Nishal Gurung, freelance full-stack Laravel and Vue developer based in Pokhara, Nepal

Nishal Gurung

Senior Full-stack Engineer specializing in PHP, Laravel, WordPress, Node, React and Vue, based in Pokhara, Nepal. Twelve years shipping production systems, from architecture through deployment, then keeping them running: VPS, cloud infrastructure and Linux server administration.

Available for freelance contracts, senior full-stack roles, and speaking or teaching engagements.

Selected work

Obscuria (opens in new tab)

Platform lead

A multi-application platform: custom WordPress site, React observer dashboard, Node/Express backend and cross-platform Flutter apps for iOS and Android, with real-time messaging and push notifications.

WordPress · React · Flutter · Riverpod · Node.js · Socket.IO · Firebase Cloud Messaging

Selected work

Obscuria (opens in new tab)

Platform lead

Lead the engineering of a multi-application platform, overseeing cloud infrastructure, system architecture, and technical decision-making. Develop and maintain a custom WordPress website, a React-based monitoring dashboard, a Node.js/Express backend, and cross-platform Flutter applications for iOS and Android. Integrate the platform with IoT devices and implement real-time messaging and push notifications, enable live location tracking, and deliver AI-powered inventory identification.

WordPress Theme Development · React · Flutter · Riverpod · Node.js · Socket.IO · Firebase Cloud Messaging · Jest · MQTT · AWS IoT Core · AI SDK

Topperoo (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

Owned system design, backend and frontend, deployment and server maintenance for a SaaS and custom-design platform with marketplace payments, server-side image processing and queued jobs on AWS.

Laravel · CodeIgniter · WordPress · Stripe Connect · Tailwind · Alpine.js · Imagick · S3 · SES · SQS

Selected work

Topperoo (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

Lead the engineering of a multi-application SaaS platform comprising three integrated systems. Responsible for system architecture, backend and frontend development, cloud deployment, production infrastructure, and ongoing server maintenance. Develop and maintain a WordPress-based subscription platform, a CodeIgniter-powered product designer with server-side image processing using Imagick and SVG, and a Laravel-based merchant storefront supporting order management, single sign-on (SSO), and Stripe Connect marketplace payments. Integrate AWS services including Amazon S3, Amazon SES, and Amazon SQS to support scalable storage, email delivery, and asynchronous job processing.

Laravel · CodeIgniter · WordPress · WP Plugin Development · Stripe Connect · Tailwind · Alpine.js · jQuery · Imagick · S3 · SES · SQS · Cloudwatch

Booksmandala (opens in new tab)

Architect & lead

Nepal's largest online bookstore: architecture, full-stack build and first release, then ongoing backend work, team oversight, release monitoring and server maintenance.

Laravel · Vue · Nova · Elasticsearch · Queues · Broadcasting · MySQL · Swagger · React

Selected work

Booksmandala (opens in new tab)

Product Owner & Full-Stack Architect

Led the product and technical delivery of Nepal's largest online bookstore, defining product requirements while leading system architecture, full-stack development, and the first production release. Designed and implemented integration with the Accounting and POS system, and built the platform using Laravel, Vue.js, MySQL, and Elasticsearch. Following the initial launch, provided technical guidance to the engineering team, oversaw production releases, and maintained the application's infrastructure and server environment to ensure platform stability and continuous delivery.

Laravel · Vue · React · Nova · Elasticsearch · Queues · Broadcasting · MySQL · Swagger · Docker

KigApp (opens in new tab)

Sole developer

A complete product for childcare organizations: backend, frontend, PWA, and native Android and iOS builds, with real-time updates and Firebase notifications.

Laravel · Vue · Inertia.js · Ionic · Capacitor · Laravel WebSockets · Queue · Firebase

Selected work

KigApp (opens in new tab)

Full-stack Engineer

Design, develop, deploy and maintain a cross-platform kindergarten management product spanning web, progressive web, Android and iOS. Build the administration app with Laravel, Vue.js and Inertia.js, and the parent-facing app with Nuxt.js, packaged as hybrid Android and iOS apps with Capacitor to share functionality across platforms. Implement real-time chat and notifications with Laravel Echo, Laravel WebSockets and Firebase push notifications.

