Brief case study
Can I Haz IP
A focused utility project and open-source codebase built to return public IP details quickly and reliably.
Independent Builder · 2013
- PHP
- Open Source
- Utility
- Web
Context
Can I Haz IP is a small utility project designed around one job: show a visitor their public IP information quickly, without unnecessary complexity.
What I did
- Built and maintained a lightweight PHP implementation focused on clarity and reliability.
- Kept the source public on GitHub to make behavior transparent and easy to inspect.
- Prioritized low-friction UX and minimal moving parts over feature creep.
Outcomes
- Maintained a long-running utility with low operational overhead.
- Demonstrated practical product judgment around scope, simplicity, and stability.
Learnings
Small tools are great discipline: a clear problem statement, simple architecture, and predictable behavior usually beat complexity.
