About

25 Years of Software Engineering Excellence

Hi, I’m René de Kat, the founder of 9Lives Development. Over the past 25 years, I’ve worked as both a software engineer and a team lead, helping organisations build reliable, maintainable, and high-quality web applications. I’m passionate about improving how teams work and the software they produce.

My Approach

Great software isn’t just about writing code—it’s about how teams collaborate, make decisions, and continuously improve. I focus on practical techniques that genuinely make a difference:

• Pair Programming to improve code quality and knowledge sharing
• Test-Driven Development for maintainable, reliable code
• Continuous Integration and Deployment to reduce risk and accelerate delivery

I don’t believe in unnecessary processes or jargon—just approaches that help teams produce better software and work more effectively together.

What I Offer

I work with teams and individuals who want to strengthen their software engineering practices. Whether you need hands-on development support, guidance as a technical lead, or coaching to help your team improve, I bring practical experience and a focus on sustainable improvement.

My services include web development consultancy and coaching on modern software engineering practices—straightforward, practical, and tailored to your team’s needs.

Get In Touch

If you’d like to talk about how I can help your team deliver better software, get in touch. I’m happy to have a conversation and explore what might work best for you.

You can also find me on LinkedIn.