Laravel · Vue.js · Nuxt.js · Inertia.js · Ionic · Capacitor · Laravel WebSockets · Firebase · REST APIs

Agor App

Architect & full-stack

Marketplace platform built end to end: search, caching, queues, real-time features, subscriptions and localization, shipped through an automated AWS deployment pipeline.

Laravel · Vue · Inertia.js · Elasticsearch · Redis · Cashier · GitHub Actions · AWS CodeDeploy

Selected work

Agor App

Architect & full-stack

Own the complete project lifecycle for a marketplace platform, from system architecture through full-stack development, deployment and production setup. Implement advanced search with Elasticsearch, background processing with Laravel Queue, and caching with Redis, alongside real-time functionality via Laravel Echo and Laravel WebSockets. Add subscription management with Laravel Cashier and multi-language localization, and set up automated deployment with GitHub Actions and AWS CodeDeploy.

Laravel · Vue · Inertia.js · Elasticsearch · Redis · Laravel Echo · Laravel WebSockets · Cashier · GitHub Actions · AWS CodeDeploy · Localization

Gigrally

Senior engineer

Refactored the backend and frontend of a Laravel/Vue SaaS and added new product functionality across billing, queues and admin, with a containerised local environment.

Vue · Inertia.js · Laravel Spark · Nova · Sail · Docker · Stripe · Cashier

Selected work

Gigrally

Senior Engineer

Refactored the backend and frontend of a Laravel/Vue SaaS and added new product functionality across billing, queues and admin, with a containerized local environment.

Vue · Inertia.js · Laravel Spark · Nova · Sail · Docker · Stripe · Cashier

Himalayan Merch (opens in new tab)

WordPress & SEO

Custom responsive WordPress theme with WooCommerce, followed by a three-phase SEO programme covering technical pre-optimization, on-page and off-page work.

WordPress · WooCommerce · Theme & plugin customization · SEO

Selected work

Himalayan Merch (opens in new tab)

WordPress & SEO

Build a custom, fully responsive WordPress theme for an apparel and merchandise e-commerce store, tailored to the client's branding, with WooCommerce for checkout and product management. Deliver a structured SEO programme spanning technical pre-optimization, on-page and off-page work to improve search visibility. At the time of my involvement the site ran on WordPress and WooCommerce; it has since migrated to Shopify.

WordPress · WooCommerce · Custom Theme Development · Plugin Customization · SEO

Greenfee (opens in new tab)

Maintenance & DevOps

A golf booking and reservation platform. Refactored and optimized the Laravel codebase, resolved issues, delivered new features, and set up a Bitbucket Pipelines CI/CD pipeline while supporting the production server.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap · Stripe · PayPal

Selected work

Greenfee (opens in new tab)

Full-stack Engineer & DevOps

Improve and maintain a golf booking and reservation platform, focusing on stability, code quality, feature development and production reliability. Refactor and optimize the Laravel codebase, resolve bugs, implement new functionality, and maintain the legacy jQuery/Bootstrap frontend. Configure a CI/CD pipeline with Bitbucket Pipelines to streamline releases, and maintain the production server to keep the platform operational.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap · Bitbucket Pipelines · Stripe · PayPal

GoAfrica Tour (opens in new tab)

Full-stack lead

A travel and tourism booking platform for exploring Africa. Led the refactoring and optimization of the Laravel/Vue.js application, added real-time features with WebSockets and Laravel Echo, migrated to AWS RDS, and delivered an SEO report that improved search visibility.

Laravel · Vue.js · WebSockets · Laravel Echo · AWS RDS · Bootstrap · Stripe Checkout · SEO

Selected work

GoAfrica Tour (opens in new tab)

Full-stack lead

Lead the refactoring and optimization of a travel and tourism booking platform for exploring Africa, implementing new features while improving codebase maintainability and performance. Add real-time functionality with WebSockets and Laravel Echo, migrate the database to AWS RDS, and maintain the production environment. Deliver a comprehensive SEO report with recommendations that improved search visibility.

