sassential.
René Sass
Independent engineer & developer

Ideas brought to life.Problems put behind you.

I’m René. I build products, connect systems, and untangle technical problems — from the first idea to the details that make it work.

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Software & productsDigital infrastructureConnected hardware

Selected work

Different challenges.
Thoughtfully solved.

A few projects that show how I think,
build, and bring things together.

Client work

Tischlerei Meyer

Understanding the business before touching the technology. A modern website that carries the character of a family carpentry company, backed by hands-on work across email, hosting, and everyday office IT.

  • Brand & web
  • Email & automation
  • Office IT
tischlermeister-meyer.de
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The challenge

The website was only the visible part of a wider problem. A malware-affected WordPress installation, hosting issues, email spread across providers, and everyday office frustrations needed someone to investigate how everything fitted together.

My role

I started in the office: listening to what was not working, checking the existing setup, and tracing problems to their source. From email accounts and synchronization to printer setup, I worked directly with the team to turn a tangled technical situation into practical tasks.

The solution

I mapped the email setup across providers, migrated roughly 88 GB from HostEurope to netcup, configured synchronization and forwarding—including automatic routing to DATEV—and handled the domain, DNS, and email authentication. I also investigated and backed up the old WordPress site and addressed hosting issues. For the new Astro website, I translated the company’s existing identity into a modern design: warm materials, distinctive brand accents, and a clear focus on craftsmanship.

The outcome

A new website that feels like the business behind it, with email and the domain migrated to the new setup. The work extended beyond the launch to the less visible details that matter in an office: connected mailboxes, useful automation, and printer setup.

Technical details

  • Astro
  • Brand translation
  • Responsive web design
  • Email migration & synchronization
  • DATEV forwarding
  • DNS
  • SPF / DKIM
  • Hosting
  • WordPress investigation
  • Printer setup

Hardware meets software

DoggyBell

Turning the doorbell into a positive cue. A connected detector and treat feeder, paired through an app, with cloud-trained sound recognition running directly on the device.

  • Embedded AI
  • Connected hardware
  • Mobile & cloud
Discontinued · working prototypes
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The challenge

Help dogs build a calmer response to the doorbell. The idea was to reward the sound automatically at a feeder away from the door, so the dog learns to head toward a positive experience instead of rushing to bark.

My role

I worked end-to-end across the detector, feeder, mobile app, and distributed training infrastructure on AWS. This included electronics and embedded software, device integration, dataset creation, data augmentation, and adapting a Google on-device neural network to recognize doorbells.

The solution

The Flutter app connects both devices and guides the user through recording their doorbell. Training runs in the cloud, while the resulting model runs on the detector itself. When it recognizes the doorbell, the connected feeder automatically dispenses treats. The app, firmware, backend, and training pipeline had to function together as one system.

The outcome

Working prototypes brought sound detection, device communication, and automatic treat dispensing together successfully. The project was later discontinued. The prototype work demonstrated the full path from a recorded doorbell to on-device recognition and an automatic reward.

Technical details

  • Flutter
  • Supabase
  • AWS
  • TypeScript
  • C++
  • PlatformIO
  • On-device neural networks
  • Distributed cloud training
  • Dataset creation
  • Data augmentation
  • Electronics & PCB integration

Independent product

Rokan Journey

An addiction-recovery app focused on healthier habits and a more balanced life. An evolving companion, new regions to explore, and equipment to craft turn personal progress into a journey worth returning to.

  • Flutter app
  • Game & product design
  • Art & animation
rokanjourney.app
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The challenge

Make breaking addictive habits about more than a streak counter. Rokan Journey centers on rebuilding everyday life, responding to urges, and finding balance, with a game world that gives those efforts a sense of progression.

My role

I designed and built the product end-to-end: the experience, Flutter application, Supabase backend, game mechanics, and visual identity. I also created all the graphics myself in Affinity and brought the companion to life with Rive animations.

The solution

An evolving Rokan accompanies the player through activities, new regions, and equipment crafting. Progress insights support reflection, while the illustrated world and animated character connect the practical tools to an engaging experience. A key challenge was integrating interactive Rive animation with the app’s state and progression systems.

The outcome

A complete mobile product with a cohesive identity across interface, illustration, animation, and engineering. From the companion’s evolution to the exploration and crafting screens, the experience brings creative and technical work together under one product vision.

Technical details

  • Flutter
  • Supabase
  • Rive
  • Affinity
  • Original illustration
  • Interactive animation
  • Product design
  • Game mechanics
  • Application architecture

How I can help

From the big picture
to the last loose end.

A new idea, an awkward workflow, or a setup that’s grown complicated. Let’s make it work better.

01

Software & products

From an idea to something people can use. Mobile apps, web applications, and tools built around the problem.

02

Integrations & automation

Make the pieces work together. Connect your tools, simplify workflows, and reduce the work you do by hand.

03

Web & digital infrastructure

A better foundation for your business. Websites, email, domains, hosting, and the systems behind the scenes.

René Sass smiling with his arms folded, wearing a navy polo shirtRené Sass MSc in Computer Engineering

The person behind the work

Curious by nature.
Practical by experience.

I’m René, a software engineer and entrepreneur with an MSc in Computer Engineering. I’ve worked in research, startups, and corporate environments, as well as on my own products and client projects. Each has taught me a different way to approach a problem.

My work spans software, infrastructure, and hardware. Whether you’re starting with an idea or dealing with a setup that’s become complicated, I take the time to understand what you need and figure out a practical way forward.

Let’s connect

Something in mind?
Let’s figure it out.

A project, a technical problem, or a role where a broad perspective helps. I’d like to hear about it.

Send me an emailStart with a hello. We’ll take it from there.

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