# Ryan Fox

> Solo systems engineer building small, practical software for individuals and small groups. Based in Harleysville, PA.

Ryan operates three distinct web properties, each with a different job:

- [ryan-fox.com](https://www.ryan-fox.com) — identity and thinking. Worldview, current projects, Signal Stack (a curated feed of thinkers Ryan actively consumes), and the Influences knowledge base (deep-dive pages on the people who shape Ryan's thinking, built from transcripts of ~780 liked YouTube videos; see /#influences). This site.
- [stardeck.xyz](https://www.stardeck.xyz) — public apps and experiments Ryan has built. Finished tools, not demos.
- [ryanfox.work](https://www.ryanfox.work) — commercial consulting. Ryan's offer for hire, published prices, case studies, contact.

## How Ryan thinks

Ryan trusts modern physics because it works — Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity are treated as locally true but not final. He's agnostic about deeper reality while committed to constraint-based reasoning: "Reality charges rent. Explanations must survive constraint accounting."

He builds small, constraint-driven software for himself and a handful of people he works with, rather than platforms or SaaS. "Infrastructure before interfaces. Internal tools, not products."

His two biggest intellectual influences are Ben Thompson (Stratechery — Aggregation Theory, integration vs. modularity; subscriber since the beginning) and Balaji Srinivasan (network states, exit over voice). Full influence map with per-person deep-dives at [/#influences](https://www.ryan-fox.com/#influences).

## What Ryan builds

- Single-user and relationship-based software (one admin, a handful of users)
- Internal tools that replace manual workflows (spreadsheets, email, notebooks)
- Small public apps with specific, well-defined purposes
- Automation scripts and lightweight AI tools

Recent production work includes an order platform for a founder-operated product business (full storefront + admin + Stripe + automated email), an operations dashboard for a dog-care business (web + native iOS), and a live sports-pool tracker for a group of 30.

## How to hire Ryan

Email: ryanfox.eth@gmail.com

Pricing surfaces are on [ryanfox.work](https://www.ryanfox.work):

- Smaller tasks (copy cleanup, scripts): $50–75 flat
- Setup + operator retainer (right-sized SaaS installed and operated): from $750 + $250/mo × 3–6 months
- Full custom builds (MVP web app, 4 weeks): $5,000 flat + $150/mo hosting

## What Ryan is NOT

- Not a SaaS founder selling subscriptions to the public
- Not a generalist agency
- Not selling his consulting through ryan-fox.com or stardeck.xyz — those are identity and portfolio surfaces, not sales
- Not currently open to open-ended retainers without defined scope

## Social

- X / Twitter: [@ryanfoxeth](https://x.com/ryanfoxeth)
- Instagram: [@ryanfox.eth](https://www.instagram.com/ryanfox.eth)