Laravel · Vue.js · WebSockets · Laravel Echo · AWS RDS · Bootstrap · Stripe Checkout · SEO

Accounting & Point-of-Sale System

Architect & developer

A retail accounting and point-of-sale system built for Mandala Book Store. Owned the full lifecycle: architecture, backend business logic and database-driven sales and accounting workflows, through to production deployment.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap

Selected work

Accounting & Point-of-Sale System

Architect & developer

Design, develop and deploy a retail accounting and point-of-sale system for Mandala Book Store, owning the complete project lifecycle from system architecture through production deployment. Implement backend business logic and database-driven workflows for sales and accounting management, and integrate with the Booksmandala e-commerce platform.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap

Custody Information System

Full-stack developer

A government custody-management system for local police stations, with English and Nepali localization. Owned architecture, backend business logic and database-driven workflows through to on-premises deployment.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap · Localization

Selected work

Custody Information System

Full-stack developer

Design and deploy a custody management system for local police stations, involved throughout the full lifecycle from system architecture and backend development to production rollout. Implement core business logic and database-driven workflows, with localization support for English and Nepali, for deployment in an on-premises government environment.

Laravel · jQuery · Bootstrap · Localization

Petsonme (opens in new tab)

Backend engineer

A pet-services marketplace connecting owners with trusted pet minders. Maintained and extended the legacy PHP/Zend "Find a Dog Minder" application while contributing to its migration to a modern Java Spring Boot and Hibernate backend.

PHP Zend · Java · Spring MVC · Spring Boot · Hibernate · Maven · Log4J · jQuery · JUnit · TDD

Selected work

Petsonme (opens in new tab)

Backend engineer

Maintain and enhance the legacy "Find a Dog Minder" pet-services marketplace application, built with PHP and the Zend Framework, resolving issues and implementing new features. Contribute to the platform's redevelopment using Java Spring (Spring MVC, Spring Boot, Hibernate and Maven), supporting the migration from the legacy system while ensuring existing functionality continued to operate reliably.

PHP Zend · Java · Spring MVC · Spring Boot · Hibernate · Maven · Log4J · jQuery · JUnit · TDD

Reparaturmacher (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

A home-services marketplace connecting customers with repair and maintenance professionals. Implemented new features, improved performance and stability, and provided ongoing production support.

Custom PHP · Bootstrap · jQuery

Selected work

Reparaturmacher (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

Enhance and maintain a home-services marketplace connecting customers with repair and maintenance professionals, implementing new features and improving overall performance and stability. Provide ongoing maintenance and production support to keep the application reliable and scalable.

Custom PHP · Bootstrap · jQuery

Timewise (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

A multi-location SaaS platform for salons, fitness studios and wellness businesses to manage appointments and operations. Built backend GraphQL APIs and React/React Query frontend features, with WebSocket-based real-time updates.

Laravel · GraphQL · React · React Query · WebSockets · Jira

Selected work

Timewise (opens in new tab)

Full-stack engineer

Contribute to backend and frontend development for a multi-location SaaS platform serving salons, fitness centers and wellness businesses, covering appointment scheduling, service management and day-to-day operations across locations. Build and maintain GraphQL APIs on the Laravel backend, and implement React features using React Query for data fetching, caching and state synchronization, plus WebSocket-based real-time functionality. Follow Jira-based workflows for task management and feature delivery.

Laravel · GraphQL · React · React Query · WebSockets · Jira

Pikilinks (opens in new tab)

Full-stack developer

A link management platform with web, progressive web and desktop application components. Built custom WordPress plugins and REST APIs, a React SPA with JWT authentication, and an Electron.js desktop app, plus deployment and ongoing server maintenance.

WordPress · Custom Plugin Development · ACF · React · REST APIs · PWA · Electron.js · JWT

Selected work

Pikilinks (opens in new tab)

Full-stack developer

Develop and maintain a link management platform with web, progressive web and desktop application components, covering backend development, frontend administration, authentication, deployment and ongoing server maintenance. Build custom WordPress plugins providing REST APIs, using Advanced Custom Fields to manage structured application data, alongside a React-based SPA with JWT authentication. Package the platform as a progressive web app and an Electron.js desktop app. At the time of my involvement the backend was built on WordPress and custom REST APIs; it has since been migrated to Firebase.

WordPress · Custom Plugin Development · ACF · React · REST APIs · PWA · Electron.js · JWT

Proofily

Full-stack engineer

A platform for purchasing used mobile devices. Helped move the product from an early MVP to a production-ready application with a redesigned interface and new features.

Laravel · jQuery · Alpine.js · Bootstrap · Stripe Checkout

Selected work

Proofily

Full-stack engineer

Help move a used-mobile device marketplace from MVP to a production-ready application. Redesign and modernize the user interface, refactor and optimize the existing Laravel codebase, and implement new product functionality to improve maintainability and performance. Integrate Stripe Checkout for payments and provide ongoing production server maintenance.

