# Xavi Esteve

> Personal site of Xavi Esteve, a CTO based in Barcelona with over 20 years building digital products, tech teams and companies. He is CTO and board member at VICIO, a multi-chain restaurant group that grew from a single dark kitchen to €70M in annual recurring revenue, where he built the Deliclever restaurant SaaS platform. He previously co-founded the HealthTech startup Joyners as CTO and worked for LOVEFiLM (acquired by Amazon), Softonic and Agilent Technologies (HP). The site covers three topics: Linux and practical tools, building software, and leading tech teams and products.

Articles are written first-hand from his own work and projects. Most are in English; some older ones are in Spanish (https://xaviesteve.com/es/) and Catalan (https://xaviesteve.com/ca/).

## About

- [About Xavi Esteve](https://xaviesteve.com/about/): career, role as CTO, how he uses AI, values
- [CV](https://xaviesteve.com/files/xavi-esteve-cv.php): full employment history
- [Projects](https://xaviesteve.com/projects/): over 100 side projects, most of them free to use
- [Contact](https://xaviesteve.com/contact/)

## Linux & Tools

Practical guides to Linux, laptops, self-hosting and everyday tools. All articles: https://xaviesteve.com/en/linux-and-tools/

- [10 Reasons Power Users Are Switching from macOS to Linux in 2025](https://xaviesteve.com/7129/macos-to-linux-power-user-switch/): why developers and power users move to Linux Mint and Fedora
- [Transform an Old Linux Laptop into a Powerful Ad-Free Media Hub](https://xaviesteve.com/7191/linux-laptop-media-hub-no-ads/): replacing Chromecast, OSMC and AirPlay with a private Linux setup
- [How to set up a Macropad on Linux](https://xaviesteve.com/7047/setup-macropad-aliexpress-linux/): making a cheap macropad run scripts and shortcuts
- [My step-by-step guide setting up Linux](https://xaviesteve.com/6857/my-linux-setup/): a complete desktop Linux setup for daily work
- [Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 6 review](https://xaviesteve.com/6907/tuxedo-infinitybook-pro-14-gen-6-review/): a year-long review of a Linux laptop
- [How AI is replacing the Human Web](https://xaviesteve.com/7208/ai-replacing-humans/): how generative AI is changing content, search and the open web

## Software Development

Building software for the web, including his own projects. All articles: https://xaviesteve.com/en/software-development/

- [Dictate: speech-to-text in your browser](https://xaviesteve.com/7404/dictate-speech-to-text-web-browser/): a private speech-to-text tool that runs entirely in the browser
- [Tab Rotator with Skip Rules](https://xaviesteve.com/7412/tab-rotator-with-skip-rules/): a Firefox add-on that rotates tabs on a timer with skip rules
- [Free, Simple, Privacy-First QR Code Generator](https://xaviesteve.com/7174/free-simple-qr-code-generator/): QR codes for links, Wi-Fi and vCards, without tracking or ads
- [SpaceTurf: Building an Offline Homage to Subspace Continuum](https://xaviesteve.com/7416/spaceturf-offline-subspace-continuum/): building a single-player 2D space shooter with AI bots
- [Zoho API v2 with PHP integration guide and examples](https://xaviesteve.com/6565/zoho-api-v2-php-guide/): integrating Zoho's API v2 from PHP without their SDK
- [Detect and Block Adblock in one simple line of code](https://xaviesteve.com/5581/detect-block-adblock-one-simple-line-code/): detecting ad blockers in JavaScript

## Leadership & Product

Lessons from 20 years as CTO, lead developer and product manager. All articles: https://xaviesteve.com/en/leadership-and-product/

- [Simple Technology always wins](https://xaviesteve.com/6902/simple-technology-always-wins/): scaling software through simplicity, managing technical debt and choosing tools that serve the business
- [How to Hire a Web Developer](https://xaviesteve.com/4067/how-to-hire-a-front-end-web-developer/): the hiring process he follows for permanent and outsourced developers
- [35 Honest Low-Budget Startup Tips & Advice from an Entrepreneur](https://xaviesteve.com/3579/35-honest-low-budget-startup-tips-advice-from-an-entrepreneur/): advice for bootstrapped startups
- [How to spot bad clients as a Web Developer Freelancer/Agency](https://xaviesteve.com/5509/how-to-spot-bad-clients-as-a-web-developer-freelancer-agency/): warning signs before taking on client work
- [Why I stopped Web Development Freelancing after 5 years](https://xaviesteve.com/5629/why-i-stopped-freelancing/): the realities of running a web agency

## Optional

- [Games](https://xaviesteve.com/en/games/): guides for games he plays and builds
- [Life](https://xaviesteve.com/en/life/): routines, health and entertainment
- [Sitemap](https://xaviesteve.com/sitemap_index.xml)