We offer a full range of services around the theme of software development. Click on the icons below to see more information about each type of service.
Development
We have a staff of highly skilled software developers with a broad range of technical skills, focusing primarily on web technologies. We specialize in Java and PHP, but we are technology agnostic, with deep experience in and appreciation for many other languages, such as C#, C++, Ruby, Perl and Python. We borrow heavily from agile and iterative methods such as Scrum, Extreme Programming and Unified Process when we run projects, and we feel it is important for the process to match the project.
In the Java vein, we are fluent in all things J2EE/JEE, and are big fans of Hibernate for our ORM and Spring for our IoC. We have been favoring Struts and Struts2 recently for our view/controller logic, though we have also used JMF and officially "appreciate it". EJB3 passes our litmus tests as well. In general, we always seek the simplest and most common sense solutions, so any technology that lets us work with POJOs is a friend of ours. In terms of APIs, we have used far too many to mention, ranging from Apache Commons, JUnit and Log4J to Xalan and Xerces. For application servers, we favor JBoss and Tomcat (we're Open Source nuts), but we've used WebLogic as well.
In terms of PHP, we have been using CakePHP to enforce best practices. Our favorite database is MySQL, though we certainly haven't excluded SQL Server, Oracle or PostGres from our adventures. We are big fans of Ruby on Rails, and are working toward doing more projects in that vein. We have recently hired several C#/.NET people, so we are looking to grow there as well. We know ActionScript, Flex and OpenLaszlo, too.
We have done huge quantities of work with XML, for web services of course, but for much more than that. XSLT is a wonderfully flexible technology that we are intimately familiar with.
We know all the web basics, of course - HTML, CSS, JavaScript. In general, just ask - we probably have someone here who is familiar with it.
Content Development
From static text and image pages, to cutting-edge Flash animations and computer adaptive tutorials, we can take your idea from concept to finished product--or step in to troubleshoot and complete projects in progress.
Our content experts work closely with software developers and quality assurance specialists to create content and implement it for your application.
Content Development Services
- Design
Coordinate with development team to build content for applications using languages such as XML and XSL. - Build
Convert content from industry-standard databases and integrate multi-media formats using XSLT transformations, Perl, and other tools. - Verify
Through a rigorous QA process to verify integrity and stability, develop punch lists and advise best fixes. - Repair
Troubleshoot and resolve content issues in broad range of programming languages and tools.
Design
Our design team balances your priorities and constraints to develop high level designs (workflows, wireframes, site maps) and task level designs (functional specs, mockups, prototypes) that elegantly meet your needs.
We provide user-oriented solutions for software, branding, and multimedia, with expertise in custom web application design and development. Our designers have a unique design perspective, grown from direct interactions with our customers. In addition, our designers can create the graphics, icons and Flash content for your application, along with expert markup to support multiple platforms and standards.
Design Services
- High-Level Design
Workflows, task organization, wireframes, site maps, navigation planning, style guides. - Task-Level Design
Functional specifications, mockups and layout design, accessible form design, functional specifications, prototyping. - MultiMedia Design
Web graphic production, print design and preparation, Flash movies, iconography, original illustrations. - Identity Systems
Logo design, printed materials, electronic document templates, corporate color palettes, presentation graphics. - Web Design and Development
W3C standards-compliant markup, Section 508 compliance, multi-platform and browser design, localization, CSS, custom JavaScript, custom PHP software development.
Documentation
Our documentation team creates context-sensitive on-line help, print manuals, and onscreen messaging that helps minimize support and Help desk calls, and ensures your end-users get the full benefit of your software.
Our team of experienced technical writers and editors produces training guides, specifications, support documents, installation guides, training materials, JavaDocs, and other developer documentation as needed for your project.
