About Geoffrey Hayward

A software engineer documenting a lifelong journey of learning. Posts on computing, software development, running, calisthenics, side projects and continuous improvement.

Hi, I’m Geoffrey.

I’ve always enjoyed learning difficult things.

One of my earliest memories is being fascinated by an old adding machine and wondering how it worked. Later, I grew up during the home computer era, loading software from cassette tapes and discovering that computers weren’t just machines to use—they were machines you could understand, build and create with.

I don’t remember the exact model of my first computer, but I do remember building one myself. A case, motherboard, processor, RAM and hard drive spread across a desk. It wasn’t just a machine; it was a puzzle to solve. Building that computer taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my life: most things aren’t magic. Given enough curiosity and persistence, they’re things you can learn.

That curiosity eventually became a career.

I’ve spent many years working as a software engineer, building websites, APIs, cloud platforms and digital services. One of the reasons I still enjoy software development is that there is always something new to learn. Technologies evolve, new ideas emerge and there is always another problem worth solving.

Alongside my career, I made the decision to continue my education as an adult. While working full-time, I spent nine years studying part-time, eventually earning both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in computing.

It was challenging, often exhausting and required plenty of evenings and weekends. Looking back, it remains one of the achievements I am most proud of.

I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife. Throughout those years she encouraged me, supported me and gave me the time and space I needed to keep moving forward. Although my name is on the certificates, earning those degrees was very much a team effort.

That experience reinforced a belief that has shaped much of my life: Doing hard things makes life easier.

Not because they’re enjoyable in the moment, but because they change what you’re capable of. Every difficult challenge teaches something useful. Every ambitious goal expands what you believe is possible.

That mindset extends well beyond software.

A few years ago, I took up running. What started as a way to improve my fitness gradually became something much bigger. I discovered that I enjoyed the process of training, setting goals and steadily improving. Running taught me that consistent effort, repeated over months and years, can achieve things that once seemed impossible.

More recently, I’ve become interested in calisthenics.

What appeals to me is the combination of strength, skill and patience. Progress isn’t measured in days or weeks, but in months and years of deliberate practice.

The truth is that I’m still very much a beginner. Many of the more advanced movements remain firmly in the “one day, perhaps” category. But that’s part of what makes it enjoyable. There is something refreshing about being new to something again, about having so much left to learn and improve.

Like software engineering, running and studying, calisthenics rewards consistency more than talent. Small improvements accumulate over time. The challenge isn’t to be perfect; it’s simply to keep showing up and get a little better than you were yesterday.

Family is an important part of my life.

I’m incredibly proud of my daughters and enjoy supporting them as they discover their own interests and challenges.

In many ways, my youngest daughter is one of the reasons I became interested in calisthenics. Watching her (still very early) gymnastics journey has been genuinely inspiring. She will work on a skill day after day, making small improvements each time, until eventually she achieves it. Then she doesn’t stop. She continues refining it, building on it and combining it with new skills.

Watching that process has been a powerful reminder of how growth really happens. Not through talent alone, but through patience, persistence and the willingness to keep practising when progress feels slow.

I realised that starting calisthenics might give us something valuable to share. We both understand what it’s like to be learning, practising and working towards skills that don’t come easily. Sharing the journey together is one of the things I enjoy most about being a parent.

My eldest daughter has developed into a very capable tennis player, and tennis is a wonderful way for us to connect. Seeing her improve through dedication, coaching and practice reinforces many of the same lessons. The confidence she gains on the court isn’t just about tennis; it’s about discovering what can be achieved through effort and commitment.

As a parent, my hope is not simply that my daughters become good at gymnastics or tennis. My hope is that they carry the lessons they learn through sport into every part of their lives. Whether that’s school, further education, their careers or whatever challenges they choose to pursue, I hope they learn that applying yourself consistently leads to growth.

The older I get, the more I understand that meaningful progress rarely happens overnight. Whether you’re learning a sport, studying for a degree, building software or training for a marathon, improvement comes from patience, consistency and showing up day after day.

Outside of work, I enjoy building my own software projects. One of my current projects is Vibale, a platform that combines my interests in technology, fitness and coaching. Building products from scratch is one of the most rewarding challenges I know. It forces you to learn new skills, solve unfamiliar problems and continually adapt as ideas evolve.

This website is where I try to share some of those experiences.

You’ll find posts about software development, computing, running, calisthenics (non yet mind), side projects and whatever else I’m currently learning. Some posts are technical, some are personal and some are simply notes from whatever has captured my curiosity at the time.

At its heart, this site is about learning, building and embracing challenges.

I don’t claim to have all the answers.

I’m still learning, still building and still making mistakes.

There are technologies I haven’t mastered, products I haven’t built, races I haven’t run and calisthenics skills I can only dream of performing.

And that’s okay.

Learning has always been the enjoyable part.

But one lesson has consistently proven itself throughout my life: doing hard things makes life easier.

Whether it’s studying for a degree, learning a new technology, training for a marathon, mastering a new skill or building a business (hopefully one day), the challenge itself is often the point. The skills, confidence and resilience gained along the way tend to make everything else a little easier.

This website is a collection of those lessons, projects and experiences.

Thanks for stopping by.