lincoln loop

In a world where transparency and trust are increasingly rare, one development firm has built its success on these principles since its founding in 2007. From its beginnings as a collective of Python freelancers to becoming a seasoned software solutions provider serving clients across five continents, Lincoln Loop has developed a unique approach to software development that prioritizes client needs over profits. Through open-book financial practices, asynchronous work models, and a commitment to open-source innovation, the company exemplifies what it means to build software in the modern era.

The Lincoln Loop Mission

From its inception in 2007, Lincoln Loop has evolved from a collective of Python freelancers to a seasoned team of veteran developers, solving complex problems for organizations across North America, Europe, New Zealand, and South America. At the core of the company's mission is a commitment to delivering pragmatic, dependable solutions that prioritize client satisfaction over profit margins.

The company's approach to development is rooted in its decision to embrace an asynchronous, remote-first work model since its founding in 2007. This unconventional choice has enabled team members to maintain flexible schedules while maintaining high levels of productivity and collaboration. The work environment is characterized by open-book financial practices, with transparency extending to all team members who have the ability to review and understand the company's financial operations.

Peter Baumgartner, the company's founder, established a values-driven culture centered on decision-making through consensus, honesty, and transparency. These principles have guided the development of a decentralized management structure, where team members operate as "manager-of-one" and decisions are reached through collaborative processes rather than hierarchical command.

A Decade of Evolution

Lincoln Loop's founder, Peter Baumgartner, recognized early on that traditional contracting methods created unnecessary stress for freelancers. To address this, he developed a unique business model that eliminated many of the conventional challenges faced by remote developers. By removing the complexities of invoicing, sales, and collections, the company created a more stable foundation for growth while prioritizing the well-being of its team members.

The company's decision to establish itself in a remote-first work environment since its 2007 founding proved particularly forward-thinking. Located in a small mountain town with minimal local talent, the team had to develop innovative approaches to attract and retain top Django developers. This led to the implementation of flexible scheduling based on individual productivity patterns rather than fixed work hours. This approach has since proven adaptable enough to support team members working across multiple time zones.

A pivotal moment in the company's evolution came during their 2014 retreat in Mexico, where the leadership team grappled with a fundamental challenge: how to grow while maintaining their core values. This introspection led to a commitment that profits should never compromise the company's mission to create a positive work environment. Financial transparency emerged as a cornerstone of this philosophy, with all team members given access to the company's financial statements and decision-making processes.

The company's technical expertise has grown alongside its organizational framework. Since Django's 0.96 release in 2007, Lincoln Loop has developed a range of tools that have influenced the broader Python web development ecosystem. Their contributions span multiple areas of software development, from basic utilities like python-qrcode to complex frameworks such as django-ninja, which demonstrates their ability to bridge practical needs with cutting-edge technology.

In 2014, the company launched AppPack.io, a platform designed to simplify the development process by abstracting away infrastructure management, CI pipelines, and deployment complexities. This innovation reflects their ongoing commitment to developer productivity and efficiency, combining their deep technical expertise with practical problem-solving approaches.

Technical Expertise and Innovation

From the start in 2007, Lincoln Loop's technical expertise has been closely tied to the evolution of the Django framework itself. As one of the earliest adopters of Django, the company has accumulated over 15 years of experience building robust web applications with a particular focus on clean code, reusable patterns, and long-term maintainability.

The team's technical contributions extend beyond basic framework implementation, with several projects demonstrating their ability to push the boundaries of what's possible with Python web development. Their most prominent open-source project, django-countries, stands out for its comprehensive approach to handling country-related data in Django applications, earning 1,500 stars on GitHub. Additionally, their django-ninja framework has garnered significant attention for its focus on modern API development using Django and Python 3.6+ type hints, indicating their commitment to both practical engineering and cutting-edge technology.

Beyond these specific projects, the company's technical expertise has shaped its approach to full-stack development across multiple domains. Their platform engineering and DevOps services demonstrate a deep understanding of building secure, scalable systems, with capabilities including cloud platform design, zero-downtime deployment strategies, and sophisticated CI/CD integration. This technical foundation allows them to deliver mission-critical applications for high-traffic clients, as evidenced by their work with organizations like PBS, Smithsonian.com, and the NASA Federal Systems Division.

Building for the Future

Lincoln Loop specializes in building mission-critical Django applications with over 15 years of experience in clean, maintainable web development practices. Their full-service development consultancy spans the entire web application lifecycle, from initial design through deployment.

For content-heavy clients, the company develops scalable editorial workflow systems capable of supporting millions of visitors. These platforms integrate advanced capabilities like custom ad systems, multi-channel publication, and sophisticated search functionality to meet the unique needs of large-scale publishers. The team's expertise in content management systems (CMS) and data migration ensures seamless integration with existing workflows while providing the flexibility needed for future growth.

The company's platform engineering and DevOps services focus on building secure, cost-effective infrastructure that scales reliably. Services include cloud platform design, zero-downtime deployments, and comprehensive CI/CD integration, allowing clients to handle increased traffic without compromise. Lincoln Loop's front-end development team specializes in single-page applications (SPA) and complex user experiences, combining modern web technologies with their deep Django expertise.

To support their clients' growth, Lincoln Loop offers scalable hosting solutions through their AppPack.io platform. This managed service abstracts away infrastructure management and deployment complexities, allowing developers to focus on core application development while maintaining high performance and reliability. The company's long-term partnerships with clients like PBS, Smithsonian.com, and NASA Federal Systems Division demonstrate their track record in delivering mission-critical applications that handle high traffic and complex requirements.

In addition to their technical expertise, Lincoln Loop maintains active memberships in multiple open-source communities and industry organizations. These include the Python Software Foundation (Participating Sponsor), Django Software Foundation (Silver Member), and Django CMS Association (Gold Member). The company shares their knowledge through various channels, including regular contributions to open-source projects like django-countries (1,500 GitHub stars) and django-ninja (web framework for building APIs with modern type hints).

An Open-Source Company

The company's commitment to open-source development extends beyond their technical contributions, embodying their values of transparency and collaboration. Since 2007, they have developed numerous open-source tools that have become integral to the Python web development ecosystem.

Their contributions include python-qrcode, a popular library for generating QR codes, which has gained 4,600 stars on GitHub. They also maintain essential frameworks like Django-countries, which provides comprehensive country-related data handling for Django applications, and django-ninja, a modern API development framework that leverages Django and Python 3.6+ type hints, earning them 1,500 stars on GitHub.

The company's open-source philosophy influences all aspects of their operations, from their work processes to their interactions with the community. They invite critique and encourage iteration on their projects, believing that transparent development leads to better outcomes. This approach has earned them recognition within the industry, with active memberships in organizations like the Python Software Foundation (as a Participating Sponsor), Django Software Foundation (Silver Member), and Django CMS Association (Gold Member).

Their financial transparency extends to their open-source activities, as all contributions and updates are openly discussed in their community forum. The company's development model emphasizes flexibility, with team members given the autonomy to choose their preferred tools and workflows while adhering to best practices. This collaborative approach has proven effective, as demonstrated by their comprehensive suite of development resources that help other organizations scale their projects successfully.