgres, Redis, Websockets, Linux, Apache, JavaScript, Java, SQL

A high-performance advertising platform delivering near real-time, unique content to hundreds of thousands of users by fusing manually curated and AI-assisted content. It employs advanced matching algorithms using partner indicators, personalization, and tracking markers to optimize engagement at minimal bandwidth. Sophisticated video rendering and caching techniques further enhance content delivery.

Architecture: Leveraging S3 storage via a high-performance CDN, the platform achieves extreme scalability under heavy resource loads. The backend is powered by a Node.js environment with NestJS, ensuring robust concurrency handling. The frontend is built on React, with a dedicated loader script running on an optimized Preact instance. Seamless interaction between on-page and in-frame assets is maintained through an intelligent postMessage event bus, ensuring smooth, unobtrusive communication. Custom integrations include a WebGL-based video builder for dynamic on-page assets and direct integrations with native mobile applications.

Technology: React, Redux, Node.JS, NestJS, PgSQL, DynamoDB, Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, S3, EC2, GitLab, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL

A real-time virtual event platform delivering live audio, video, chat, polls, screen sharing, and integrated microservices—including proprietary multi-tenant management tools and an Unreal Engine-based environment builder. Designed to host thousands of simultaneous users in custom-themed virtual events, it supports dynamic one-to-many and many-to-many communications directly through the browser.

Architecture: The system leverages S3 storage via a robust CDN for extreme scalability. Virtual environments are pre-built and rendered on a network of high-GPU cloud machines running Unreal Engine, with final assets delivered as optimized images and video files. The platform supports both intimate breakout rooms and large audience spaces (ranging from a single user to 5,000 users). Real-time notifications and text chats are facilitated via Websockets, which relay to a dedicated REST API. Audio and video streams utilize WebRTC, dynamically switching between peer-to-peer and peer-to-server connections based on room size. Automatic recordings are securely stored in a dedicated S3 bucket for later retrieval.

Technology: React, Redux, Unreal Engine, MySQL, Websockets, WebRTC, AWS, S3, Windows Server, Linux, Apache, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, Perl, C++

A multi-tenant, HIPAA-compliant healthcare platform engineered to manage thousands of clients and secure protected health data. It features a robust custom form builder, therapy group and medication management, secure prescription ordering, advanced notifications, and more—integrating a sophisticated web app with two mobile applications and numerous third-party service integrations.

Architecture: Leveraging multiple AWS services with auto-build processes via GitHub branch updates, the platform ensures rapid, secure deployment. A custom chat system—built on Node.js, Express, and MongoDB—delivers end-to-end encrypted messaging, safeguarding data in transit and at rest with personalized tokens per user. A secure REST API, structured on a MySQL CRUD database with ACID compliance, underpins core functionalities. Additionally, the health application is powered by a dual-stack approach: PHP-rendered pages for general functions and a Java Spring Boot module for computationally intensive tasks.

Technology: React Native, Redux, Java Spring Boot, MySQL, MongoDB, AWS, Node.js, Linux, Apache, Tomcat, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, PHP, Java

A public sector alerting mobile app designed to deliver emergency and safety notifications in critical environments like schools, hospitals, and entertainment venues.

Architecture: A React Native mobile app, powered by a sophisticated Redux state manager, runs on both iOS and Android. A secure data connection via REST commands feeds into a Java Spring Boot backend, with data stored in a MySQL database. Real-time alerts are enabled through a Websockets connection, ensuring immediate communication between client and server. Custom native plugins were crafted to ensure reliable mobile functionality in low or limited network environments—vital for public safety and law enforcement applications.

Technology:React Native, Redux, Websockets, Java Spring Boot, MySQL, AWS, Apache, Tomcat, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, Java

A dynamic social matchmaking experience platform was engineered to empower thousands of simultaneous users to connect over sports and activities. This innovative system is designed for rapid mobile app growth, leveraging a horizontally scalable architecture that adapts seamlessly to fluctuating user loads. The platform is built to foster engaging interactions, enabling users to easily discover and join communities based on shared interests, while ensuring a smooth, real-time experience across devices.

Architecture: The mobile experience is powered by React Native, delivering a native-like performance on both iOS and Android platforms. A robust backend built on Laravel provides a secure REST API, enabling rapid feature development and reliable user authentication. Data integrity is maintained through a MySQL database, ensuring transactional accuracy and consistency.  Real-time interactions and notifications are handled by Firebase, which synchronizes user data instantly and supports live matchmaking updates. Java services execute complex business logic and support heavy computational tasks, enhancing overall system performance. Custom Objective-C modules optimize the iOS experience further, leveraging native device capabilities for smoother operation. The entire system is designed with horizontal scaling in mind, ensuring that as the user base grows, the platform can dynamically expand its resources without compromising performance.