Laravel · jQuery · Alpine.js · Bootstrap · Stripe Checkout

Sultan Hamam (opens in new tab)

WordPress & WooCommerce

A WooCommerce storefront for a hamam and spa business. Customized the theme and extended site functionality with new features.

WordPress · WooCommerce · Theme & plugin customization

Selected work

Sultan Hamam (opens in new tab)

WordPress & WooCommerce

Customize the theme and extend functionality for a WooCommerce storefront serving a hamam and spa business, including checkout and payment integrations. Contribute to ongoing maintenance and production support to keep the storefront reliable.

WordPress · WooCommerce · Stripe · PayPal · Apple Pay

Experience

  • Full-Stack Engineer — freelance

    Independent contracts via Upwork and Fiverr

    2016 — present

  • Senior Software Engineer

    Photo Occasions Ltd, United Kingdom

    2022 — present

  • Community Leader

    WordPress Pokhara, Nepal

    2019 — 2025

  • Visiting Lecturer

    Gandaki College of Engineering and Science, Pokhara

    2017 — 2023

  • Senior Full-Stack Engineer

    Timewise, Inc.

    2023

  • Lead Developer / Technical Lead

    Mandala IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Pokhara

    2018 — 2022

  • Visiting Lecturer, Advanced Java

    Soch College of IT, Pokhara

    2020 — 2021

  • Web Development Instructor

    Skeinsoft Academy, Pokhara

    2018 — 2020

  • Senior Web Developer

    Petsonme, Australia

    2017 — 2018

  • Project Supervisor

    Nepal Innovation Technology and Entrepreneurship Center, Pokhara University

    2017 — 2018

  • Software Developer

    Goreto Software, Pokhara

    2013 — 2018

Talks & community

I led WordPress Pokhara (opens in new tab) community from 2019 to 2025, organizing meetups and WordCamps, coordinating contributors and growing the local WordPress ecosystem.

  • Speaker · WordCamp Pokhara 2018 How to create your own MVC framework in PHP?
  • Speaker · WordCamp Kathmandu 2023 Understanding Dependency Injection and Inversion of Control: A Practical Guide
  • Plus talks at various WordPress and developer meetups across Nepal.

I've also organized within the WordCamp Nepal community across several editions and roles:

Alongside that I have taught Advanced Java, Web Technology, OOP, UML, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Enterprise Application Development as a visiting lecturer at Gandaki College of Engineering and Science and Soch College of IT, and supervized student capstone projects.

Open to conference talks, workshops and guest lectures on Laravel, WordPress at scale, and shipping full-stack products as a small team. Get in touch.

Publications

Scalability in Microservices: A Systematic Literature Review (opens in new tab)

Nishal Gurung, Sushil Shrestha and Rajani Chulyadyo · Journal of Computer Science & Technology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 128–143, 2025 · Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University

A PRISMA-based review of 55 studies on how microservices architectures scale: autoscaling strategies, metrics, tooling, and the open problems around standardizing autoscaling metrics.

DOI 10.24215/16666038.25.e11 · Microservices · Autoscaling · Docker · Kubernetes

FAQ

What technologies does Nishal Gurung specialize in?

Laravel, PHP, WordPress, React and Vue.js, with hands-on experience in VPS, cloud infrastructure and Linux server administration.

Is Nishal Gurung available for freelance work?

Yes, available for freelance contracts, senior full-stack roles, and speaking or teaching engagements.

Where is Nishal Gurung based?

Pokhara, Nepal (UTC+5:45), working with clients in Europe, Australia, Nepal, the UK and the US.

How much experience does Nishal Gurung have?

Twelve years of experience shipping production systems, from architecture through deployment and ongoing maintenance.

What kind of projects has Nishal Gurung built?

SaaS platforms, marketplaces, booking systems, WordPress/WooCommerce sites, and cross-platform mobile and desktop apps, including Obscuria, Topperoo, Booksmandala, KigApp and Pikilinks.

Has Nishal Gurung published academic research?

Yes. "Scalability in Microservices: A Systematic Literature Review," co-authored with Dr. Sushil Shrestha and Dr. Rajani Chulyadyo, was published in the Journal of Computer Science & Technology (2025).