I'm David Duval, a software founder, web developer, language learner, and long-time builder of online communities and business tools.
Most of my professional life has been spent at the intersection of software, small business, and practical problem-solving. I'm the founder of Dance Studio Manager, Pole Studio Manager, and related software products that help studio owners manage classes, students, payments, communication, scheduling, and the many small details that keep a studio running. I've also managed and developed online communities, including Dance Forums and Salsa Forums, which have brought together dancers, teachers, students, and enthusiasts from around the world.
My background is not just technical in the narrow sense. I enjoy building software because it gives me a way to solve real problems for real people. A good product is not only about code; it is about understanding the daily frustrations of the people using it, simplifying their work, and making something dependable enough that they can trust it with their business.
Over the years, I've worked extensively with PHP, MySQL, WordPress, Laravel, legacy systems, SaaS architecture, online payments, email delivery, server management, and AI-assisted development. I have a special interest in modernizing older but valuable software systems – taking applications that already serve a real purpose and gradually improving their design, usability, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
I'm also deeply interested in languages, travel, health, and personal growth. I've studied Mandarin Chinese for many years and continue to explore Thai, Spanish, Indonesian, and other languages. Language learning has changed the way I think about people, culture, business, and communication. It has also made me more interested in Asia, especially Thailand, China, and Southeast Asia, where I hope to spend more time in the future.
This blog is a place for me to write about the things I'm thinking through: software, AI, online business, language learning, health, travel, longevity, and the process of building a life with more freedom and meaning.
I'm especially interested in how AI is changing the way independent developers and small business owners work. I see AI not just as a novelty, but as a force multiplier – something that allows one person or a small team to move faster, maintain more projects, solve harder problems, and revisit ideas that previously felt too expensive or time-consuming to pursue.
At the same time, I try to stay grounded. I care about practical results more than hype. I like tools that make life easier, systems that reduce unnecessary stress, and ideas that can be tested in the real world.
On a personal level, recent years have also involved family caregiving, which has shaped the way I think about time, responsibility, health, and freedom. It has made me more aware of how quickly life can change, and more motivated to spend my remaining years intentionally – building useful things, taking care of my health, learning, traveling, and staying open to new chapters.
I don't see myself as finished or settled. I'm still building, still learning, still experimenting, and still trying to improve the way I live and work.
This site is part of that process.