Technology: React Native, Laravel, MySQL, Firebase, Java, Objective-C

An interactive mobile gaming experience was built to support Mazda’s release of their new CX-50 car model, featuring three custom browser games developed with the Phaser.io game framework. The platform employs secure OAuth authentication alongside a SAML bridge to Mazda servers, enabling real-time, high-frequency score tracking for thousands of nationwide dealers.

Architecture: The solution is deployed on S3 storage via a CDN, ensuring extreme scalability and efficient management of resource loads. A backend powered by Node.js and Express, connected to MongoDB, handles high concurrency and rapid recording of game scores. The React-based frontend delivers a dynamic real-time scoreboard and leaderboard, along with time-gated access to exclusive games and rewards.

Technology:React, Redux, Phaser.io, MongoDB, AWS, S3, Node.js, Express, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL

A real-time virtual event manager was developed to provide comprehensive account and event controls along with a detailed hierarchy of permissions. It enables organizations to orchestrate live events across multiple departments and users, each with tailored levels of access and control. Additionally, a dedicated live-event control center facilitates specialized connections during active events.

Architecture: The primary application is delivered through a custom PHP and Laravel framework, supported by a large MySQL database and a Java application running a REST API. Secondary MongoDB databases handle extensive analytics tracking, live chat, and notifications. Users can upload large volumes of files to S3, which also processes substantial audio and video recordings for later retrieval. Build commands are issued to a separate server hosting Unreal Engine to construct virtual environments in the background. A sophisticated permissions hierarchy was implemented to manage access to over 100 key features, including calendars, reminders, user account controls, event configuration, room configurations, asset loading and approval, speaker profile management, time and room management, and notification scheduling.

Technology: Laravel, Java Spring Boot, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, AWS, Linux, Apache, Tomcat, PHP, Java, SQL

A feature-rich, scalable SaaS platform for small creative agencies, integrating user management, invoicing, estimates, payment processing, file builders, storage, and more. Developed as a solo project, it covers every aspect from design and architecture to frontend, backend, and cloud deployment.

Architecture: Deployed across multiple AWS services with auto-build processes driven by secure GitHub branch updates. Node.js and MongoDB power the analytics and high-throughput data engine for rapid scaling of write operations. A secure REST API, built on a Laravel framework, supports a structured MySQL CRUD database with ACID compliance. An experimental microservice, built in Rust, handles authentication by issuing JSON Web Tokens in coordination with the MySQL RDS. Hundreds of custom functions, including bespoke middleware, enable advanced multi-tenant and multi-level permissions.

Technology: React, Redux, Laravel, MySQL, MongoDB, AWS, Node.js, Apache, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, PHP, Rust

A consumer-facing web app for school ratings, integrating a national school search with a sophisticated public data scrubbing and computation engine. Acquired by GreatSchools in 2016 – GreatSchools Acquisition.

Architecture: Deployed across multiple AWS cloud services with auto-build and dedicated computation servers for high-volume data processing. A secure REST API, built on a Java Spring Boot framework, rapidly deploys a structured MySQL CRUD database with ACID integrity. A specialized microservice processes millions of data packets from thousands of public sources using advanced caching, query optimization, data scrubbing, and analytical algorithms—delivering refined results to a searchable Angular-based web interface.

Technology: Java Spring Boot, MySQL, Angular, AWS, Linux, Apache, Tomcat, JavaScript, SQL, Java

Invitae’s health application leverages an intricate tech stack to integrate and process data from thousands of health providers. A high-performance frontend search and display engine merges multi-source data, while a secure account registration module manages encrypted data storage.

Architecture: A dynamic CMS underpins the primary web display, enabling agile client-side control of static design elements. On the backend, a SOAP connection retrieves Salesforce data that is systematically cached and recalculated on the AWS cloud. This cached data is then exposed to the CMS via a GraphQL layer, powering a precise search engine that integrates with Google Maps. Meanwhile, the sign-up module is engineered using a scalable Node.js and Express framework with MongoDB as its backend.

Technology: SOAP, REST, MySQL, MongoDB, AWS, Node.js, Nginx, JavaScript, SQL, PHP

A scalable web application driven by a headless CMS and fortified with HIPAA-grade data security, engineered to handle hundreds of thousands of concurrent requests.

Architecture: A streamlined CMS serves as the primary web interface, enabling rapid, client-level adjustments to static design elements. The backend harnesses GraphQL for structured data management, with pre-rendered content on the server that seamlessly integrates into a client-side NextJS app. CI/CD pipelines are automated via an agile GitHub branch integration, ensuring instantaneous builds in both test and production environments. The fully built application is then deployed through a large-scale CDN, ensuring global, high-speed accessibility.

Technology: NextJS, GraphQL, MySQL, Nginx, JavaScript, SQL, PHP