01
Technical
How I debugged a Symfony performance bottleneck with Xdebug 3.x
A step-by-step walkthrough: from slow page load to identified culprit using a custom cachegrind analyzer.
8 min read
Mar 2025SENIOR TECH LEAD & SOLUTION ARCHITECT
I build systems
that run businesses.
17 years of enterprise architecture · PHP/Symfony · Node.js · Cloud
Co-founder. Operator. Engineer.
I design and ship backend systems that sit at the core of operations — ERPs, PMS, POS platforms, distributed APIs. I also run a retail & production business, which means I understand cash flow, constraints, and what it costs when a system goes down.
17+
Years of experience
50 / 50
Engineer × Entrepreneur
Remote-ready
Open to EU teams
SCROLL
ABOUT
The engineer who runs a business.
The entrepreneur who architects systems.
I've spent 17 years designing and building backend systems for B2B companies — from ERP and PMS platforms to distributed APIs serving thousands of daily users. My core stack is PHP/Symfony and Node.js, but my real expertise is architectural thinking: how to structure systems that are maintainable, scalable, and aligned with business reality.
In parallel, I co-founded and operate a retail & production business. That experience changed how I think about software. When you've managed inventory, cash flow, and operations under real pressure, you stop over-engineering. You build what solves the problem — reliably, at the right cost, on time.
I work best at the intersection of both worlds: with teams and companies where technical excellence and business outcomes are the same conversation. Based in Tunisia, open to remote engagements with European teams.
Location
Hammamet, Tunisia
Target market
Europe (remote)
Languages
French · English · Arabic
Roles
Tech Lead · Solution Architect · Advisory
EXPERTISE
What I do best.
Solution Architecture
Design scalable, maintainable systems from the ground up. API-first, event-driven, cloud-ready.
Distributed SystemsMicroservicesEvent-driven
Backend Engineering
Deep expertise in PHP/Symfony and Node.js. Legacy modernization, performance optimization, CI/CD.
PHP 8 / SymfonyNode.jsPython
API Design & Integration
RESTful and async API platforms. Third-party system integration. Developer experience focus.
RESTWebhooksOpenAPI
Cloud & Infrastructure
Hybrid architectures, Docker Swarm, Nginx load balancing, WireGuard networking.
DockerCI/CDOVH / Cloud
Legacy Modernization
PHP 5→8 migrations, Symfony upgrades, dependency refactoring. Zero downtime approach.
MigrationRefactoringGitLab
Tech Leadership
Team enablement, architecture documentation, delivery ownership, cross-functional communication.
Team LeadArchitectureDelivery
Tech Stack
| Category | Technologies |
|---|---|
| Languages | PHP 8.x Node.js Python JavaScript/TS |
| Frameworks | Symfony Next.js Express |
| Infrastructure | Docker / Swarm Nginx Jenkins GitLab CI |
| Databases | MySQL / MariaDB Redis PostgreSQL |
| Architecture | REST APIs Event-driven Microservices WireGuard |
CASE STUDIES
Real problems. Real outcomes.
2024–2025B2B SaaS — Enterprise Portal (OpenBee Portal)
PHP 8 Enterprise Migration
Legacy Symfony 1.5/sf3 application running on PHP 5.x. Needed migration to PHP 8.3 without downtime and without breaking a multi-module B2B workflow used by enterprise clients.
PHP 8.3SymfonyCI/CD+4
2024B2C / B2B SaaS — Next.js + MySQL + Redis application
Infrastructure Scaling (Node.js SaaS)
Single OVH VPS becoming a bottleneck as traffic grew. No redundancy, no horizontal scaling capability, deployment required downtime.
Docker SwarmNginxWireGuard+4
2020–presentCo-founded retail & production business — operational from day one
Entrepreneur Lens — Business Systems
Building internal systems (inventory, POS, cash flow tracking) with zero VC budget, real operational pressure, and a need for immediate ROI.
OperationsPOSInventory+2
OPEN SOURCE & TOOLS
Tools I built and open-sourced.
Python
xdebug_analyze
CLI profiler analyzer for Xdebug 3.x cachegrind files — built for PHP performance debugging
Parses cachegrind output from Xdebug 3.x. Identifies top call stacks by time/calls. Flags external process forks (exec/shell calls). Detects Assetic formula-loading overhead. Outputs a structured performance report in terminal.
View on GitHubMore tools coming soon
Docker Swarm deploy script · Symfony profiler helper
WRITING
Thinking out loud.
02
Tech × Business
What running a retail business taught me about software architecture
The 3 architectural decisions I make differently now that I've managed cash flow, inventory, and real operational pressure.
6 min read
Feb 202503
Opinion
Why legacy system migration is an architecture project, not a dev task
Most legacy migrations fail because they're treated as code rewrites. Here's how to approach them as design problems.
5 min read
Jan 2025CONTACT
Let's build something that works.
I collaborate with European teams on backend architecture and technical leadership — consulting, advisory, and fractional CTO engagements welcome.
© 2026 Anis Ksontini. All rights reserved.
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