Built by a Nerd.
Zero Shortcuts.
Real Results.
I'm Zak Dietzen — a self-taught developer turned code school grad who's been building the web for over a decade. No agency overhead, no contractors, no runaround. Just direct access to the developer who builds and maintains your site.
A lifelong nerd who turned passion into a career
I was building computers at 12 and teaching myself to code websites in high school. It was never a career plan — it was just what I loved doing. That passion led me to the Original Code Academy in San Diego, California in 2015, where I turned years of self-teaching into a formal foundation in modern web development.
After a decade of freelancing and agency work, I took DietzenDev full-time — because I wanted to do things differently. Most agencies are great if you need deep marketing integration and have months to wait. But for a small business that just needs a fast, reliable website and someone they can actually call? That's where the traditional agency model breaks down.
At DietzenDev, I do everything myself. I build your site, I host it on infrastructure I personally manage, and I'm the one who picks up when something needs fixing. No contractors. No middlemen. No disappearing acts after launch.
The agency model is broken for small business
Agencies move slow, charge for everything, and hand you off to someone new every 6 months. DietzenDev is built around the opposite of that.
Everything Built In-House
No contractors, no outsourcing, no hand-offs. When you hire DietzenDev, I build it. When something breaks, I fix it — personally.
Fast Turnaround, Always
Big agencies have 14 layers of approval. I don't. Need a change? Most requests are handled the same day — not the same quarter.
Direct Access to Your Developer
You talk to the person writing your code. No account managers, no ticketing systems that go nowhere. Real answers, fast.
Infrastructure You Can Count On
I personally manage 27+ servers and host 130+ live sites. Uptime monitoring, daily backups, and security patches are handled — not forgotten.
Built for businesses
ready to grow
I work best with people who want a real partner — not a vendor. If that sounds like you, we'll get along great.
Startup Founders
You need a real web presence fast, without burning runway on a bloated agency retainer. Let's build it lean and right from day one.
Mom & Pop Shops
Local businesses that deserve a professional online presence and a developer who actually gives a damn about their success.
Growing Businesses
You've outgrown Wix, Squarespace, or a site someone's cousin built. It's time for something that can actually keep up with where you're going.
Entrepreneurs & Side Projects
Big ideas deserve real execution. Whether it's your first venture or your fifth, let's build it right — not just fast.
The person you're actually working with
I'm based in South Central Illinois and when I'm not building websites or managing servers, you'll probably find me doing one of these.
Golf
Nothing humbles a developer like a par-3.
Lake Days with the Boys
The best debugging sessions happen on the water.
3D Printing
Building things in the real world, not just the digital one.
Bowling
A competitive spirit on and off the lanes.
DIY Projects
If it can be built or improved, I'll find a way to do both.
Bitcoin & Self-Hosting
Mining Bitcoin and running my own node — because sovereignty matters.