Robert James
I build things that make the web easier to use.
I'm a software engineer and founder from Cork, Ireland. I created and run Helperbird, an accessibility toolkit used by more than a million people.
I'm dyslexic, which is really the whole reason any of this exists. I wanted the web to work better for people like me, so I started building it. That work ended up on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which I still find a bit surreal.
What I'm working on
July 2026Helperbird
FounderAn accessibility toolkit for the web. Reading, writing and browsing made easier. Over a million people use it. This is where most of my time goes.
Coffee & Fun LLC
FounderThe company behind Helperbird and the rest of my software. Small, independent, and focused on tools that are useful, accessible and a bit of fun.
Building in the open
OngoingPutting more of my work out in the open on GitHub, and writing about open source, accessibility, and running a software business.
Things I've built
Browser extensions, Mac and iOS apps, and a fair few websites.
Open source, code & business
Most of what I build ends up on GitHub. I write about open source, accessibility, and what building a software business actually looks like.
My favourite games of 2025 and 2026
Seven games that took most of my free time over the last two years. Three of them were made by one person on their own, which s...
Markdown Editor is on every platform now
What started as a browser extension I built for myself now runs on every browser and every Apple device, and it is built by a t...
What's in my Bag 2027
Nearly ten years after the last one, here's what I actually carry. I travel far less now, so this is what comes with me if I le...
Say hello
I like hearing from people about accessibility, a project you're working on, or just to say hi. I'm most responsive on Twitter and GitHub.