Leon Machens
Software developer.
I build TH.GL – gaming tools with 100,000+ daily users. Self-employed with my own apps since 2017, and previously a web coach for more than 100 developers.
Current projects
4 live · more in the works
The Hidden Gaming Lair
Interactive maps, in-game overlays and live position tracking for 20+ games – including Palworld, Dune Awakening and Wuthering Waves. Windows companion app plus web tools, built and run solo, serving 100,000+ users daily. Discord community with 25,000+ members, plus Patreon and Reddit.
Windkraft Nottuln
Facts for the local wind energy debate: studies, laws and official documents, every claim backed by a source. Includes an interactive turbine map. The regional newspaper Westfälische Nachrichten profiled the project in January 2026.
nottuln.blog
Local journalism for my hometown: documented deep-dives on municipal topics like childcare closures, municipal debt and urban planning – with numbers, sources and a newsletter.
Naturkita Baumberger Strolche
Redesigned website for a parent-run nature kindergarten in Nottuln: concept, team and registration. I also serve on its board.
More club and project sites
Two projects are already built and will appear here once they go public.
Past projects
Selection · many more on GitHub →About me
I have been around computers practically all my life – games sparked the interest early: in 2007, playing as "Xeon", I became Command & Conquer 3 vice world champion at the World Cyber Games in Seattle. Development has been my profession since my vocational training in 2005, followed by a computer science degree (M.Sc.) and roles from C++ developer to lead and CTO positions in gaming and agencies.
I have essentially always worked self-employed on the side – since 2017 with my own gaming apps: Trophy Hunter (winner of the Overwolf Apps Developer Challenge 2016) grew into The Hidden Gaming Lair, my full-time project since 2023. As head coach for web development at neue fische, I also guided more than 100 developers through bootcamps.
In 2025 my family and I moved from Cologne to Nottuln – since then I have been building websites for local clubs and initiatives on the side.
Full career history›
The Hidden Gaming Lair – maps, overlays & tracking for 20+ games
Gaming startup
neue fische GmbH – bootcamp training of 100+ developers
GRAPES web agency – projects for Oerlikon, DEVK and Klugo, among others
Trophy Hunter – League of Legends app, winner of the Overwolf Apps Developer Challenge 2016
Mobilehead – first hired developer, core modules & infrastructure
Homelike – platform for furnished apartments
Tronos – smart sun lounger (Smartlounger)
Citywerk
Sievers SNC – Windows Store app
BES GmbH – CAD software for engraving & image processing
Japan Communication, Tokyo – subway schedule app
Naturkita Baumberger Strolche e.V., Nottuln – parent-run kindergarten
Command & Conquer 3 – German finals of the EA tournament series, LAN event at Jahrhunderthalle Spergau
Self-built tournament site for strategy games – including its own show (RTSCups TV)
Command & Conquer 3 – German pro league
WCG Samsung Euro Championship
Command & Conquer 3 – German pro league
World Cyber Games grand final, Seattle – entered as a substitute, ended up in the final. Award ceremony video · newspaper report (German)
120 consecutive days at the top of the international ladder (ESL/MySkulls). The announced €60,000 league never happened – the game was discontinued after its developer shut down.
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences – incl. a semester abroad in Japan
BBS Ammerland (vocational school)
Contact & profiles
I want to give back to my community – including with websites. If you run a club or initiative in Nottuln and need support: get in touch, I do this as volunteer work.