Charles I. Ikyese

Full Stack Developer

Digital Archivist

Memory Worker

I design and build digital systems that support access, preservation, and long-term stewardship of information. My work bridges full stack web development with memory work, focusing on how technical infrastructure can responsibly support institutional and community histories.

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Professional Focus

I am a digital systems developer and memory worker whose practice centers on building structured, sustainable archive systems for institutions and community-oriented projects. My work emphasizes organizing, preserving, and providing long-term access to records such as staff data, administrative documentation, and historical materials that contribute to institutional memory.

I approach development not only as a technical task, but as a form of stewardship—one that requires care, ethical decision-making, and cultural awareness, particularly when working with records connected to Black institutions and communities.

Approach to Archiving & Memory Work

My practice is grounded in the belief that digital tools and web-based systems play a critical role in preserving Black institutional history and digital presence. I am especially interested in how databases, web applications, and archiving workflows can be aligned with culturally informed practices, community needs, and responsible preservation standards.

As my work expands beyond internal record systems, I am intentionally engaging with web archiving as a way to capture, preserve, and contextualize Black digital life as it appears online—ensuring it is treated as historically valuable rather than temporary or disposable.

Technical & Archival Expertise

Full Stack Development

Design and development of end-to-end web applications
Frontend systems that prioritize accessibility, clarity, and responsive design
Backend architectures that support scalability, security, and data integrity

Technologies:

HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), React.js, TailwindCSS, PHP, Laravel, CodeIgniter, Node.js, Express.js, Python, RESTful APIs

Archive & Record Systems

Design and implementation of archive database structures
Digital record management and organization
Long-term access, retrieval, and sustainability planning
Integration of technical systems with archival and memory-focused goals

Tools & Databases:

MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Git & GitHub, Docker, CI/CD pipelines

Current Direction

I am focused on deepening my engagement with web archiving practices, standards, and ethical frameworks that support the preservation of Black digital history. Through collaboration with other Black memory workers and collecting institutions, I aim to contribute technical expertise that strengthens collective efforts to document, preserve, and sustain Black presence on the Web.