FDM Software Labs is a digital studio founded by Tyler Hardiman right here in Lakeland, Florida.
We design custom websites and software tailored to help local businesses get found online. For us, software development isn't about rushing to the finish line—it's about doing honest, high-quality work that lasts.
Who does the work
My background is test automation: software that checks software before people rely on it. At NAVEX, an enterprise compliance platform, I was promoted from Software Engineer QA to Associate Senior Software Engineer QA. Automation was my focus, and I tested by hand too. I built the team's first end-to-end tests in Playwright and owned the pipeline that decided when software was safe to ship.
Before software, I spent nearly a decade leading retail teams of up to 43 people, then three years monitoring specialized refrigeration systems protecting more than a billion dollars of product. That high-stakes environment shaped my exact work ethic: clear communication, no surprises, and catching problems before they ever reach a customer.
Today, I run my own independent practice. I help local businesses regain control of their digital footprint. My first client was Puff & Stuff Smoke Shop. I rebuilt their Google listing, set up a system that brought in 74 Google reviews in its first month, and built a modern website they control and can easily update from their phone.
Read the Puff & Stuff case studyBy the numbers
- 4+ yearsas a QA automation engineer on an enterprise software platform
- 900+automated tests maintained across 9 codebases
- ~2 weeks → under 1the regression cycle (the full re-test before a release), cut
- 13,000+customers on the platform Tyler helped keep shipping
- 98%the test-coverage bar on a production app built solo
How we work
- Radical transparency: We say the uncomfortable numbers out loud before you have to go looking for them.
- Client-first recommendations: We will always recommend the more affordable path if it is genuinely the better fit for your business.
- No false promises: We don't guarantee arbitrary rankings or traffic metrics we can't control. Instead, we promise high-quality work, delivered competently and strictly on schedule.
- Nothing locked away: Your accounts and domains stay in your name, and the code that runs your site is yours to use, change and host for good. Nothing we build will ever be locked behind a wall you can't reach.
- Rigorous standards: Any AI-assisted work must meet the exact same bar as human-written code. The automated test pipeline decides what passes, not the author. See how we test every change.
What does FDM mean?
In 2021, not long after my daughter was born, I got a custom hat with the phrase Full Dad Mode. From day one, it became my favorite piece of gear. Over the next few years, the phrase became a reminder to be present, deeply responsible, and focused on building a lasting legacy.
When I transitioned to working for myself and planning this company, FDM Software Labs was the first choice. It represents the foundation of who I am: an independent, family-first business that values the people behind the work.
Tell us about your project
Pick what you need and see the full price before we ever talk.