First City Software: How We Work, Why We Care

At First City Software, we believe building software is about more than lines of code—it’s about people, purpose, and partnership. We’re not a faceless agency; we’re your neighbors, collaborators, and fellow dreamers, rooted in Pensacola and proud to serve clients everywhere.

This isn’t a manifesto. It’s our compass—a set of promises to ourselves, our clients, and our community about how we show up every day.

People Before Process

Software is built by people, for people. That’s why we prioritize humanity over bureaucracy. We hire for curiosity, kindness, and character first—skills can be taught, but empathy can’t. We encourage our team to bring their whole selves to work, to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, and to take care of themselves and each other.

We don’t believe in burning out for the sake of “hustle.” We believe in flexible schedules, healthy boundaries, and making space for families, hobbies, and life outside the screen. When our people thrive, so does our work.

Long-Term Value Over Short-Term Wins

We’re not interested in quick fixes or shiny features that fizzle out. Instead, we focus on building software that lasts—solutions that are maintainable, scalable, and genuinely useful. We look beyond the next sprint or launch date, asking: Will this serve our clients and their users in a year? In five years?

We’re honest about trade-offs and never cut corners for a temporary gain. Our goal is to leave every project, and every relationship, better than we found it.

Default to Transparency

We believe good relationships are built on trust, and trust starts with transparency. That means sharing our progress, our setbacks, and our thinking—early and often. We don’t hide behind jargon or sugarcoat the truth. If something isn’t working, we’ll say so. If we make a mistake, we’ll own it and fix it.

Clients are never left in the dark. You’ll always know where your project stands, what’s next, and why we’re making the decisions we do.

Listen First, Then Act

Every project begins with listening. We take the time to truly understand your goals, your challenges, and your vision. We ask questions, dig deep, and challenge assumptions—not to be difficult, but to make sure we’re solving the right problems.

We believe the best solutions come from collaboration, not dictation. Your insights matter, and so do those of your users. We create space for every voice at the table.

Bias Toward Clarity

Complexity is the enemy of progress. We strive for clarity—in our code, our designs, and our communication. We explain our thinking in plain language, set clear expectations, and give honest feedback.

If something doesn’t make sense, we’ll break it down until it does. We’d rather have an awkward conversation now than a surprise later.

Fearless Innovation

We’re not afraid to try new things, experiment, or admit when we don’t have all the answers. We see every challenge as a chance to learn and grow. We encourage curiosity, celebrate creativity, and embrace the unknown.

Innovation isn’t about being flashy—it’s about finding better ways to solve real problems. Sometimes that means using the latest technology; sometimes it means sticking with what works. We’re not here to chase trends—we’re here to deliver results.

Do the Right Thing

Integrity is our north star. We do what’s right, even when it’s hard, even when no one is watching. We’re honest with our clients, our teammates, and ourselves. If a project isn’t a good fit, we’ll say so. If we make a promise, we keep it.

We believe in fairness, respect, and doing business with a conscience. Our reputation matters more than our bottom line.

Gratitude and Respect

We’re grateful—for our clients’ trust, for our team’s talent, and for the open-source communities that make our work possible. We say thank you, we celebrate wins (big and small), and we lift each other up.

Respect is non-negotiable. We treat everyone—clients, colleagues, competitors, and community members—with kindness and dignity.

Community Matters

We’re proud to call Pensacola home, and we believe in giving back—locally and globally. We mentor, we volunteer, we contribute to open-source, and we support initiatives that make tech more accessible and inclusive.

We want to leave our industry, and our community, better than we found it.

Why We Do This

We’re here to build more than software. We’re here to build relationships, solve meaningful problems, and make a positive impact—one project, one partnership, one line of code at a time.

If our commitments resonate with you, let’s talk. We’d love to help you build something remarkable.