--- title: "Francisco Luna (@franciscolunadev) | Hashnode" description: "Independent engineer. I build AI systems and internal tools for founders. Read the latest articles by Francisco Luna on Hashnode." url: "https://hashnode.com/@franciscolunadev" --- @franciscolunadev # Francisco Luna @franciscolunadev · Joined August 2025 Independent engineer. I build AI systems and internal tools for founders. [Website](https://www.itsfranciscoluna.com/) ### [Two years as a founding engineer: what we shipped, what didn't work, and my own practice](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/two-years-as-a-founding-engineer-what-we-shipped-what-didn-t-work-and-my-own-practice?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) From zero infrastructure to 141 tests and a company that closed: what two years as a founding engineer taught me, and what I build now. 5 min read · [blog.itsfranciscoluna.com](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/two-years-as-a-founding-engineer-what-we-shipped-what-didn-t-work-and-my-own-practice?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Sep 30](https://hashnode.com/posts/two-years-as-a-founding-engineer-what-we-shipped-what-didn-t-work-and-my-own-practice/6abcf9e20bc9835faa6848f3) ### [5 Lessons From a Failed Startup: How I Evolved from Developer to Systems Engineer](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/5-lessons-from-a-failed-startup-how-i-evolved-from-developer-to-systems-engineer?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Context I was a founding engineer for a startup, building B2C apps. We sunsetted the projects we had because they were not profitable, and the runway was over. During my time in the startup, I led a s 4 min read · [blog.itsfranciscoluna.com](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/5-lessons-from-a-failed-startup-how-i-evolved-from-developer-to-systems-engineer?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Jun 29](https://hashnode.com/posts/5-lessons-from-a-failed-startup-how-i-evolved-from-developer-to-systems-engineer/6a42c30a977e4a312492f6ac) ### [I Built a Ferrari for a Skateboard: 5 Engineering Mistakes That Cost Me Months](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/i-built-a-ferrari-for-a-skateboard-5-engineering-mistakes-that-cost-me-months?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) We’ve all been there. You have a great idea, and you want to build something serious. You start drawing up complex diagrams and setting up complicated systems. Before you know it, you’ve built a compl 4 min read · [blog.itsfranciscoluna.com](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/i-built-a-ferrari-for-a-skateboard-5-engineering-mistakes-that-cost-me-months?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Jun 14](https://hashnode.com/posts/i-built-a-ferrari-for-a-skateboard-5-engineering-mistakes-that-cost-me-months/6a2f39150326285513d5320a) ### [How I designed a migration through a business pivot with the Strangler Fig pattern](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/how-i-designed-a-migration-through-a-business-pivot-with-the-strangler-fig-pattern?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Recently at work, we've had to deal with a business pivot, yet again. My intuition told me it would happen, which is why I kept the system's architecture flexible. Let me introduce you to the core pro 5 min read · [blog.itsfranciscoluna.com](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/how-i-designed-a-migration-through-a-business-pivot-with-the-strangler-fig-pattern?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Jun 7](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-i-designed-a-migration-through-a-business-pivot-with-the-strangler-fig-pattern/6a25fe10980616b1c02078d5) ### [The Best Code is Unwritten: Architectural Lessons from Startup Production (May 2026)](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/the-best-code-is-unwritten-architectural-lessons-from-startup-production-may-2026?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) I started building for startups in 2023. By 2026, I was migrating live auth systems, cutting query latency from 817ms to 119ms, and learning that the hardest part of engineering isn't shipping code bu 7 min read · [blog.itsfranciscoluna.com](https://blog.itsfranciscoluna.com/the-best-code-is-unwritten-architectural-lessons-from-startup-production-may-2026?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 27](https://hashnode.com/posts/the-best-code-is-unwritten-architectural-lessons-from-startup-production-may-2026/6a174e95badcd8afcb22d78d)