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Web development

Web development in Cape Town, hand-coded for speed.

We hand-code custom websites and web apps so they load fast, are accessible and are easy to manage. After launch, we host, monitor and maintain them so they stay fast and secure.

Start a project Check your site's speed

Our view

Most websites load more code than they need

Many websites are put together from a bought theme, a page builder, and a plugin or script for each feature. Each one made sense at the time. Together they produce a site that is slow on a phone, awkward to edit and harder to change each year.

We start each site from what it has to do, and we write code only for those tasks. Visitors download only the code each page needs. This is why capefrisco.com scores 100 in all four categories of Google's PageSpeed test on mobile.

When a site needs a content management system, we use WordPress, Drupal, or a headless or static set-up. When a site does not need one, we build it without one. In both cases, the site is built to load fast and stay secure.

What we build

Websites, web applications and integrations

We scope every project separately. These are the services we provide most often.

  • Custom websites

    We design company, campaign and content-heavy sites around your content and hand-code them for speed. They contain no page builder and no unused code.

  • Web applications

    We build portals, dashboards, booking systems and internal tools in PHP, Python, Node.js or React, depending on what each project needs.

  • Content management

    We use WordPress, Drupal, or a static site built with Astro that takes its content from a headless CMS. We choose the system based on how your team edits and publishes.

  • Integrations

    We connect your site to your CRM, email platform, payment gateway, booking system or ERP. Information then reaches each system without anyone retyping it.

  • Accessibility

    We build in semantic markup, keyboard navigation, readable contrast and proper labels from the start, and check them before launch.

  • Speed and search

    Pages load fast on a phone and have clean URLs, structured data and proper metadata. Search engines and AI assistants can then read them.

How we work

From brief to launch, and after launch

You talk to the people doing the work at every stage. Your messages do not pass through an account manager or a ticket queue.

  1. Brief and scope

    We discuss what the site has to do, who it is for and what it connects to. You get a written proposal that sets out the scope before any work starts.

  2. Structure and design

    We plan page types, content and layouts with you. We use your real content wherever possible, so the developers do not have to guess.

  3. Build and test

    We hand-code the site, then test it on phones and browsers for speed, accessibility and broken links. We test forms and integrations end to end.

  4. Launch and look after

    We handle go-live, redirects and search set-up, then host and monitor the site. When you need a change, we make it and test it before it goes live.

Standard on every build

  • Hand-coded, with no page builder
  • Mobile-first, responsive layouts
  • Accessibility checked before launch
  • Clean URLs and redirects
  • Structured data and metadata
  • SSL and security headers
  • PageSpeed tested before go-live
  • Managed hosting with monitored updates

capefrisco.com, measured by Google

Google PageSpeed Insights, mobile. We apply the same standards to every site we build and host.

Measuring this page’s load time…

Check it on PageSpeed Insights (opens in a new tab)
  • 100
    Performance
  • 100
    Accessibility
  • 100
    Best Practices
  • 100
    SEO

Our work

Recent work

All projects

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do you work with sites you didn't build?
Yes. Much of our work starts with a site that someone else built. We review it first and tell you what we find. The site may need a few fixes or a lean rebuild. In some cases, our advice is to leave it as it is.
Who owns the site and the code?
You own your domain, your content and your data. The written proposal sets out who owns the code we write and what you can do with it. You receive the proposal before any work starts.
WordPress, Drupal or something else?
We recommend the system that fits how your team works. WordPress suits most content-led sites where your team edits pages themselves. Drupal suits larger, structured sites with complex permissions. A static build with Astro suits sites where speed and security are the priority. It can still take content from a headless CMS. We will recommend one and explain why.
Will a new site keep our search rankings?
No one can promise search rankings. We make sure nothing is lost in the move. We keep every address where possible, add redirects for any address that changes, and carry over metadata and structured data. Search engines then have a faster site with cleaner code to read.
Do you only work with Cape Town businesses?
No. We are based in Cape Town and work with clients in South Africa and many other countries.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
Time and cost depend on the number of page types, the integrations, and whether the site includes a shop or a web app. Tell us about the project and you will get a written proposal that sets out the scope before any work starts.

Tell us about your project

Describe what the site needs to do. We will reply with questions and then send a written proposal. There is no obligation to go ahead.

Start a project Talk to us