Follow the water

Projects that actually land.

Second Arrow is a creative tech studio. We help teams turn ideas into working software, improve existing products or processes, and untangle the bits that feel stuck. Ideation, architecture, development, and — when needed — focused scans of your codebase and team so the road ahead becomes clear and joyful.

Start a project

We help

Product owners · tech leads · engineering managers

We focus on

Architecture · development · team collaboration

You get

Clear direction · better collaboration · steadier delivery

Services

Three ways to work together, each with a clear purpose.

Whether you need help understanding what needs to change, support shaping a new idea from the ground up, or hands-on development work, we offer focused services that fit different stages of your product journey.

Scans

Consultancy

Application and team scans to understand what needs to change. We review your product, codebase, and workflows to surface risks and opportunities, and map how work really gets done — with concrete adjustments to reduce friction.

Application scanTeam scanRisk assessmentPractical recommendations

Application architecture

Ideation

From first idea to execution plan. We turn your product goals, constraints, and existing systems into a clear architecture story and concrete plan that aligns product, design, and engineering.

Architecture designExecution planningProof of concept

Development

Build

Building something directly or joining your team as a developer. We ship working software with clean code, clear structure, and documentation your team can own.

Direct developmentTeam augmentationClean codeHand-off ready

Scans: understanding what needs to change.

When something feels stuck but you are not sure where to start, a scan cuts through the noise. We review your product, codebase, and workflows to surface the real risks and opportunities — then map concrete adjustments that reduce friction.

Two types of scans

Application scan

Codebase review
Architecture analysis
Dependency mapping
Complexity hotspots

Team scan

Workflow observation
Communication patterns
Decision processes
Friction mapping

What you get

Risk assessment

Technical debt
Scalability concerns
Integration risks
Prioritized findings

Practical recommendations

Concrete actions
Clear owners
Realistic timelines
Context-fit solutions

When to use scans

Before a major change

You're planning a rewrite, migration, or architectural shift — but need to understand the current state and risks before committing.

When delivery feels stuck

Your team is shipping, but progress feels slower than it should. Unclear if it's the code, the process, or both.

New leadership or ownership

You've inherited a product or team and need an honest, external view of what you're working with and where to focus first.

Growing pains

What worked for 3 engineers doesn't work for 10. Patterns that were obvious are now causing confusion and friction across the team.

Application architecture: from idea to execution plan.

Before writing code, we figure out how your software should be structured. Whether you are starting from a blank page or evolving a mature system, we turn goals and constraints into a small set of options — then into a plan your team can actually execute. Less guessing, more building.

Clarify the problem and constraints

We make the problem, goals, and constraints explicit — whether you're starting from a blank page or working with an existing stack.

Product goals and success criteria
Users and key scenarios
Constraints and non-negotiables
Existing systems and context (if any)

Explore architecture options

We sketch different ways the system could be shaped and compare tradeoffs so you can choose a direction with eyes open.

Candidate architecture directions
Domain and data boundaries
Integration and migration approach
Tradeoffs, risks, and mitigations

Turn it into a buildable plan

We turn the chosen direction into a concrete plan your team can execute with confidence, without losing sight of why it was chosen.

Execution roadmap and slices
Dependencies, milestones, and owners
Decision records and rationale
Risk areas and guardrails

Deliverables

Architecture artifacts you can share

Visual diagrams, system maps, and data flows — clear enough for engineers to build from and stakeholders to understand at a glance.

Component contracts and boundaries

Documented responsibilities, interfaces, and integration points so your team knows exactly where each piece begins and ends.

Sequenced execution roadmap

A buildable plan sliced into phases with clear milestones, dependencies, and owners — not just a vision, but a path forward your team can actually follow.

Decision records and rationale

Written context on why each direction was chosen, what alternatives were considered, and which tradeoffs matter — so future you remembers the reasoning.

Development: code that finds its way.

We write production-grade software with strong typing, solid architecture, and realistic test coverage. Whether we are building something new or joining your existing team, we focus on shipping maintainable features, not clever abstractions.

We build it

You have an idea or feature, we build it from scratch. You get working code, tests, and docs your team can take over.

We join your team

We work alongside your developers, matching your code style and processes while bringing fresh perspective to tricky problems.

Development practices

Iterative deployment

We build and deploy incrementally — small, testable features you can validate early, not monolithic releases that land all at once.

Production-ready code

We write for maintainability: clear naming, solid tests, appropriate patterns. Code that your team can own and evolve.

Document as you go

Architecture decisions, API contracts, and deployment steps get captured in real-time so nothing lives only in someone's head.

Our technical foundation

Flexible backend

From .NET and C# to Node and Python — we build APIs, background services, and integrations with the right tool for your context.

.NETC#Node.jsPythonASP.NET CoreExpress

Modern frontend

React, TypeScript, and modern tooling for interfaces that feel fast and work across devices.

ReactTypeScriptNext.jsTailwind

Serverless infrastructure

We build with Azure Functions, AWS Lambda, and other serverless patterns — scalable systems without server management overhead.

Azure FunctionsAWS LambdaEvent-drivenAPI Gateway

Working software with appropriate test coverage

Clean code with clear patterns and naming

Architecture docs and realistic hand-off plan

Projects that found its shape.

A few examples of work where we helped teams shape products, untangle complexity, or build something new from the ground up.

Case 1

Agency Public Website

Visual marketing site for an independent agency with service storytelling, work cases, and a calm experience.

Technologies

Next.jsReactTypeScriptMDXTailwind CSSDesign

Key Functionalities

Focused landing page (1-page) with navigation and clear content flow
Performance-focused, SEO-friendly static export suitable for simple hosting
Sections for different services
MDX-powered for easy content management
Modern design
Email contact flow

Case 2

Team Scan

Consulting engagement to assess team health, workflows, and delivery performance using a Team Scan.

Technologies

.NET CoreC#MicroservicesMulti Team

Key Functionalities

Interviewed team members and reviewed codebase to understand how they work and what slows them down
Analyzed Git history, code structure, and team processes to identify bottlenecks
Created a prioritized list of concrete improvements ranked by impact and effort
Delivered a report with findings and actionable recommendations

Case 3

Buffr – Online Streaming Service

Video hosting and delivery platform with storage-based pricing, automatic transcripts, and unlimited streaming.

Technologies

Next.js + React web appTypeScript monorepoCloudflareFFmpeg + Bento4 encoderPrisma

Key Functionalities

Designed storage-based billing model
Multi-service architecture (web app, ingest API, supervisor, worker-gate) with shared TypeScript packages
Containerized encoding pipeline on Spot-heavy EC2 autoscaling group
Implemented encrypted HLS delivery with JWT-gated playlists and expiring streaming URLs
Set up CI/CD and local development profiles for running web, workers, encoder, and supporting services

About

The second arrow, and how we work.

The story

In the Buddhist story, the first arrow is what happens to you. The second arrow is the extra pain we create ourselves — the worry, blame, and noise on top of the original hit.

In software, the first arrow is the reality of complex systems: tricky integrations, deadlines, legacy code, competing priorities. Those are real constraints. The second arrow is what happens when things get fuzzy: rushed decisions, unclear ownership, and late surprises that make everyday work heavier than it needs to be.

Our work is to keep that second arrow from ever leaving the bow. We slow the thinking down just enough — mapping risks, decisions, and flows clearly — so your team can move with more calm and fewer dramas while you design, build, and maintain your systems.

Let's aim the second arrow

A short, focused project beats a long, vague one.

Tell us about what you're trying to shape, improve, or untangle. A link, three bullet points, and a time horizon is more than enough to start a conversation.