Hi, I’m Chris — the developer, designer, and stubborn Gen Xer behind nullTrace.
I started in tech at 18, administrating systems for an answering service. Over time, I dove deep into telecommunications, then pivoted into web design where I could merge my love of tech with digital art. I thrived on solving puzzles... Photoshop layers, 3D modeling in Bryce and Maya, marrying code with aesthetic. But somewhere along the way, the fun stopped.
By the late 2010s, the app scene had shifted. Innovation gave way to bloatware, spyware, and soulless clones. Tech became less about people and more about profit margins. Boardrooms replaced brainstorms. As someone who used to build PCs for the hell of it, I found myself burned out... and eventually, broken.
Then came October 2024.
My wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Life cracked wide open. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a guy who used to love building things. I had a reason to build again. She needed help tracking her treatment symptoms, and existing apps either didn’t exist or weren’t worth trusting. So I built OncoTrack, a simple, private, free app for logging symptoms during chemo, radiation, and recovery.
That one project reconnected me with something I’d lost: purpose.
Now, through nullTrace, I’m creating apps that give people something real. I’m not chasing trends. I’m not here to squeeze ad revenue out of your suffering. I’m here to minimize bullshit and deliver tools that make you say:
“I’m so glad I found this *expletive deleted* app.”
I’ve got ideas for more tools, both helpful and ridiculous. Expect some generative visuals. Maybe a digital toy or two. Apps that do one thing, do it well, and don’t make you feel like you’re selling your soul in the process.
nullTrace is a one-man rebellion, and that’s how I like it. But if you're here, reading this - you’re part of it too.