Rangefront Insights

Advice, thoughts and opinions on software, AI, industry and the work behind it.

Choosing septic or wastewater service software in Australia

The demo always looks fine. The cost turns up later, in the council report it can't file and the per-seat bill that climbs every time you put on a truck.

Open-source AI matters when gated models become business risk

Gated AI models can be delayed, restricted or withdrawn by people outside your business. Open models give you a path to keep useful work running.

Steer AI agents with outcomes and anchors

AI agents do better work when the goal points at evidence, source files, examples and a clear definition of done.

How much does a website cost in Australia?

The price tracks time and complexity. The trap is paying for a brochure and needing a system, or paying for a system and needing a brochure.

Android is now the harder app store to launch on

The idea that Android ships easier is left over from a version of Google Play that no longer exists. New accounts now run a twelve-tester closed test for a fortnight before they can publish at all.

Toowoomba tech talent and the regional advantage

Regional does not mean second tier. For many technology projects, being close to the work is part of the advantage.

The chatbot on your website is probably annoying your customers

Most website chatbots interrupt buyers, answer the wrong question, and bury your phone number. Here's a test before you add one, and how to build support that people don't hate.

Edge AI for farms and field teams, when the cloud is too far away

For work outside the office, local AI can keep decisions moving when the signal drops or the data should stay on site.

Case Study: How we scaled WordPress to 112,000 sites

News.net runs more than 112,000 localised news sites on a single WordPress platform, from suburb pages up to continent editions. Here is the database, infrastructure, media and editorial engineering that makes one install behave like 112,000.

An AI readiness checklist for Queensland SMEs

Before buying AI software, check whether the business has the data, permissions and process clarity to make it work.

A useful note, occasionally.

Occasional writing on software, automation, data and AI, sent when there is something useful to say.