Hi, there 👋
I build web tools that work smoothly and make people's lives easier.
My approach? German engineering meets digital playfulness – thorough in execution, creative in the details. I specialize in browser extensions, CMS customization, and AI-integrated workflows that scale without losing quality. Currently based in The Black Forest in Germany, working on projects that range from professional audio services to exotic animal care knowledge bases. Yes, really.
The Name Thing
The name "TOSA" comes from my surname "Sauer," which means "sour" in German – like a lemon! 🍋 But instead of making things sour, I'm all about adding that extra zest to digital experiences.
What I Actually Do
I build web tools, browser extensions, and applications that solve real problems. My approach is a bit unusual: I combine systematic engineering with creative experimentation. Think German thoroughness meets digital playfulness. My projects range from CMS customizations (Craft CMS is a favorite) to React-based tools, from Nextcloud integrations to experimental web interfaces. The common thread? Everything I build should either make someone's workflow smoother or make them smile when they use it. Ideally both.
How I Work
Systematic Creativity
I love building systems that enable creativity rather than restrict it. AI-generated content? Sure, but with structured prompt libraries so it's repeatable and consistent. Code generation? Absolutely, but with careful refinement and a focus on clarity.
Engineering Emotion
Good design isn't just about looking nice – it's about how something feels to use. A smooth transition, a helpful micro-interaction, or a perfectly timed loading state can turn a tool into an experience. I care about those details.
German Engineering, Digital Speed
Thoroughness in planning, agility in execution. I'll spend time getting the architecture right, then iterate fast. Perfection is the goal, iteration is the way there.
Performance Isn't Optional
A beautiful interface that's slow is a bad interface. I optimize obsessively – lazy loading, code splitting, WebP images with fallbacks, the works. Lighthouse scores above 90 are standard, not aspirational.
What I'm Good At
Technologies and approaches I'm passionate about
Browser Extensions & Web Tools
Manifest V3, content scripts, background workers – I speak Chrome Extension fluently. Building tools that integrate seamlessly into people's workflows is my jam.
Modern Web Development
JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Craft CMS, Astro – I'm stack-agnostic but principles-driven. The best tool for the job, not the trendiest. Performance and accessibility aren't optional extras.
AI Integration & Prompt Engineering
I build structured prompt libraries for consistent content generation. Think of it as design systems, but for AI outputs. Adobe Firefly, Claude, and other tools become predictable and repeatable when you systematize them right.
Design Systems & Component Libraries
I create reusable design tokens, motion vocabularies, and component patterns. Once the system is solid, building new features becomes faster and more consistent.
Automation & Workflow Optimization
Chrome automation, batch processing, Zapier integrations – if you're doing something manually more than twice, there's probably a better way. I find it and build it.
UI/UX Design
Design + Code = better together. I write clean, documented code that explains why, not just what. I design with motion and emotion in mind from the start.
I've always been more interested in how things fit together than in any one part of the process.
Design, code, and infrastructure are just different ways of describing the same thing:
how an idea becomes something you can touch, use, or trust.
TOSA grew from that curiosity — a small digital atelier for tools, interfaces, and systems that feel
intentional, calm, and quietly alive.
A Belief in Craft
Software ages quickly when it forgets its maker.
I try to build things that feel crafted, even when they're invisible —
in the timing of a transition, the warmth of a neutral color,
the way a system holds together without complaint.
Technology should never pretend to be human.
It should amplify what's already human — focus, clarity, rhythm, delight.
Good software behaves like good furniture:
solid, balanced, and silently dependable.
On Building
I like tools that disappear.
Interfaces that respect your time.
Systems that can run quietly on their own machine.
Every project begins with a few simple questions:
- • Does it solve a real problem with clarity?
- • Can it run without permission?
- • Will it still make sense a decade from now?
When the answer feels right, I start building.
Slowly, carefully, with a focus on how it feels to use — not just how it works.
The Rhythm of Work
My process moves between design and development
like a musician switching between instruments.
Code has its cadence; layout has its silence.
Both rely on the same discipline: simplify, refine, breathe.
There's beauty in a self-hosted dashboard quietly running overnight,
or a perfectly balanced type scale that no one notices.
That's the kind of success I like — small, repeatable, human.
Philosophy
Build with intention.
Automate with empathy.
Design for attention, not distraction.
Fun Facts
A few things you might find interesting about me
Citrus Inspiration
My surname "Sauer" means sour/citrus in German, inspiring the lemony color palette and fresh approach to design.
Coffee Enthusiast
My best code is written between 6 AM and 10 AM, fueled by perfectly brewed coffee and ambient music.
Gaming Roots
My interest in programming started with game modding and creating custom tools for better gaming experiences.
Continuous Learner
Always exploring new technologies and frameworks. Currently diving deep into WebAssembly and AI integration.
About / TOSA
A small digital atelier for tools, interfaces, and systems that feel intentional, calm, and quietly alive.
About
How things fit together
I've always been more interested in how things fit together than in any one part of the process.
Design, code, and infrastructure are just different ways of describing the same thing: how an idea becomes something you can touch, use, or trust.
TOSA grew from that curiosity — a small digital atelier for tools, interfaces, and systems that feel intentional, calm, and quietly alive.
A Belief in Craft
Software should remember its maker
Software ages quickly when it forgets its maker.
I try to build things that feel crafted, even when they're invisible — in the timing of a transition, the warmth of a neutral color, the way a system holds together without complaint.
Technology should never pretend to be human. It should amplify what's already human — focus, clarity, rhythm, delight.
Good software behaves like good furniture: solid, balanced, and silently dependable.
On Building
Tools that disappear
I like tools that disappear. Interfaces that respect your time. Systems that can run quietly on their own machine.
Every project begins with a few simple questions:
• Does it solve a real problem with clarity?
• Can it run without permission?
• Will it still make sense a decade from now?
When the answer feels right, I start building. Slowly, carefully, with a focus on how it feels to use — not just how it works.
The Rhythm of Work
Design and code as instruments
My process moves between design and development like a musician switching between instruments.
Code has its cadence; layout has its silence. Both rely on the same discipline: simplify, refine, breathe.
There's beauty in a self-hosted dashboard quietly running overnight, or a perfectly balanced type scale that no one notices.
That's the kind of success I like — small, repeatable, human.
Philosophy
A small operating system for work
Build with intention.
Automate with empathy.
Design for attention, not distraction.
Let's Connect
Interested in collaborating or have a project in mind? I'd love to hear about your ideas and see how we can bring them to life.