Documentation Services
- End-user documentation
Inline user assistance (UI copy and messaging), compiled context-sensitive Help files (Windows, Macintosh, or Linux), printed user guides, PDFs for on-line delivery, and administrator and installation guides. - Ancillary documentation
Specifications, use cases, proposals, style guides, copy decks. - Documentation toolset
Framemaker, Structured Framemaker (for single-sourced projects), WebWorks Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office, XML, HTML+CSS, Javascript, WinHelp.
Project Management
From start to finish, our project managers will assure that your project is on track with established objectives, goals, and expectations.
We work with our customers to perform software capability analyses, identify functional requirements in support of projected business needs, and manage project scope. Whether you bring us a finished spec, a proposal, or just a problem to solve, our team has skills and experience to handle the details, keep you in the loop, and make sure your project finishes on time and within budget.
Project Management Services
- Planning
Your project manager will help you identify your business need or opportunity, develop a feasible and appropriate system concept, and define the scope of the proposed solution. Initial estimates for project budget, resource requirements, and schedules will be developed and approved. - Design
The project manager will work with you to help lay out the proposed system's functional user requirements, including performance, data, maintainability, and security, along with measurable outcomes and benchmarks. Major subsystems, user interactions, module structures, logic specifications, and initial test and documentation plans will also be identified. - Development
When coding begins, your project manager will work with the development managers and team to monitor the task schedule and ensure appropriate resource allocation for milestone attainment. If feature or design changes are needed, the project manager will help resolve the issues quickly. - Testing and Implementation
As components are integrated, your project manager will oversee the process of moving modules or iterations from production to test servers for comprehensive unit testing and QA, and keep you informed of the test-plan progress. When the project goes live, your project manager will stay involved to help expedite any necessary fine-tuning.
Quality Assurance
Our Quality Assurance group provides an integrated, tailored approach to meet your end-to-end testing needs.
QA begins at the proposal stage and continues through the development cycle, including prototyping, iterative processes, and user test beds. We utilize component, unit, system, scenario, and stress testing for all software development. Our customers can follow the QA process for their product--and offer comments or suggestions at every step.
Quality Assurance Services
- System Analysis
Prototyping and iterative processes, depending on the size and complexity of the project. - Testing
Industry standard testing methods, including whitebox, blackbox, and graybox testing. Component, unit, system, scenario, regression, and stress testing for all software development. - Automated Processes
Integrated performance and functional load testing, benchmarking, tuning, and diagnostics using industry-standard tools.
Server Hosting / System Administration
We provide 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and support for load balanced and clustered servers hosted in both our own and our customers' facilities. We manage software, server and kernel upgrades, arrange scheduled backups and generally work to avert (and respond to) a wide variety of emergencies.
Server Hosting Services
- Rapid Provisioning
The System Administration team has established a variety of technologies and practices to provide on-demand resource provisioning for almost any bootstrap project. We routinely provide software enhancements, new features, and server upgrades to make sure your project has all the bandwidth and power it needs. - Enterprise Scaling
System Adminstrators builds and operates fault-tolerant, geographically diverse server clusters with 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and support. This large-scale, continent-wide redundancy offers performance and security to clients experiencing rapid growth or needing a more economical managed solution. - Expert Administration
The System Administration team is made up of seasoned technical professionals, highly experienced in working with operating systems, development platforms, deployment strategies, database configuration, and network topology. This spectrum of troubleshooting skills allows us to illuminate complex issues and offer a manageable path for infrastructure growth.
Technical Support
Our in-house technical support team provides daily multi-tiered support, as well as onsite training, customer-satisfaction surveys, reports, and statistical data that will keep you in touch with the changing needs of your customers. We also offer Technical Account Managers that can give one-on-one support to your company or organization.
Technical Support Services
- Multi-tiered Support
Flexibility, personalized service, superior customer service with one-call resolution. - Availability
Staffing patterns constructed to meet the needs of your clientele, with increased staffing during seasonal peaks. - Cost-Effective Support
High-quality individuals to support your products without overloading your budget. - Ongoing Training
Our technicians remain up-to-date on industry standards, and are constantly working to develop better methods and solutions for you and your clients.