I'm James E. Hamelton Jr., founder of Hamelton Brands LLC and the engineering identity behind JIJ Web Solutions. Based in Keokuk, Iowa, I build complete, production-hardened systems for clients who need things done right the first time.
I'm James E. Hamelton Jr., founder of Hamelton Brands LLC and the engineering identity behind JIJ Web Solutions. Based in Keokuk, Iowa, I build complete, production-hardened systems: WordPress plugin ecosystems, custom PHP applications, PWAs, and civic tech platforms for clients who need things done right the first time. I diagnose from first principles and deliver ship-ready code, always versioned and always complete.
Beyond software, I write fantasy fiction (The Heartbound Saga), follow dirt track racing through Hamelton Racing, invest in domains, and champion the indie/static web movement through projects like Guno.cc.
A decade of sharpening every tool through real production work.
Full PWA point-of-sale system for Ophelia Caribbean food cart with Kitchen Display System and Square integration.
57-board community forum plugin for keokuk.forum with upvotes, anonymous posting, PWA, and verified roles.
Custom PHP/MySQL photography portfolio with secure login, CSRF protection, and gallery management.
21-module WordPress plugin suite for a civic watchdog site monitoring the Keokuk Volunteer Emergency Corps.
Smart pet ID & recovery platform with QR tags, Vue 3 PWA, Alpine.js fallback, and Stripe Checkout.
Indie/static web search directory with PHP flat-file storage, BBS, domain blocklist, and quality scoring.
Custom plugin architecture, theme development, WP REST API, multisite, and full-ecosystem builds with clean output buffering and scoped CSS throughout.
RBAC auth systems, MySQL-backed data apps, admin panels, CSRF-secured forms, and bespoke web software designed for the long term.
Installable, offline-capable PWAs with Service Workers, Vue 3 or Alpine.js components, push notifications, and app-shell architecture.
Pixel-perfect HTML5/CSS3, mobile-first responsive layouts, CSS animation systems, and high-fidelity design implementation.
Stripe Checkout, Square POS integration, WooCommerce customization, subscription billing, and complete payment flow architecture.
VPS setup and management, cPanel/DirectAdmin, SSL, DNS, performance tuning, security hardening, and deployment pipelines.
Fully managed hosting for small businesses, creators, and local organizations, including setup, SSL, backups, updates, monitoring, and hands-on support.
Purpose-built content management systems with clean admin panels, media management, custom fields, user roles, publishing workflows, and fast front ends.
Subscription-ready web applications with dashboards, accounts, roles, billing flows, alerts, reports, and scalable database structures.
Site audits, metadata, schema markup, speed optimization, crawlability fixes, structured content, local SEO basics, and practical search visibility improvements.
Professional logos, typography systems, color palettes, visual identity kits, social media graphics, and brand assets that feel polished and memorable.
Website copy, service pages, launch announcements, blog planning, product messaging, ad copy, and content written with a clear human voice.
Professional email setup with SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX records, webmail configuration, mailbox routing, and inbox-delivery troubleshooting.
Security reviews, hardening, malware removal, infected file cleanup, permission checks, login protection, and recovery planning after an incident.
Professional photography support, image selection, editing direction, restoration workflow, gallery presentation, and portfolio-ready visual storytelling.
Complete online setup for local businesses: website, domain, email, Google-ready pages, social graphics, contact forms, menus, and service information.
Custom forums, member profiles, moderation tools, role systems, notifications, category structures, and community-focused UX for local or niche audiences.
Custom order-entry systems, offline-capable registers, shift tools, sales reports, inventory tracking, employee roles, and event-based business workflows.
Step-by-step documentation, staff training portals, admin guides, technical manuals, onboarding content, and internal knowledge-base systems.
Practical advice for domains, hosting, websites, branding, security, online tools, automation, business systems, and long-term technology planning.
Let's talk. I respond within 24 hours with honest, detailed assessments upfront.
How I structure large, interconnected WordPress plugin suites — shared hooks, ob_start() output buffering, scoped CSS, and keeping theme overrides at bay.
Read ArticleFrom a typo that shut down parts of the internet to a software update that grounded flights and…
ReadFor the past several weeks, a new story has been quietly taking shape in my mind. While it's…
ReadDeep dive into requirements. I ask the right questions upfront so there are no surprises mid-build.
Design the system from first principles. Every decision documented. No shortcuts baked in.
Complete, versioned deliverables. You get a full-featured, tested build — not a work-in-progress.
Deploy, document, and stand behind the work. Ongoing support and iteration available.
"James built our entire POS system from scratch and it runs flawlessly at every event. He understood exactly what we needed and delivered something we're genuinely proud of."