Mihai Simion
Fullstack Developer, PHP, Laravel & Clojure.
I build web applications and the backends behind them, with PHP and Laravel, Clojure services, and more than a decade of shipping games in Unity3D.
Laravel
Clojure
PHPI'm a fullstack developer who cares about clean, well-tested software. I work in PHP and Laravel and in Clojure, and I spent more than a decade building games in Unity3D.
Games taught me to care about performance, state and user experience. Backend work taught me to design data models, APIs and deployments that stay maintainable. I bring both to PHP projects.
This site is itself a Laravel 13 application, with Eloquent models, a validated contact form, feature tests and a Docker deployment. See how it's built.
“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”— Herbert Spencer
PHP & Laravel
Languages
Data & backend
Cloud & engineering
Game development
Skills & expertise
PHP and Laravel applications, backend services, and the engineering practices that keep them reliable.
PHP & Laravel
Laravel applications with Eloquent models, validated forms, mail, rate limiting and feature tests, packaged with Docker.
Backend & APIs
REST APIs and services in PHP and Clojure, event streaming with Kafka, and cloud deployment on AWS and Kubernetes.
Quality & delivery
Test-driven development, automated testing, consistent code style and CI/CD pipelines, so changes ship with confidence.
Game development
More than a decade of Unity3D games, including licensed Disney and Marvel titles, from gameplay systems to multi-platform builds.
This site is a Laravel app
A recruiter-sized example of how I write PHP: small controllers, Eloquent models, validated input, tests and a reproducible deployment.
- EloquentModels, relationships, JSON casts and an idempotent seeder
- ValidationA FormRequest, honeypot, CSRF and rate limiting on the contact form
- MailA Markdown Mailable with Reply-To set to the sender
- TestsPHPUnit feature tests, plus Laravel Pint for code style
- DockerA multi-stage PHP 8.4 and Apache image that migrates and seeds on start
Where I've worked
More than a decade across game studios, product companies and consulting.
Software Developer (Clojure & Python)
- Built in-game events in Clojure, published to Kafka.
- Built a Kafka consumer in Python to automate reporting processes.
- Deployed new virtual machines with AWS, Kubernetes and Terraform.
Fullstack Developer (Unity3D & Clojure)
Self-employed
Clojure Developer
Test Automation Engineer
Web Developer (HTML, CSS/LESS, JS)
Unity3D Developer
Unity3D Developer
Web Developer Intern
Junior Unity3D Developer
Graduated
Projects
Personal projects I built to keep growing, and the games I shipped at Mobytron, Big Blue Studios and Mobility Games.
This Portfolio, in Laravel
The site you're on: a Laravel 13 application with a database, a validated contact form, automated tests and a Docker deployment.
Leaderboard API
A REST API for game leaderboards in Laravel: token auth, games, score submission and ranked daily, weekly and all-time leaderboards.
Tennis Score Keeper (Laravel)
Point-by-point tennis scoring in Laravel, ported from my Clojure kata and extended with match formats, tie-breaks, undo and a live scoreboard.
AWS Hosting with Terraform
The infrastructure behind these PHP projects: an AWS Lightsail server defined in Terraform, running the three Laravel apps behind Caddy with automatic HTTPS.
Personal
XOX
Classic tic-tac-toe rebuilt in Unity for the browser, with server-based online multiplayer.
Personal
King of Hearts
A 2D platformer where you play a charming rogue stealing hearts against the clock.
Personal
Natural Resources
An educational game about natural resources, built in Unity for Legends of Learning.
Personal
Hugo and the Great Secret
An educational labyrinth game built in Unity for Legends of Learning.
Personal
Hugo and the Balloon Quest
An educational game built in Unity for Legends of Learning.
Personal
Run For Life
A 3D lane runner: switch lanes fast enough to escape the zombies chasing you.
Personal
Infinite XO
Tic-tac-toe without borders: an unlimited grid where you need five in a line to win.
Personal
Tennis Score Keeper
A Clojure tennis scoring engine you drive from the REPL. It tracks points, games, sets and the match.
Clojure Fullstack Framework
A step-by-step Clojure fullstack starter: each branch builds on the last, from a bare API to a full app with a database and UI.
MobyTrader
A mobile trading game that makes trading easy, extended to the web and to new trading systems.
Farming Game
An isometric farming game I worked on for almost a year. It was close to release when it was cancelled.
Washing Stains with Kinect
A short-term project for which I learned and used Kinect V2 on my own.
Turn-Based Strategy Game
A turn-based strategy game that mixes combat with spells from different factions.
Android Social App
An Android app for social interactions.
Flappy Bird–Style Game
A Flappy Bird–style game with a designer-editable flight path and procedural terrain.
MobyTrader
A game that makes trading easy. Work on accounts, social features and live events.
Mobility Games
Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
Sofia the First Storybook Deluxe
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
Planes Storybook Deluxe
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
Iron Man: Armored Avenger
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
Avengers Origins: Assemble
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
Avengers Origins: Hulk
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
Mobility Games
The Amazing Spider-Man: An Origin Story
An interactive storybook app for iOS and Android.
People I've worked with
They can tell you more about working with me.
Let's work together
Have a project, a role or just a question? Send me a message and I'll get back to you.